How to Create Your First Hello World NPM Package

Creating your first npm package is easy and fun! Follow this step-by-step guide to get started.

Step 1: Set Up Your Project Folder

1. Create a new folder for your project.
2. Navigate into the folder using your terminal.

mkdir my-first-npm-package
cd my-first-npm-package

Step 2: Initialize Your Package

Run the following command to create a package.json file:

npm init

You'll be prompted to answer questions like package name, version, description, entry point, etc. You can press Enter to accept defaults or provide custom values.

Step 3: Write Your Code

Create an index.js file inside your project folder with the following content:

function helloWorld() {
console.log("Hello, World!");
}

module.exports = helloWorld;

This simple function logs "Hello, World!" to the console.

Step 4: Test Your Code Locally

Run the following command in your terminal to test your code:

node index.js

You should see "Hello, World!" printed in the console.

Step 5: Publish Your Package

1. Log in to npm using:

   npm login

2. Publish your package using:

   npm publish

Your package is now live on npm!

Step 6: Install and Use Your Package

To use your package in another project:

1. Install it via npm:

   npm install <your-package-name>

2. Require and use it in your code:

   const helloWorld = require('<your-package-name>');
   helloWorld();

Congratulations! You've created and published your first npm package!