node npm cli walkthrough

Node.js, npm, and cli walkthrough

High level intro to Node.js

• Node.js (Node) is written in C and JavaScript (JS)
• Browsers have JS engines that run vanilla JS
  • i.e. vanilla JS works in client-side environments
• Node is a JS engine that is packaged with other tools
  • allows it to run in non-browser environments
  • e.g. servers, command line interface (cli), and hardware
• Node "uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model"

Versions

• https://nodejs.org/en/
• v4.4.7 LTS versus v6.3.0 (Long Term Support vs. bleeding edge)
  • semantic versioning - SemVer - http://semver.org/
  • https://medium.com/@nodesource/node-js-is-semver-8b3938ae8d24#.g0ctwjf41
• nvm - Node Version Manager
  • OS X & Ubuntu - https://github.com/creationix/nvm
  • Windows
    • https://github.com/coreybutler/nvm-windows
    • https://github.com/marcelklehr/nodist

Nitrus

• https://www.nitrous.io
  • also recommend https://c9.io but it requires a credit card
  • get an account
  • create a new "Workspace" with a "Node.js" template
  • enlarge the console tab
• node repl
  • ctrl-c, ctrl-c to exit
• high level intro to npm
• npm init
  • review console dialog and "package.json" file
  • https://docs.npmjs.com/files/package.json
  • http://browsenpm.org/package.json
• npm install cowsay --global --save // only for presentation - it is NOT normal to do both --global & --save
  • bash (must explicitly enter the Nitrous "bash" terminal)
  • cowsay "moo"
  • cowsay -b "You will be assimilated"
  • cowsay -f tux "Always decked out for black tie shindig!"
• quick highlight of npm and a few related sites
  • https://www.npmjs.com
  • http://npmsearch.com
  • http://browsenpm.org
  • https://www.npmjs.com/package/cowsay
• discuss differences between --global --save --save-dev
• explore node_modules and nvm
  • examine node_modules
  • node --version (shell)
  • nvm install v6
  • node --version
  • delete "node_modules" directory
  • npm install

Overview of http://nodeschool.io/ - workshoppers

• npm install learnyounode -g (shell)

Recommend Next Steps (for learners' to do on their own later:

• http://nodeschool.io/ - workshoppers
• https://blog.risingstack.com/node-hero-tutorial-getting-started-with-node-js

Additional Resources

Learning Node

• http://github.com/isaacs/npm/issues
• irc://irc.freenode.net/#node.js
• https://github.com/rockbot/node-for-beginners
• http://blog.modulus.io/build-your-first-http-server-in-nodejs
• streams - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD2dZw9iHCc

Hardware and Robotics

• https://www.tessel.io/ - Tessel 2 is a robust IoT and robotics development platform. Leverage all the libraries of Node.JS to create useful devices in minutes with Tessel.
• http://nodebots.io/ - Learn how to make robots powered by JavaScript
• https://cylonjs.com/ - JavaScript Robotics, By Your Command