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Reviews onG2
85 reviews tracked

The Bottom Line

Entry price

Free plan available, paid tiers above

Biggest pro

Standard JS registry

Biggest con

Security concerns

TL;DR - npm

  • npm is the package manager for JavaScript and the world's largest registry
  • It installs, shares, and manages JavaScript dependencies for projects
  • Free for public packages, Pro at $7/month for private packages
Pricing: Free plan available
Best for: Growing teams
4.7/5 across review platforms

What is npm?

Editorial review
npm manages JavaScript packages. The package manager that JavaScript development depends on-essential infrastructure for Node and web development. The ecosystem is massive. The workflow is standard. The tool is foundational. JavaScript developers use npm because it's how packages work in the ecosystem.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Standard JS registry
  • Huge ecosystem
  • Free to use
  • Good tooling
  • Industry standard

Cons

  • Security concerns
  • Dependency issues
  • Slow historically
  • Lock file conflicts
  • Registry incidents

Ratings Across the Web

4.7(85 reviews)

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

JS packagesRegistryScriptsWorkspacesSecurity auditLargest registry

Pricing

Freemium

npm offers a generous free tier with optional paid upgrades for advanced features.

View pricing

Reviews

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4.7/5

Across 85 verified user reviews on G2

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npm FAQ

How does npm facilitate JavaScript development?

npm manages JavaScript packages, serving as essential infrastructure for both Node and web development. It is the standard way packages work within the JavaScript ecosystem, providing a foundational tool for developers.

Which teams benefit most from using npm?

Teams involved in JavaScript development, particularly those building Node.js applications or web projects, benefit most from npm. It is an industry-standard tool for managing dependencies and packages in these environments.

How does npm compare to Yarn for package management?

npm is the world's largest software registry and an industry standard for JavaScript package management, offering a massive ecosystem and good tooling. Historically, npm has faced criticisms like slower performance compared to alternatives like Yarn, though both aim to manage project dependencies.

What kind of limitations might a user encounter with npm?

Users might encounter limitations such as security concerns, dependency issues, and historically slow performance with npm. Other potential challenges include lock file conflicts and occasional registry incidents.

How is npm priced?

npm is available on a free tier, allowing users to access its core package management functionalities. Paid plans are offered for those requiring additional usage and features beyond the free offering.

Can npm be used for version control?

While npm is categorized under Developer Tools and Hosting & Deployment, it also has aspects related to Version Control through its package management. It helps manage specific versions of packages within a project, ensuring consistent development environments.

Source: npmjs.com

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