📦 NPX (Node Package eXecute) on Debian Cheat Sheet #

# NPX execution flow:
# 1. Check if command exists in $PATH
# 2. Check local node_modules/.bin
# 3. If not found, download from npm registry
# 4. Execute the package
# 5. Clean up temporary files

# Traditional approach - install then use
npm install -g create-react-app
create-react-app my-app

# Or install locally
npm install create-react-app
./node_modules/.bin/create-react-app my-app

# Direct execution - no installation needed
npx create-react-app my-app

# Always uses latest version
npx cowsay "Hello World"

# Add NodeSource repository
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_lts.x | sudo -E bash -

# Install Node.js and npm (includes npx)
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y nodejs

# Verify installation
node --version
npm --version
npx --version

# Install from Debian repos (may be older version)
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y nodejs npm

# Verify installation
node --version
npm --version

# Install NVM
curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.0/install.sh | bash
source ~/.bashrc

# Install latest LTS Node.js
nvm install --lts
nvm use --lts

# NPX comes bundled
npx --version

# Install uv first
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh

# Install Node.js via uv
uv tool install nodejs

# Verify installation
node --version
npx --version

# Run a package without installing
npx cowsay "Hello Debian!"

# Create React app
npx create-react-app my-react-app

# Start HTTP server in current directory
npx http-server

# Run TypeScript compiler
npx tsc --init

# Execute Prettier formatter
npx prettier --write .

# Use specific version
npx create-react-app@4.0.0 my-app

# Use version range
npx typescript@~4.5.0 tsc --version

# Use beta/alpha versions
npx create-next-app@beta my-next-app

# Force use local version (if exists)
npx --no-install prettier --version

# Force download fresh version
npx --ignore-existing create-react-app my-app

# Check what would be executed
npx --dry-run create-react-app my-app

# Package specification
npx -p <package> <command>          # Specify package explicitly
npx -p lodash -p axios node script.js  # Multiple packages

# Installation control
npx --no-install <command>          # Only use if already installed
npx --ignore-existing <command>     # Always download fresh

# Output control
npx --quiet <command>               # Suppress npx output
npx --verbose <command>             # Show detailed output

# Shell and environment
npx -c "echo $npm_package_name"     # Execute shell command
npx --shell=bash <command>          # Specify shell

# Node.js options
npx --node-arg="--inspect" <command>  # Pass args to node
npx --node-arg="--max-old-space-size=4096" <command>

# Cache management
npx --cache /tmp/custom-cache <command>

# User configuration
npx --userconfig ~/.custom-npmrc <command>

# Version and help
npx --version                       # Show npx version
npx --help                         # Show help information

# Scaffolding and generators
npx create-react-app my-app
npx create-next-app my-next-app
npx create-vue@latest my-vue-app
npx @angular/cli new my-angular-app
npx create-svelte my-svelte-app

# Build tools and bundlers
npx webpack --mode production
npx rollup -c
npx vite build
npx parcel build src/index.html

# Testing frameworks
npx jest --init
npx playwright install
npx cypress open
npx vitest run

# Linting and formatting
npx eslint src/
npx prettier --write .
npx stylelint "**/*.css"
npx markdownlint "**/*.md"

# Type checking
npx tsc --noEmit
npx flow check

# Security auditing
npx audit-ci
npx snyk test
npx npm-check-updates

# HTTP servers
npx http-server -p 8080
npx serve build/
npx live-server

# File operations
npx rimraf node_modules
npx mkdirp deep/nested/path
npx cpx "src/**/*.js" dist/

# Package management
npx npm-check-updates -u
npx depcheck
npx license-checker

# Run from GitHub directly
npx github:user/repo
npx github:sindresorhus/trash-cli file.txt

# Git utilities
npx husky install
npx lint-staged
npx commitizen
npx semantic-release

# Always verify package names to avoid typosquatting
# Correct: create-react-app
# Malicious: create-react-ap, creat-react-app

# Check package info before running
npm info create-react-app
npm view create-react-app repository

# Use specific versions for production
npx create-react-app@5.0.1 my-app

# Disable script execution for safety
npm config set ignore-scripts true

# Use --no-install to only run local packages
npx --no-install prettier --version

# Review package contents
npm pack create-react-app --dry-run

# Use dedicated user for npm operations
sudo adduser --system --group npmuser
sudo -u npmuser npx create-react-app my-app

# Limit network access (using firejail)
firejail --net=none npx local-package

# Use container isolation
docker run --rm -v $(pwd):/app -w /app node:18 npx create-react-app my-app

# Regular security audits
npx audit-ci --moderate
npx better-npm-audit audit

# Check for known vulnerabilities
npx snyk test
npx safety-cli scan

# Monitor package changes
npx npm-check-updates --doctor

# Enable shell fallback for bash
npx --shell-auto-fallback bash >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

# Enable for zsh
npx --shell-auto-fallback zsh >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

# Now unknown commands automatically try npx
unknown-command --help  # Tries: npx unknown-command --help

# Execute specific binary from package
npx -p @angular/cli ng new my-app
npx -p typescript tsc --version

# Multiple packages in single command
npx -p cowsay -p lolcatjs -c 'cowsay hello | lolcatjs'

# Execute with custom environment
NPM_CONFIG_REGISTRY=https://registry.npmjs.org npx create-react-app my-app

#!/bin/bash
# Script to create and setup React app

APP_NAME=$1
if [ -z "$APP_NAME" ]; then
    echo "Usage: $0 <app-name>"
    exit 1
fi

# Create app
npx create-react-app "$APP_NAME"
cd "$APP_NAME"

# Add additional dependencies
npx -p npm-check-updates ncu -u
npm install

# Setup linting
npx eslint --init

echo "App $APP_NAME created and configured!"

# GitHub Actions example
- name: Setup Node.js
  uses: actions/setup-node@v3
  with:
    node-version: '18'

- name: Run tests with npx
  run: |
    npx jest --ci --coverage
    npx codecov

# GitLab CI example
test:
  script:
    - npx jest --ci
    - npx eslint src/

# Check if npm is installed
npm --version

# Reinstall npm
sudo apt remove nodejs npm
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_lts.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs

# Check PATH
echo $PATH | grep -o '/usr/local/bin\|/usr/bin'

# Fix npm permissions
mkdir ~/.npm-global
npm config set prefix '~/.npm-global'
echo 'export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:$PATH' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

# Alternative: use npx with sudo (not recommended)
sudo npx create-react-app my-app
sudo chown -R $USER:$USER my-app

# Configure proxy
npm config set proxy http://proxy.company.com:8080
npm config set https-proxy http://proxy.company.com:8080

# Use different registry
npm config set registry https://registry.npmjs.org/

# Clear npm cache
npm cache clean --force

# Check package name
npm search create-react-app

# Try with explicit package flag
npx -p create-react-app create-react-app my-app

# Check npm registry status
curl -I https://registry.npmjs.org/

# Clear npx cache
rm -rf ~/.npm/_npx

# Force fresh download
npx --ignore-existing create-react-app my-app

# Use specific version
npx create-react-app@latest my-app

# Verbose output
npx --verbose create-react-app my-app

# Dry run (see what would happen)
npx --dry-run create-react-app my-app

# Check npx configuration
npm config list
npm config get cache
npm config get prefix

# Check installed packages
npm list -g --depth=0

# Pre-download frequently used packages
npx create-react-app --help  # Downloads and caches

# Use local installations for repeated use
npm install -g create-react-app  # Then use directly
create-react-app my-app

# Custom cache location
export NPM_CONFIG_CACHE=/tmp/npm-cache
npx create-react-app my-app

# Use faster registry mirrors
npm config set registry https://registry.npm.taobao.org/

# Enable offline mode (use cached packages only)
npm config set offline true
npx --no-install create-react-app my-app

# Parallel downloads
npm config set maxsockets 20

# Limit memory usage
npx --node-arg="--max-old-space-size=2048" webpack

# Clean up after use
rm -rf ~/.npm/_npx  # Clear npx cache
npm cache clean --force  # Clear npm cache

# Monitor resource usage
htop  # While running npx commands

# One-liner React app with TypeScript
npx create-react-app my-app --template typescript

# Quick HTTP server with CORS
npx http-server -p 3000 --cors

# Instant code formatting
npx prettier --write "**/*.{js,jsx,ts,tsx,json,css,md}"

# Quick package info
npx npm-check-updates --doctor

# Generate package.json
npx npm init -y

# Start new project workflow
npx create-react-app my-project
cd my-project
npx husky install
npx lint-staged --init
npx prettier --write .
npm start

# Update all dependencies
npx npm-check-updates -u && npm install

# Security audit
npx audit-ci --moderate

# Clean project
npx rimraf node_modules package-lock.json
npm install

# Check bundle size
npx bundlesize