package-execution

JavaScript package execution

ipx runs package bins from the nearest installed node_modules; npx is an alias with the same behavior. If no local bin or installed package resolves, it normally installs the requested package and runs its bin.

Before that network install, mapped package names that duplicate SLICC built-ins redirect to the built-in instead. The command exits non-zero and prints an actionable stderr hint naming the built-in and suggesting an invocation with the original arguments. The hint may also include an exact ipk add bootstrap; run that bootstrap first when present, then use the suggested built-in.

Prefer the built-in. To deliberately preserve install-and-run behavior for the npm package, put --force before its name:

npx --force <package> [args...]
ipx --force <package> [args...]

Already-installed packages, locally resolved bins, and unmapped package names keep their normal behavior. Use commands to discover available built-ins instead of maintaining a package mapping here.

Installing and removing packages

ipk install <pkg> (also npm install, npm i, ipk add) installs into <cwd>/node_modules and records the package in the nearest package.json. ipk install -g <pkg> installs into the shared global prefix at /shared/lib/node_modules, records direct dependencies in /shared/lib/package.json, and publishes PATH-visible .jsh delegators under /shared/bin for package bins.

ipk install lodash              # local project install
ipk install -g typescript       # global install (shared prefix + PATH bin)
npm uninstall -g typescript     # remove from global manifest and reconcile tree
npm list -g                     # list direct global dependencies
npm root -g                     # print /shared/lib/node_modules

Global bins installed with -g are on the default $PATH via /shared/bin/<name>.jsh delegators — invoke them by bare name from any cwd (delegators run ipx --global <bin> so a same-named local package does not shadow the global install). Local uninstall/list/root work without -g against the cwd package.json.