Install packages

Startpod installs public npm packages directly into the pod's virtual filesystem. Package installation is enabled by default.

const install = await startpod.spawn("npm", ["install"])

install.output.pipeTo(
  new WritableStream({
    write(chunk) {
      console.log(chunk)
    },
  })
)

const exitCode = await install.exit
if (exitCode !== 0) throw new Error(`npm install exited with ${exitCode}`)

Startpod reads the mounted package.json, fetches packages from npm, verifies their integrity, and writes node_modules into the virtual filesystem.

Repeat installs

Startpod caches a compatible installed dependency tree in IndexedDB. A later install with the same lockfile can restore that tree without downloading every package again.

Listen for install-diagnostics when your interface needs to distinguish a warm cache hit from a cold install:

startpod.on("install-diagnostics", ({ warmStart }) => {
  console.log(warmStart ? "Restored dependencies" : "Installed dependencies")
})

Registry access

The default registry is npm. Authenticated and private-registry workflows are not a broad compatibility promise yet. See limitations.