npm-rb

View documentation for the original command

$ tldr npm-rebuild

npm-rb [<npm_command>] [<npm_options>] [<arguments>]

npm-rb install
npm-rb run build
npm-rb --version

<npm_command>
    Any valid npm command (e.g., install, update, run, test, start).

<npm_options>
    Any valid options supported by the npm command being executed (e.g., --save-dev, --global, --prefix).

<arguments>
    Additional arguments passed directly to the npm command or its sub-processes.

npm-rb is a hypothetical or custom command-line utility designed to provide a seamless interface for Ruby projects to interact with the Node Package Manager (npm). While not a standard Linux command or a widely distributed standalone tool, it typically manifests as a shell script or a Ruby gem wrapper that streamlines the execution of npm commands within a Ruby-centric development environment.

The primary goal of such a utility would be to simplify workflows where Ruby applications (e.g., Rails applications using Webpack or other JavaScript tooling) need to manage Node.js dependencies. It might simply proxy arguments directly to the underlying npm executable, or it could add Ruby-specific logic for configuration management, environment setup, or integration with Ruby build systems. Its existence often points to a desire to unify dependency management or automate tasks across polyglot project stacks.

npm-rb is not a standard Linux command and is generally not available out-of-the-box. Its functionality, existence, and specific syntax are entirely dependent on whether it has been custom-implemented in a particular development environment, project, or by a specific Ruby gem. Users attempting to execute npm-rb without a pre-existing definition will likely encounter a "command not found" error. If it exists, it is typically a thin wrapper script, so its behavior is closely tied to the npm version and configuration available on the system.

The main purpose of npm-rb is to create a more integrated and consistent developer experience for projects that use both Ruby and Node.js. It's often implemented as a simple shell script (`#!/bin/sh`) or a Ruby script (`#!/usr/bin/env ruby`) that takes command-line arguments and passes them through to the npm executable. Some advanced implementations might add logic for detecting project environments, managing `package.json` files, or integrating with Ruby task runners like Rake.

It's important to distinguish between a custom shell alias (e.g., `alias npm-rb='npm'`) and a more elaborate script. While an alias merely renames the npm command, a script named npm-rb would offer the flexibility to inject custom logic, environment variables, or default behaviors before or after invoking npm.

The concept behind npm-rb likely emerged from the increasing prevalence of polyglot development stacks, particularly Ruby-on-Rails applications integrating heavily with JavaScript front-end tooling (like Webpack, Babel, etc.) managed by npm. Developers often sought ways to unify or simplify the management of both Ruby (via Bundler/Gems) and JavaScript (via npm) dependencies.

Rather than a formal project, npm-rb typically represents a class of custom scripts or internal tools created by teams to provide a consistent interface or automate specific tasks, bridging the two distinct package management ecosystems within a single workflow.

npm(1), ruby(1), gem(1), bundle(1)