How to make a nodejs script be a CLI tool in linux?

Question

I made a javascript file mytool.js, it has some dependencies (in package.json).

Now I can execute typing in

~/mynodes/mytool $ node mytool

But if I change the working directory I can't use this command anymore because previously it was run locally. What I want to achieve is to be able to just type :

~$ mytool

(wherever I am in my system's filesystem and without typing node before).

Should I install it manually ?

If yes, where is the common location to install a personal nodejs script in a unix-like system ?

Or is there a npm-like command to install a personal script system wide ?

Answer 1

When you add a "bin" key in your package.json:

  "bin": {
    "mytool": "mytool.js"
  },

then you will be able to install your script with npm install -g and it will be automatically added where it should be (to a place where other globally installed cli tools are installed, which should be in your PATH).

You can see this simple project as an example:

• https://github.com/rsp/node-websocket-vs-socket.io

It was created as an example for this answer but it does what you need:

1. it has a single script to run
2. it has external dependencies
3. it can be installed globally
4. it can be run from any place with a single command

Note that you don't need to publish your script to npm to be able to install it - though you can do it, or you can also install projects directly from GitHub (including private repos) - but you can also install a module that you have in your local directory or a tarball:

npm install -g module-on-npm
npm install -g user/repo-on-github
npm install -g /your/local/directory
npm install -g /your/local/tarball.tgz

For more options, see:

• https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/install

Also keep in mind that for your program to be able to be executed from anywhere, you need to use paths relative to __dirname or __filename if you need to access your own files relative to your code. See:

• https://nodejs.org/api/globals.html#globals_dirname

Answer 2

1. Put a shebang line at the top of the script (e.g. #!/usr/bin/env node).
2. Put the script in a directory in your $PATH
3. Give it executable permission (e.g. chmod +x /usr/local/bin/example.js)

Answer 3

First option:

You can run your file globally by putting on the first line of the file : #!/usr/bin/env node, copying it to /usr/local/bin and make it executable: sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/yourfile.js and then you can call it from where you want with yourfile.js

Second option:

Make your local file executable and create an executable bash script which calls your local file and put it in /usr/local/bin and then call the bashfile globally.