How do I add a custom script to my package.json file that runs a javascript file?

I want to be able to execute the command script1 in a project directory that will run node script1.js.

script1.js is a file in the same directory. The command needs to be specific to the project directory, meaning that if I send someone else the project folder, they will be able to run the same command.

So far I've tried adding:

"scripts": {
    "script1": "node script1.js"
}

to my package.json file but when I try running script1 I get the following output:

zsh: command not found: script1

Does anyone know the steps necessary to add the script mentioned above to the project folder?

*Note: the command can not be added to the bash profile (cannot be a machine specific command)

Please let me know if you need any clarification.

Custom Scripts

npm run-script <custom_script_name>

or

npm run <custom_script_name>

In your example, you would want to run npm run-script script1 or npm run script1.

See https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/run-script

Lifecycle Scripts

Node also allows you to run custom scripts for certain lifecycle events, like after npm install is run. These can be found here.

For example:

"scripts": {
    "postinstall": "electron-rebuild",
},

This would run electron-rebuild after a npm install command.

I have created the following, and it's working on my system. Please try this:

package.json:

{
  "name": "test app",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "scripts": {
    "start": "node script1.js"   
  }
}

script1.js:

console.log('testing')

From your command line run the following command:

npm start

Additional use case

My package.json file has generally the following scripts, which enable me to watch my files for typescript, sass compilations and running a server as well.

 "scripts": {
    "start": "concurrently \"sass --watch ./style/sass:./style/css\" \"npm run tsc:w\" \"npm run lite\" ",    
    "tsc": "tsc",
    "tsc:w": "tsc -w", 
    "lite": "lite-server",
    "typings": "typings",
    "postinstall": "typings install" 
  }

Steps are below:

1. In package.json add:

   "bin":{
       "script1": "bin/script1.js" 
   }
   

2. Create a bin folder in the project directory and add file runScript1.js with the code:

   #! /usr/bin/env node
   var shell = require("shelljs");
   shell.exec("node step1script.js");
   

3. Run npm install shelljs in terminal

4. Run npm link in terminal

5. From terminal you can now run script1 which will run node script1.js

Reference: http://blog.npmjs.org/post/118810260230/building-a-simple-command-line-tool-with-npm

Lets say in scripts you want to run 2 commands with a single command:

"scripts":{
  "start":"any command",
  "singleCommandToRunTwoCommand":"some command here && npm start"
}

Now go to your terminal and run there npm run singleCommandToRunTwoCommand.

Your script

"scripts": {
    "start": "node script1.js",
    "script2": "node script2.js"
}

Commands

npm start
npm run script2

Suppose I have this line of scripts in my "package.json"

"scripts": {
    "test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1",
    "export_advertisements": "node export.js advertisements",
    "export_homedata": "node export.js homedata",
    "export_customdata": "node export.js customdata",
    "export_rooms": "node export.js rooms"
  },

Now to run the script "export_advertisements", I will simply go to the terminal and type

npm run export_advertisements

You are most welcome 

Example:

  "scripts": {
    "ng": "ng",
    "start": "ng serve",
    "build": "ng build --prod",
    "build_c": "ng build --prod && del \"../../server/front-end/*.*\" /s /q & xcopy /s dist \"../../server/front-end\"",
    "test": "ng test",
    "lint": "ng lint",
    "e2e": "ng e2e"
  },

As you can see, the script "build_c" is building the angular application, then deletes all old files from a directory, then finally copies the result build files.