Introduction
Originally, npm stood for “Node Package Monitor,” which accurately describes the product since you can pair it with Node.js to manage JavaScript packages. Today, npm gives you a lot of tools you can use to manage products built with JavaScript. For example, it offers a very large public npm registry where you can store code.
You can use npm to create private packages, but the company admits you could face security challenges by taking that option. Npm warns that putting sensitive information in the npm registry, even via private packages, could increase the risks of data loss and infrastructure damage. You could even face expensive lawsuits by exposing user data. What seems like an affordable, relatively easy option quickly turns into a serious concern that could cost a lot of money.
Instead of taking a risk with a public npm registry, Packagecloud can help you create a hosted repository that resolves security issues. Do you want to learn more about npm? We’ll cover some of that material below, but you might want to read our post What Is Npm for more background. The good news is that you don’t have to become an npm registry expert to get the job done. Packagecloud has offered npm registry support for years, making it much easier for you to push packages to machines throughout your ecosystem.
Start your free trial with Packagecloud so you can see how npm registry support helps streamline your workflow, avoid complications, and improve security.
Security features that protect your packages
Packagecloud features that add security to your npm registry include:
- SSL encryption.
- Full-site HTTPS prevents misconfigurations that could expose your information.
- A parent-child token system that gives you control over who can access private repositories.
The token system is particularly appealing to many Packagecloud users because it does more than restrict access. It also makes it easy to give access to a trusted individual or group. Use it to foster collaboration within your organization and with partners. It’s a flexible solution that makes every aspect of controlling access easier.
Push packages quickly with CI/CD integrations
Most development teams want reliable continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines that help them improve software over time instead of relying on large, inconvenient updates that can disrupt the user experience.
Packagecloud integrates with popular CI/CD tools so you can make your hosted npm registry more useful than ever. Some of the CI/CD systems you can use with Packagecloud include:
- Buildkite
- Circle CI
- Travis CI
- Jenkins
Now, you can integrate the tools you like most to create a user-friendly system that makes life easier for your developers and helps users get timely updates without serious security concerns. You can learn more about CI/CD tools and their benefits from this blog post: What Are CI/CD Tools and How Do They Work.
Sign up for a free trial with Packagecloud to discover the benefits of a cloud-based package distribution platform that offers hosted registries and supports popular CI/CD systems.
Create a hosted npm registry within seconds
It only takes about 10 seconds to create and configure a hosted npm registry with Packagecloud. After you follow a few steps, you'll add significant functionality and security to your npm registry.
Start installing packages with Yarn
Once you configure your repository as an npm registry, you can start installing packages with yarn add.
Manage your npm packages with powerful APIs
Packagecloud will only process API requests made over HTTPS. API tokens protect sensitive data by only granting access to the users you trust. You can also use Packagecloud API to manage Debian, Java, Python, rpm, and RubyGem packages. The Packagecloud CLI tool lets you manage all your packages through the command-line interface.
Move packages between repositories easily and securely
Packagecloud’s Promote API makes it extremely easy and secure to move packages between repositories. Perhaps you create separate npm registries for each of your products. Some of the code from one product might work well with a different project. Just move the package to the right npm registry to update your code.
You can even move different types of packages, such as Debian or rpm, to your repository. The system has an agnostic environment, so it can support any language or operating system, whether moving packages between repositories or pushing packages to the machines in your IT ecosystem. You can move packages between repositories via Packagecloud’s web UI or your CI/CD system. Packagecloud can conform to the option that’s better for you.
Gain more insights from your npm registry
Packagecloud’s Stats API collects information about how users consume your products. You can download data related to specific products or view statistics about all your repositories. Now, you have a simplified way to gain insights into how your users (including employees and vendors) interact with one or all of your products. You can even get handy graphs that make it easy to see how many people accessed your hosted npm registry and other repositories over time.
Managing your npm registry has never been easier or more secure
Npm can give you a lot of excellent features, but they don’t always meet the needs of organizations that prioritize security. By configuring a Packagecloud repository as your npm registry, you gain security features, more control over your packages, and more flexibility with how you manage access to your code.
It doesn’t take much effort to set up a hosted, private repository that reduces security threats while improving functionality. If you already like using npm, you'll love using it in combination with Packagecloud. Putting the two together gives you an incredibly powerful way to manage code, distribute packages, and prevent vulnerabilities in individual products as well as your entire IT ecosystem.
How Packagecloud can help
Packagecloud is a cloud-based service designed to distribute software packages to environments and machines throughout your IT ecosystem. You can use Packagecloud to store all your code in a hosted repository, eliminating the security concerns of relying on public repositories and lowering the expense of investing in IT infrastructure.
Since Packagecloud takes an agnostic approach to software updates, you can push packages to all of the machines in your network, regardless of operating systems and programming languages. Just write your code, add it to your repository, and rely on Packagecloud to update the software on your devices.
Sign up for a free trial today so you can experience how much easier and secure software management becomes when you have a platform designed to meet your needs.
