Curious about npm install options
I’ve been following some Node.js tutorials and noticed a command that looks like this:
npm install --save some-package
I’m not sure what the --save part does. Does it change how the package is installed? Or maybe it affects the project in some way?
If anyone could break down what this option means and when I should use it, that would be super helpful. I’m still new to npm and want to make sure I’m using it correctly in my projects.
Thanks in advance for any explanations!
hey there! the ‘–save’ flag used to be important, but now it’s kinda outdated. npm automatically saves packages to ur package.json these days. but it’s still good to know about it for older stuff. just remember to check ur package.json after installing to make sure everything’s there. happy coding!
I’ve been using npm for a while now, and I can shed some light on the ‘–save’ flag. Back in the day, it was crucial for adding packages to your project’s dependencies. But here’s the thing - npm has evolved. These days, it automatically saves packages to your package.json file when you install them.
That said, knowing about ‘–save’ is still useful. You might encounter it in older projects or tutorials. Plus, there’s a variant called ‘–save-dev’ that’s still relevant. It’s for dev-only tools like testing frameworks or build scripts.
One tip from experience: always double-check your package.json after installs. It’s saved me from headaches when deploying projects. And remember, keeping your production and development dependencies separate is a good practice for cleaner, more manageable projects.
In older versions of npm, the ‘–save’ flag was necessary to add the installed package to your project’s dependencies in the package.json file. With current versions of npm, this behavior is automatic, so you no longer need to specify ‘–save’. However, understanding its usage remains important when referring to older tutorials or projects. Additionally, when installing packages meant for development purposes, such as testing frameworks, using ‘–save-dev’ will ensure these packages are listed under devDependencies, which keeps production packages separate.