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Tajudeen Abdulgafar
Tajudeen Abdulgafar

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Publish the repo-context-packager

Introduction

After weeks of development, testing, and CI setup, it was time to share this tool with the world. The Repository Context Packager had proven useful locally, but making it installable via npm would let others use it without cloning the repo. Well, this is not my first npm release, but this blog documents my journey from a local CLI tool to a published npm package—the challenges, solutions, and lessons learned along the way.

Executive Summary

  • Chose npm as the package registry (the standard for Node.js/TypeScript projects)
  • Published as scoped package: @tajudeen/repo-context-packager@1.0.3
  • Configured package.json with bin field for CLI installation, files field for clean publishing, and postbuild script for shebang injection
  • Resolved package name conflict by using scoped package naming
  • Updated README.md with clear installation and usage instructions
  • Created git tags (v0.9.0 for practice, v1.0.3 for release)

The tool is now installable globally via npm install -g @tajudeen/repo-context-packager and ready for user testing.

Choosing the Release Tool and Package Registry

Why npm?

For a Node.js/TypeScript CLI tool, npm (Node Package Manager) was the obvious choice:

  • Native support: npm is built into Node.js, so every user already has it
  • CLI tool support: npm's bin field makes it trivial to create globally installable commands
  • Wide adoption: Most JavaScript/TypeScript developers are familiar with npm
  • Free for public packages: Publishing public packages to npm is free and straightforward

The Release Process: Step by Step

Step 1: Preparing package.json

Before publishing, I needed to configure package.json for CLI distribution:

Added bin Field

The bin field tells npm which file to use as the executable command:

{
  "bin": {
    "repo-context-packager": "dist/cli.js"
  }
}
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This allows users to run repo-context-packager after installing globally.

Added files Field

The files array controls what gets published. I wanted to exclude source files, tests, and development configs:

{
  "files": [
    "dist",
    "README.md",
    "LICENSE"
  ]
}
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This reduced the package size from ~90KB to ~20KB by excluding:

  • src/ (TypeScript source files)
  • node_modules/ (dependencies are installed separately)
  • Test files (not needed for runtime)
  • Development configs (tsconfig.json, vitest.config.ts, etc.)

Updated main Field

Changed from pointing to source to compiled output:

{
  "main": "dist/cli.js"  // Was: "src/cli.ts"
}
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Added postbuild Script

TypeScript doesn't preserve shebangs, so I added a postbuild script to inject #!/usr/bin/env node:

{
  "scripts": {
    "postbuild": "node -e \"const fs=require('fs');const f='dist/cli.js';const c=fs.readFileSync(f,'utf8');if(!c.startsWith('#!'))fs.writeFileSync(f,'#!/usr/bin/env node\\n'+c);\""
  }
}
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This ensures the compiled JavaScript can be executed directly as a CLI tool.

Step 2: Creating Practice Tags

Following best practices, I created a practice tag first:

git tag -a v0.9.0 -m "Practice release v0.9.0"
git push --follow-tags
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This let me verify the tagging process worked before creating the real release tag.

Step 3: Building and Testing

Before publishing, I ensured everything compiled and tested correctly:

npm run build      # Compile TypeScript
npm run test:run   # Run test suite
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Step 4: The First Publishing Attempt

My first attempt failed with a 403 error:

npm error 403 403 Forbidden - PUT https://registry.npmjs.org/repo-context-packager
npm error 403 You do not have permission to publish "repo-context-packager"
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The Problem: The package name repo-context-packager was already taken by a classmate (cynthiafotso).

The Solution: Use a scoped package name. Scoped packages are namespaced under your npm username:

{
  "name": "@tajudeen/repo-context-packager"
}
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Scoped packages are private by default, so I needed to publish with the --access public flag:

npm publish --access public
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Step 5: Version Bumping and Republishing

After resolving the name conflict, I bumped the version and published:

# Updated package.json version to 1.0.3
npm run build
npm publish --access public
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Success! The package was published as @tajudeen/repo-context-packager@1.0.3.

Step 6: Verifying Installation

I tested the installation in a fresh directory:

cd /tmp
mkdir test-install
cd test-install
npm install -g @tajudeen/repo-context-packager
repo-context-packager --help
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The CLI worked perfectly! ✅

Step 7: Creating the Release Tag

After successful publishing, I created the git tag:

git tag -a v1.0.3 -m "Release v1.0.3 - Published to npm"
git push --follow-tags
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What I Learned:

Challenge 1: Package Name Conflicts

The Issue: I assumed repo-context-packager would be available, but it was already taken.

The Lesson: Always check package name availability before finalizing your project name, or use scoped packages from the start. Scoped packages (@username/package-name) are less likely to conflict and clearly indicate ownership.

How to Check:

npm view package-name  # Returns 404 if available
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Challenge 2: Scoped Packages Are Private by Default

The Issue: After switching to a scoped package, my first publish attempt seemed successful, but the package wasn't visible when trying to install it.

The Lesson: Scoped packages default to private. You must explicitly publish with --access public for public packages:

npm publish --access public
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User Testing Session (Planned)

As of this writing, user testing is scheduled but not yet completed. The plan is to:

  1. Ask a colleague or friend to install the package fresh: 
   npm install -g @tajudeen/repo-context-packager
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  1. Have them follow the README and try packaging a repository

  2. Observe and take notes on:

    • Where they get stuck
    • What's unclear in the documentation
    • Any installation issues
    • Whether the CLI commands are intuitive

  3. Update README based on feedback (per Instruction.md Step 7)

I'll update this blog post after the user testing session with findings and improvements made.

Lessons Learned

  1. Scoped packages prevent conflicts: Using @username/package-name avoids name collisions and clearly shows ownership.

  2. The files field is essential: Explicitly controlling what gets published keeps packages lean and professional.

  3. Shebangs matter for CLI tools: Without #!/usr/bin/env node, globally installed packages won't execute directly.

  4. Test installation before celebrating: Always verify the package installs and works in a fresh environment.

  5. Documentation is part of the release: Updated README with installation instructions is crucial for user adoption.

  6. Version management matters: Using semantic versioning (semver) helps users understand compatibility and changes.

Future Improvements

  1. Automate releases with GitHub Actions: Set up a workflow that automatically publishes to npm when a new tag is pushed.

  2. Add more installation methods: Consider providing installation via:

    • Homebrew (for macOS users)
    • Direct download links
    • Docker image

  3. Version badges: Add npm version badges to README.md to show current version.

  4. Release notes: Create a CHANGELOG.md to document changes between versions.

  5. User testing feedback: After user testing, incorporate feedback into documentation and potentially code improvements.

Conclusion

Publishing to npm transformed the Repository Context Packager from a local development tool into a shareable, installable package. The process was smoother than expected, with most challenges resolved by understanding npm's conventions (scoped packages, files field, shebang injection).

The key takeaway: good project structure makes publishing easy. Because the project already had proper TypeScript compilation, dependency management, and build scripts, the publishing process required minimal code changes—mostly just configuration.

Now that the tool is published, the next steps are user testing, gathering feedback, and iterating based on real-world usage. This is where the real learning begins!

NPM RELEASE

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