nhx - Node.js Hybrid eXecutor (a uvx inspired tool)


A hybrid of node ./script.js and npx package - run scripts or packages with automatic dependency handling.

``bash
npm install -g nhx
`

Why nhx?

- Self-contained scripts - Scripts declare their own dependencies and just work
- No project setup - No package.json, no npm install, no node_modules
- Share scripts easily - Send a single file that anyone can run
- Fast - Dependencies are cached globally, subsequent runs are instant
- Works offline - Once cached, no network needed

Options

`
--with Add a dependency (repeatable, supports @version)
--engine Node version (e.g. node:18, node:>=16)
--run-postinstall Allow postinstall scripts (disabled by default)
-h, --help Show help
`

All other flags pass through to node.

Examples

`bash


Run an npm package

nhx cowsay hello

Run a local script (dependencies installed automatically)

nhx ./script.js

Add a dependency for a script

nhx --with=lodash ./script.js

Pin a specific version

nhx --with=chalk@4.1.2 ./script.js

Use a specific node version

nhx --engine=node:18 ./script.js

Pipe from stdin

curl -s https://example.com/script.js | nhx -

All node flags work

nhx -e 'console.log(1)'
nhx --check ./script.js
`

Self-contained scripts

Scripts can declare their own dependencies inline:

`javascript
// hello.mjs
/*/ //
{ dependencies: { chalk: "^5.0.0" } }
/*/ //

import chalk from 'chalk';
console.log(chalk.green('Hello!'));
`

`bash
nhx ./hello.mjs
`

Dependencies are installed automatically on first run and cached for future runs.

$3

`javascript
/*/ //
{ engines: { node: ">=18 <21" } }
/*/ //

console.log(process.version);
`

If your current node satisfies the range, it's used directly. Otherwise nhx downloads an appropriate version.

$3

Use tsx as a declared dependency and as a loader:

`typescript
#!/usr/bin/env -S nhx --with=tsx --import tsx
import { something } from './other.ts';
`

You can also do that with inline dependencies:

`typescript
#!/usr/bin/env -S nhx --import tsx
/*/ //
{ devDependencies: { tsx: "^4" } }
/*/ //
``

License

MIT