What are the best NPM packages? What are five of the most popular Node js package modules? What package does Node js use? What is the most used NPM package?
Looking for answers to these questions? Keep reading.
Node js can handle huge traffic while maintaining seamless performance. As a result, some major tech companies and new-age startups have adopted Node js to scale their businesses.
Node is the market leader in asynchronous frameworks due to its popular demand. And apparently, Node isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
Starting with Node js is pretty straightforward. Clear guidelines exist and hundreds of projects are available on GitHubfor developers to read, review and analyze.
Also, Node js has the most popular package manager – NPM. NPM is the default package manager for the JS runtime environment Node js. Thanks to the modules and libraries available through the NPM package manager, creating a website takes only a few minutes.
Developers love these NPM packages and use them extensively in web development. However, they also get overwhelmed because there are thousands of packages. So, here is a list of the top 10 NPM packages for Node js developers.
Why should developers use NPM packages for node.js projects?
Using NPM packages for Node.js allows developers to easily include and manage external modules in their projects. These packages, which are published on the NPM registry, can provide additional functionality or utilities that would be time-consuming or difficult to implement from scratch. Additionally, using packages from the NPM registry allows developers to benefit from the work of other developers and easily share and collaborate on their own code.
Using NPM packages in a Node.js project can provide several benefits, including:
Reusability: NPM packages allow developers to use pre-existing code, which can save time and effort in development.
Community support: Many popular NPM packages have a large and active community of developers who contribute to and maintain the package, providing bug fixes, new features, and overall improvements.
Dependency management: NPM automatically manages dependencies between packages, ensuring that the correct versions of dependencies are installed and updated.
Easy to share: NPM packages can be easily shared and installed across different projects, making collaboration and code sharing more efficient.
Large selection: NPM has a large selection of packages available, covering a wide range of functionality, including libraries for server-side rendering, data validation, and more.
Is it safe to use NPM packages for Node.js?
In general, it is safe to use NPM packages for Node.js, as long as you take certain precautions. Here are some best practices to follow when using NPM packages:
Use packages from reputable sources: Make sure you are using packages from reputable sources, such as well-established and widely-used packages, or packages that have been recommended by trusted developers.
Keep packages up-to-date: Regularly update your packages to ensure that they are using the latest version, which may include security fixes.
Check for known vulnerabilities: Use a tool like NPM audit to check for known vulnerabilities in your packages, and take steps to address any issues that are found.
Be mindful of package permissions: Be aware of the permissions that a package is requesting, and only install packages that have the minimum permissions required for your application.
Read the documentation: Before installing a package, read the documentation to understand what it does and whether it is suitable for your project.
It’s worth noting that, as with any open-source software, it’s always a good idea to check the code of the package you’re using, and see if it contains any suspicious or malicious code.
By following these best practices, you can ensure that your use of NPM packages is as safe as possible.
10 Most Popular NPM Packages
Express
Express.js is the simplest and fastest Node.js web framework. This framework was designed to be flexible enough to produce single-page apps, multi-page apps, and hybrid apps for desktop and mobile devices. Express’s architecture is compact and provides great performance. Express is the most popular Node js framework for developing online apps and APIs, and solid tooling for HTTP servers. Other popular Node js frameworks Sails, Hapi, and Nest js are based on Express.
Features of Express js
Robust routing
Focus on high-quality performance
Super high test coverage
HTTP helpers (such as redirection and caching)
Content negation
Executable for developing apps and APIs
Async
Async or Asynchronous is widely used in Node js to ensure that development actions do not stall. Other processes can proceed even before the first action is completed thanks to asynchronous I/O. Also, Async monitors workflow via queues, allowing developers to add extra tasks, extra callbacks, and manage failures with callbacks. As a result, Async is more versatile and reliable for managing complicated dependencies. Async js provides functions like ‘map’, ‘filter’, ‘reduce’, ‘parallel’, ‘series’, ‘waterfall’, and ‘each’.
Features of Async
Async supports inline functions and text strings.
Error handling from the dependency queue.
The use of AsyncLocalStorge within Async js creates asynchronous states within callbacks and promise chains.
A collection of Async functions controls the flow through the script.
Async helps developers avoid memory leaks.
Async helps developers integrate AsyncResource with EvenEmitter.
Async supports asynchronous functions.
Lodash
Lodash is a modern JavaScript library with many useful features. The popular Underscore.js utility library influenced Lodash. Built-in functions in Lodash make app development more efficient. With Lodash, developers can utilize a single line of code instead of writing a common function multiple times. Also, Lodash makes Node js coding easier by taking the hassle out of working with common programming functions such as arrays, objects, numbers, strings, dates, etc.
Features of Lodash
Keep the Node js code minimal and neat.
Developers only needto remember Lodash functions. This action makes coding easier.
New developers can understand Lodash quickly.
Cloudinary
If you’re looking for a way to manage the photos in your web application, Cloudinary is a great place to start. Cloudinary is a full-fledged cloud service with many valuable features. From uploading visual content to resizing photographs and cropping options, Cloudinary has it all. Cloudinary is user-friendly enough so both new developers and experts can benefit from it. API allows developers to seamlessly incorporate Cloudinary into any project or application. However, they will need to sign up for a free account to try Cloudinary. Cloudinary’s official website has all of the additional information about its use, setup, configuration, embedding, and more.
Features of Cloudinary
Remote fetch, auto-backup, and revision tracking.
Image and video transformations.
Video transcoding and adaptive streaming.
High-performance delivery through a CDN.
Support for forums, tickets, and email.
Access to free add-ons.
Axios
Axios is an HTTP client API framework that allows developers to make promises while making a request. Requests communicate with the server, and Axios responds with a promise as to whether your request was fulfilled or refused. Among many developers, Axios is gaining a lot of traction, thanks to Axios-fetch, Axios-debug-log, Axios-mock-adapter, Axios-API-versioning, Axios-VCR, and other powerful third-party additions. Axios can handle GET, POST, DELETE, and PUT requests.
Features of Axios
Allows developers to make simultaneous requests.
Axios supports promised base requests.
Transforms responses and requests to JSON data.
Requests and responses to interceptions.
Support HTTP requests for Node js apps
Supports HTTP requests from browsers.
Karma
Node js developers must test their applications to ensure they are stable, dependable, and perform well. This job requires a Karma package. Karma’s primary goal is to provide a productive testing environment to developers.
Features of Karma
Tests code in real browsers.
Tests code in multiple browsers (mobile phones, tablets, and desktops).
Controls the whole testing workflow from command or IDE.
Executes tests after every save.
Executes tests locally during development.
Executes tests on a continuous integration server.
Molecular
Molecular is a Node js microservices library that is fast, modern, and powerful. Molecular helps Node js developers in creating efficient, dependable, and scalable applications.
Molecular supports event-driven architecture with balancing.
Molecular supports versioned services.
Molecular has built-in caching solutions such as memory and Reds.
Molecular has built-in metrics features with reporters, such as Console, CSV, Datagod, and StatsD.
Molecular has a built-in service registry and dynamic service discovery.
Molecular employs a request-reply concept.
Molecular has fault tolerance features such as Fallback, Timeout, Retry, Bullhead, and Circuit Breaker.
Grunt
With a task runner, Grunt developers can reduce the number of tasks required to maintain a project, automate minifications, compile jobs, testing, code linting, and other duties.
Features of Grunt
Grunt has a plethora of plugins that can automate even the most monotonous jobs.
Grunt allows developers to publish Grunt-specific plugins through NPM.
PM2
For most Node js users, process management is a top concern. PM2 includes process management for production applications and a load balancer to assist with performance adjustments. PM2 allows developers to keep their applications online indefinitely. This step enables developers to reload applications without experiencing any downtime.
Features of PM2
Behavior configuration
Container Integration
Watch & Reload
Log management
Monitoring
Max memory reload
Mocha
Mocha is a feature-rich JS test framework that runs on Node js and the browser, making asynchronous testing simple and enjoyable. Mocha tests are executed sequentially, allowing flexible and precise reporting while mapping uncaught exceptions to the appropriate test cases. Related post:12 Best Node js Frameworks for 2022 Features of Mocha
Multiple browser support.
Simple async support, including promises.
Test coverage reporting.
String diff support.
JavaScript API for running tests.
Auto-detects and disables coloring for non-TTYs.
Async test timeout support.
Conclusion
Open-source frameworks help developers improve their skills in delivering professional applications that are lightweight and reliable. Therefore, knowing these NPM packages is a must for developers.
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FAQs
What are the best NPM packages? Here is the list of the most popular NPM Packages:
Express
AsyncJS
Lodash
Cloudinary
Axios
Karma
Molecular
Grunt
PM2
Mocha
How many packages are there in NPM? Over 1.3 million packages are available in the main NPM registry.
What is the NPM package in Node JS? NPM Inc. maintains NPM, a package manager for the JavaScript programming language. For the JS runtime environment Node js, NPM is the default package manager.
How do NPM packages work? NPM install is a command that downloads a package. NPM install can be used with or without parameters. NPM install downloads dependencies defined in a package.json file and creates a node module folder with the installed modules when called without parameters.
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Ankit is a writer and editor who has contributed his expertise to Govt of India, Reebok, Abbott, TimesPro, Chitale Bandhu, InsideAIML, Kolte Patil Dev., etc.
