Flux

What Flux is

Flux is a free, open-source command line package manager for JavaScript and Node.js projects. It installs, updates, lists, and removes packages from the npm registry, and runs scripts from package.json. It reads and writes package.json and installs packages into node_modules. Downloaded package tarballs are kept in a shared per-user cache for reuse by later projects. Flux can be installed globally through npm or used as a standalone binary that does not require Node.js; the npm installation requires Node 18 or later. The maker says Flux has no telemetry and does not require an account. It is MIT licensed and free for personal and commercial use, with no paid tier. Its alpha version installs direct dependencies only and has no dependency tree resolution or lockfile support, so installs are not reproducible. The maker says Flux is not ready for production, recommends it for side projects and experiments, and advises keeping npm or pnpm for projects you ship. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Who it suits

Flux suits developers exploring JavaScript or Node.js package management in side projects and experiments. The maker says to keep npm or pnpm for projects intended to ship.

Limits

Flux is free with no paid tier. Its alpha installs direct dependencies only and lacks dependency-tree resolution and lockfile support, making installs non-reproducible.

Getting started

1. Visit the Flux website.
2. Choose the global npm package or standalone binary.
3. For the npm installation, use Node 18 or later.
4. Use Flux with a JavaScript or Node.js project and its package.json.

Verdict

Flux offers a free way to manage packages and scripts for experiments, with a shared cache and standalone binary option. Its alpha limitations make it unsuitable for reproducible installs or shipped projects, according to the maker.