I’m trying to understand the difference between npm install and npm run build.
Sometimes my project acts weird and fails when I run npm install, but it works fine after npm run build. This has me really puzzled.
Can someone explain how these two commands operate differently and what happens behind the scenes for each process?
Thanks a lot!
As someone who’s worked on numerous Node.js projects, I can shed some light on this. npm install and npm run build serve different purposes in your development workflow.
npm install fetches and installs all the dependencies listed in your package.json file. It’s crucial for setting up your project initially or when you’ve added new packages.
On the other hand, npm run build is a custom script defined in your package.json. It typically compiles, transpiles, or bundles your code for production. This might involve tasks like converting TypeScript to JavaScript, minifying files, or creating a distributable version of your app.
If npm install fails but npm run build works, it could be due to incomplete or corrupted node_modules. Running build might succeed because it’s using previously installed dependencies.
In my experience, clearing your node_modules folder and package-lock.json, then running npm install again often resolves these issues. It ensures you have a clean slate with all dependencies properly installed.
I’ve encountered similar issues in my projects. The key difference lies in their purposes. ‘npm install’ downloads and sets up dependencies, while ‘npm run build’ executes a predefined build script.
When ‘npm install’ fails but ‘npm run build’ works, it often indicates a problem with dependency resolution or caching. I’ve found that clearing the npm cache (npm cache clean --force) before reinstalling can help.
Another trick that’s worked for me is using ‘npm ci’ instead of ‘npm install’. It’s stricter and often resolves inconsistencies.
Remember, ‘npm run build’ might succeed because it’s using cached or partially installed dependencies. Always ensure a clean install before building for production to avoid potential issues down the line.
hey, i’ve seen this problem before. npm install gets your packages, but npm run build does whatever you set it to do in package.json. if install fails but build works, your node_modules might be messed up. try deleting it and the package-lock.json, then run npm install again. that usually fixes things for me