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Installing dependencies in WebContainers ​

You can run various commands inside WebContainers like, for example, npm install as follows:

js
webcontainerInstance.spawn('npm', ['install']);
webcontainerInstance.spawn('npm', ['install']);

This code runs npm with the install argument inside the WebContainer instance.

Tip

You can also use pnpm or yarn instead of npm. To do so, replace npm in the above code with your package manager of choice.

Syntax ​

Before we begin, let's take a look at the syntax: we break down commands into their constituent parts, and then pass them to the run method. In this way:

bash
cd hello-world
cd hello-world

becomes:

js
webcontainerInstance.spawn('cd', ['hello-world']);
webcontainerInstance.spawn('cd', ['hello-world']);

And if you have a command with two arguments, both arguments will be added to the array, like so:

bash
ls src -l
ls src -l

becomes:

js
webcontainerInstance.spawn('ls', ['src', '-l']);
webcontainerInstance.spawn('ls', ['src', '-l']);

1. Install dependencies ​

In the main.js file, add an installDependencies function:

js
async function installDependencies() {
  // Install dependencies
  const installProcess = await webcontainerInstance.spawn('npm', ['install']);
  // Wait for install command to exit
  return installProcess.exit;
}
async function installDependencies() {
  // Install dependencies
  const installProcess = await webcontainerInstance.spawn('npm', ['install']);
  // Wait for install command to exit
  return installProcess.exit;
}

This function will install the dependencies and return the exit code. If it's 0, it means the command exited successfully.

2. Call the function ​

Next, call installDependencies() inside the event listener you wrote earlier and you can add error handling:

js
window.addEventListener('load', async () => {
  textareaEl.value = files['index.js'].file.contents;
  // Call only once
  webcontainerInstance = await WebContainer.boot();
  await webcontainerInstance.mount(files);

  const exitCode = await installDependencies();
  if (exitCode !== 0) {
    throw new Error('Installation failed');
  };
});
window.addEventListener('load', async () => {
  textareaEl.value = files['index.js'].file.contents;
  // Call only once
  webcontainerInstance = await WebContainer.boot();
  await webcontainerInstance.mount(files);

  const exitCode = await installDependencies();
  if (exitCode !== 0) {
    throw new Error('Installation failed');
  };
});

Note that it is possible to read the output of this command.

js
  const installProcess = await webcontainerInstance.spawn('npm', ['install']);
  
  installProcess.output.pipeTo(new WritableStream({
    write(data) {
      console.log(data);
    }
  }));
  const installProcess = await webcontainerInstance.spawn('npm', ['install']);
  
  installProcess.output.pipeTo(new WritableStream({
    write(data) {
      console.log(data);
    }
  }));

The output property is capable of streaming the output.

This means that, for example, by running npm install, you will get every single line from npm installing the code:

Output of npm install logged in the dev tools console

Want to learn more about WritableStream?

For more information on the Writable Stream, check the Deep Dive on the "Running Processes" page.

Next step ​

Your WebContainer app is now installing dependencies ✨ In the next step, you'll run the dev server.