NPM vs NPX | Node.js | Page 1

digital tree Mar 12, 2026, 6:54 PM

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Hello, I was reading a bit about the difference between npm and npx. From what I've understood, npx allows us to run a command directly without having to specify the path to the node_modules?

Is this the only advantage it provides? With npm we would have to provide the path to the node_modules files?

I also read something, if we run a particular command with npx and we can't find the package installed; is the packages installed temporarily then deleted after, like when we interupt the terminal?

tired wagon Mar 12, 2026, 6:59 PM

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npm is for installing and managing project dependencies, npx is for easily running shared cli tools with a similar set of safety guarantees as provided by npm

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npx was created because there was a proliferation of project setup tools that asked to be installed via npm --install --global <tool>, get used once, and then it just hangs out forever in your global scope (waiting for you to use it again, 2 years later, and get tripped up on the old version you have installed)

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so no instead of npm -ig <setup tool>; setup-tool; npm -ug <setup tool> you just do npx setup-tool

digital tree Mar 12, 2026, 7:05 PM

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tired wagon npx was created because there was a proliferation of project setup tools that as...

question, normally I know npm is used to install packages but when we use it with the --install --global <tool> flags, is that different from installing "normal packages", what is the difference between a package vs a tool in this case pls

tired wagon Mar 12, 2026, 7:06 PM

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you import most packages, tools put stuff in node_modules/.bin

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tools are executables I use on my terminal, other packages are libraries that I import into my code

digital tree Mar 12, 2026, 7:06 PM

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when we import it's not in /node_modules/.bin?

tired wagon Mar 12, 2026, 7:06 PM

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poke around 👀

digital tree Mar 12, 2026, 7:07 PM

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yep will be back :p

digital tree Mar 12, 2026, 7:07 PM

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tired wagon tools are executables I use on my terminal, other packages are libraries that I ...

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oh ok I didn't know that

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now it make more sense

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thanks !

tired wagon Mar 12, 2026, 7:08 PM

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yep yep

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npm run puts node_modules/.bin in the path, which is why you can do a package.json "scripts" bit like "script": { "start": "vite" }. cuz vite is in node_modules/.bin/vite

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that's where the binary files compiled to run on your computer are stored

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"bin" -> binary

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(even tho they're most often .sh scripts nowadays)

digital tree Mar 12, 2026, 7:10 PM

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yep I see, TIL, thanks !!

iron night Mar 12, 2026, 7:20 PM

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On windows they're made of .bats iirc

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Very awkward you get a vite.bat and vite beside it 😆

digital tree Mar 12, 2026, 7:24 PM

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yeah, currently I have 3 scripts, for each package I guess

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(I'm on windows :c)

#NPM vs NPX