Is there a way to install express without using NPM?

[Anthony Kong]

I'm just curious.  I thought I could reference express by requiring the relative directory, but no go:

var express = require("./node_modules/express");

Any ideas?

Thanks.

[TJ Holowaychuk]

you can use NODE_PATH, it's basically PATH.. but for node :D haha

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TJ Holowaychuk

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[Anthony Kong]

Sorry, I'm kind of a noob.  Do you mean set my NODE_PATH in my bash profile?

Or am I somehow able to use NODE_PATH programmatically in my app?

[Alex Katebi]

Yes. Just git clone the express. Then go to the examples.
Don't forget to set the git tag: git checkout 2.5.0
You will see how it is done in the examples.

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[Anthony Kong]

Thanks.

I just tried to run the helloworld example and it gave me an error.

node.js:134

        throw e; // process.nextTick error, or 'error' event on first tick

        ^

Error: Cannot find module 'connect'

    at Function._resolveFilename (module.js:320:11)

    at Function._load (module.js:266:25)

    at require (module.js:348:19)

    at Object.<anonymous> (/Users/Kong_iMac/workspace-node/express/lib/express.js:13:15)

    at Module._compile (module.js:404:26)

    at Object..js (module.js:410:10)

    at Module.load (module.js:336:31)

    at Function._load (module.js:297:12)

    at require (module.js:348:19)

    at Object.<anonymous> (/Users/Kong_iMac/workspace-node/express/examples/helloworld/app.js:6:15)

I have a feeling that if I did npm install -d this would run fine.  I'm guessing that npm does some global magic that makes everything work nicely?

Something to do with the node_modules folder in /usr/local/lib ?

Thanks again.

[Alex Katebi]

First make sure that you have the latest stable node which is v0.4.12 do "node -v"

Then clone the express git. Then do "git branch -r" then do "git branch origin/2.x"

Then do "npm install -d" 

Now you should be able to go to the example directory and run the helloworld without any problems.

[Anthony Kong]

Yeah, I'm certain that if I run npm install -d, it will work.

But the whole point of this exercise is to avoid using npm.  I guess the broader question could be "how does npm link node modules (such as express) with node"?

[vision media [ Tj Holowaychuk ]]

that's the point of a package manager really, otherwise you have to look at package.json, find all the deps, add them all in manually etc

Tj Holowaychuk
Vision Media
President & Creative Lead