# Node.js {#node.js} The `pkgs/development/node-packages` folder contains a generated collection of [NPM packages](https://npmjs.com/) that can be installed with the Nix package manager. As a rule of thumb, the package set should only provide *end user* software packages, such as command-line utilities. Libraries should only be added to the package set if there is a non-NPM package that requires it. When it is desired to use NPM libraries in a development project, use the `node2nix` generator directly on the `package.json` configuration file of the project. The package set provides support for the official stable Node.js versions. The latest stable LTS release in `nodePackages`, as well as the latest stable Current release in `nodePackages_latest`. If your package uses native addons, you need to examine what kind of native build system it uses. Here are some examples: * `node-gyp` * `node-gyp-builder` * `node-pre-gyp` After you have identified the correct system, you need to override your package expression while adding in build system as a build input. For example, `dat` requires `node-gyp-build`, so [we override](https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/32f5e5da4a1b3f0595527f5195ac3a91451e9b56/pkgs/development/node-packages/default.nix#L37-L40) its expression in [`default.nix`](https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/blob/master/pkgs/development/node-packages/default.nix): ```nix dat = super.dat.override { buildInputs = [ self.node-gyp-build pkgs.libtool pkgs.autoconf pkgs.automake ]; meta.broken = since "12"; }; ``` To add a package from NPM to nixpkgs: 1. Modify `pkgs/development/node-packages/node-packages.json` to add, update or remove package entries to have it included in `nodePackages` and `nodePackages_latest`. 2. Run the script: `(cd pkgs/development/node-packages && ./generate.sh)`. 3. Build your new package to test your changes: `cd /path/to/nixpkgs && nix-build -A nodePackages.<new-or-updated-package>`. To build against the latest stable Current Node.js version (e.g. 14.x): `nix-build -A nodePackages_latest.<new-or-updated-package>` 4. Add and commit all modified and generated files. For more information about the generation process, consult the [README.md](https://github.com/svanderburg/node2nix) file of the `node2nix` tool.