What is the method to access a private npm package through GitHub Actions?

Other Questions NPM
1

I have a question regarding setting up GitHub Actions for working with private npm packages. I’ve created a private npm package under my organization, and I want to trigger a GitHub Action on every push to the main branch for continuous integration and building purposes. However, I’m encountering issues during the pipeline execution, particularly regarding access to my private npm package. Currently, my setup in the node.js.yml file includes configuring an NPM token as an environment variable. Despite this, I receive an error related to read-only access. I’m unclear if I’m missing steps or if there’s a specific configuration required for private packages. Any insights or guidance on how to resolve this would be greatly appreciated.

2

Accessing private npm packages in GitHub Actions requires certain steps for proper authentication. Here’s how to ensure your pipeline has the necessary access:

  1. Set up an NPM token: Ensure you have generated a proper NPM_TOKEN with the right permissions. You can create this token at npm's website. The token needs read access to install the package.
  2. Store the NPM Token as a secret: In your GitHub repository settings, navigate to Settings > Secrets > Actions, and add your token as a secret, e.g., NPM_TOKEN.
  3. Configure the node.js.yml file: Ensure your workflow file uses this token properly. Here’s a minimal example:
    4. name: CI

on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main

jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest

    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v2

      - name: Set up Node.js
        uses: actions/setup-node@v2
        with:
          node-version: '14'
          registry-url: 'https://registry.npmjs.org/'

      - name: Authenticate with npm
        run: echo "//registry.npmjs.org/:_authToken=${NPM_TOKEN}" >> ~/.npmrc
        env:
          NPM_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}

      - name: Install, build, and test
        run: |
          npm install
          npm run build
          npm test
  4. Permissions: Ensure your NPM_TOKEN has the necessary permissions for read access to your private packages.

By following these steps, your GitHub Actions should be able to access the private npm packages without issues. Let me know if you need further assistance!

3

Make sure your NPM_TOKEN has read+write scope and is added to your repo as a secret. Then, in your GitHub Actions node.js.yml, update your job to authenticate:

jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v2
      - name: Set up Node.js
        uses: actions/setup-node@v2
        with:
          node-version: '14'
          registry-url: 'https://registry.npmjs.org/'
      - name: Authenticate NPM
        run: echo "//registry.npmjs.org/:_authToken=${NPM_TOKEN}" >> ~/.npmrc
        env:
          NPM_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.NPM_TOKEN }}
      - name: Install Dependencies
        run: npm install

Ensure your token is accurate in settings under Settings > Secrets.