Why do we need to use package.json?
I am new to programming languages. I tried to explore websocket with java script on this site , but I don't understand why I need to use package.json . This is my package.json file code
`{
"name": "module-name",
"version": "10.3.1",
"description": "An example module to illustrate the usage of a package.json",
"author": "Your Name <you.name@example.org>",
"contributors": [{
"name": "Foo Bar",
"email": "foo.bar@example.com"
}],
"bin": {
"module-name": "./bin/module-name"
},
"scripts": {
"test": "vows --spec --isolate",
"start": "node index.js",
"predeploy": "echo im about to deploy",
"postdeploy": "echo ive deployed",
"prepublish": "coffee --bare --compile --output lib/foo src/foo/*.coffee"
},
"main": "lib/foo.js",
"repository": {
"type": "git",
"url": "https://github.com/nodejitsu/browsenpm.org"
},
"bugs": {
"url": "https://github.com/nodejitsu/browsenpm.org/issues"
},
"keywords": [
"nodejitsu",
"example",
"browsenpm"
],
"dependencies": {
"primus": "*",
"async": "~0.8.0",
"express": "4.2.x",
"winston": "git://github.com/flatiron/winston#master",
"bigpipe": "bigpipe/pagelet",
"plates": "https://github.com/flatiron/plates/tarball/master"
},
"devDependencies": {
"vows": "^0.7.0",
"assume": "<1.0.0 || >=2.3.1 <2.4.5 || >=2.5.2 <3.0.0",
"pre-commit": "*"
},
"preferGlobal": true,
"private": true,
"publishConfig": {
"registry": "https://your-private-hosted-npm.registry.nodejitsu.com"
},
"subdomain": "foobar",
"analyze": true,
"license": "MIT"
}`
but I don't understand why I need to use it. I've tried searching on google but can't find anything useful. One more thing, if I am creating package.json then why do I need to write dependencies ? why is it needed? Please explain in poor man saying that I am not that good in English.
You DO NOT NEED package.json. However, you most likely want this. As you make larger applications with node.js, you will find that using other people's code is the best solution for writing the same.
npm has many packages that people want to use over and over again. package.json provides an easy way for people to keep track of the packages they use in their application.
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