How do you run a js file using npm scripts?

Question

I can't get npm to work. My package.json file has

"scripts": { "build": "build.js" } 

and I have a build.js file in the same folder that just console.logs.

When I run

npm run build 

I get the error

The system cannot execute the specified program.  npm ERR! Windows_NT 6.1.7601 npm ERR! argv "C:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node.exe" "C:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node_modules\\npm\\bin\\npm-cli.js" "run" "build" npm ERR! node v4.1.1 npm ERR! npm  v3.3.5 npm ERR! code ELIFECYCLE 

and if I move the build.js file and change my package.json file to have a subfolder

"scripts": { "build": "build/build.js" } 

then I get the error

'build' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. 

What's going wrong? I'm copying the example documentation.

Answer 1

{ "scripts" :   { "build": "node build.js"} } 

npm run build OR npm run-script build

---

{   "name": "build",   "version": "1.0.0",   "scripts": {     "start": "node build.js"   } } 

npm start

---

NB: you were missing the { brackets } and the node command

folder structure is fine:

+ build   - package.json   - build.js 

Answer 2

You should use npm run-script build or npm build <project_folder>. More info here: https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/build.