How to Install an npm Project

This guide concludes by demonstrating how to install and utilize a pre-existing npm project. This is a common practice, significantly simplifying development compared to manual configuration of individual components. We'll use a real-world SvelteKit static blog starter project as an example.

Guide Chapters

1. Who is this guide for?
2. What does "npm" mean?
3. What is the command line?
4. What is Node?
5. What is a package manager?
6. How do you install npm?
7. How do you install npm packages?
8. What are npm commands?
9. How do you install an existing npm project? (You are here!)

A Real-World Example: SvelteKit Static Blog Starter

This guide uses a SvelteKit static blog starter project. This project, pre-configured with numerous packages, effectively demonstrates the process. (Note: Prior SvelteKit knowledge isn't required.) SvelteKit leverages Vite, an npm package providing modern build tools and a fast development server.

Cloning the Project

Cloning, essentially copying the project, can be done in two ways:

1. GitHub UI: Navigate to the GitHub repository, click the "Code" dropdown, and select "Download ZIP."
2. Command Line: Using the command line, navigate to your desired project directory and execute:

npx degit https://github.com/josh-collinsworth/sveltekit-blog-starter.git sveltekit-blog-starter

npx degit clones the project without Git history.

After cloning, a sveltekit-blog-starter folder is created. Open it in your code editor, open a terminal, and run npm install (or npm i). Any vulnerability warnings can be safely ignored for this demonstration project.

Running the Server and Making Changes

The package.json file contains the development server command:

npm run dev

Executing this command starts the server (accessible at http://localhost:3000). Changes to files (Sass, Markdown, Svelte components) are reflected instantly in the browser.

Understanding Imports

This section highlights the importance of imports in npm projects. The guide showcases both ES6 imports (the modern standard) and the older CommonJS style. The key is that npm handles the resolution of package imports, simplifying development. ES6 imports require a bundler/compiler for processing.

Building the Final Site

Most npm projects have two main phases: development and production build. The command:

npm run build

creates a production-ready build folder containing optimized static files (HTML, CSS, JavaScript). npm run preview allows viewing the built site.

Modern Deployment

Modern deployment often integrates with services like Netlify or Vercel, automating the build and deployment process upon code pushes to the main branch.

Conclusion

This guide comprehensively covered npm, from its fundamentals to installing and utilizing existing projects. The focus was on practical application and understanding, providing a solid foundation for further exploration. ← Chapter 8 Guide chapters

1. Who is this guide for?
2. What does "npm" mean?
3. What is the command line?
4. What is Node?
5. What is a package manager?
6. How do you install npm?
7. How do you install npm packages?
8. What are npm commands?
9. How do you install an existing npm project? (You are here!)

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