Using Bower Package Manager

This feature is supported in the Ultimate edition only.

On this page:

• Introduction
• Preparing to install Bower
• Installing Bower globally
• Installing Bower in a project
• Creating a Bower configuration file bower.json
• Configuring Bower in IntelliJ IDEA

Introduction

IntelliJ IDEA provides interface for installing, uninstalling, and upgrading client-side libraries and frameworks for your project using the Bower Package Manager. Alternatively, you can use the tool in the command line mode from the embedded local terminal.

The easiest way to install the Bower package manager is to use the Node Package Manager (npm), which is a part of Node.js. See Installing and Removing External Software Using Node Package Manager for details.

Depending on the desired location of the Bower package manager executable file, choose one of the following methods:

• Install the package manager globally at the IntelliJ IDEA level so it can be used in any IntelliJ IDEA project.
• Install the package manager in a specific project and thus restrict its use to this project.
• Install the package manager in a project as a development dependency.

In either installation mode, make sure that the parent folder of the Bower package manager is added to the PATH variable. This enables you to launch the package manager from any folder.

IntelliJ IDEA provides user interface both for global and project installation as well as supports installation through the command line.

Preparing to install Bower

1. Download and install Node.js. The runtime environment is required for two reasons:
   • The Bower package manager is started through Node.js.
   • NPM, which is a part of the runtime environment, is also the easiest way to download the Bower package manager.

   If you are going to use the command line mode, make sure the path to the parent folder of the Node.js executable file and the path to the npm folder are added to the PATH variable. This enables you to launch the Bower package manager and npm from any folder.

2. Install and enable the NodeJS repository plugin as described in Installing, Updating and Uninstalling Repository Plugins and Enabling and Disabling Plugins.

Installing Bower globally

Global installation makes a package manager available at the IntelliJ IDEA level so it can be used in any IntelliJ IDEA project. Moreover, during installation the parent folder of the package manager is automatically added to the PATH variable, which enables you to launch the package manager from any folder.

• Run the installation from the command line in the global mode:
  1. Launch the embedded Terminal (View | Tool Windows | Terminal or by hovering your mouse pointer over in the lower left corner of IntelliJ IDEA and choosing Terminal from the menu
  2. Switch to the directory where NPM is stored or define a PATH variable for it so it is available from any folder, see Installing NodeJs.
  3. Type the following command at the command line prompt:
     npm install -g bower

     The -g key makes the package manager run in the global mode. Because the installation is performed through NPM, the Bower package manager is installed in the npm folder. Make sure this parent folder is added to the PATH variable. This enables you to launch the package manager from any folder.

     For more details on the NPM operation modes, see npm documentation. For more information about installing the Bower package manager, see https://npmjs.org/package/bower.

• Run NPM from IntelliJ IDEA using the Node.js and NPM page of the Settings dialog box.
  1. Open the Settings / Preferences Dialog by pressing Ctrl+Alt+S or by choosing File | Settings for Windows and Linux or IntelliJ IDEA | Preferences for macOS, and click Node.js and NPM under Languages & Frameworks.
  2. On the Node.js and NPM page that opens, the Packages area shows all the Node.js-dependent packages that are currently installed on your computer, both at the global and at the project level. Click .
  3. In the Available Packages dialog box that opens, select the required package to install.
  4. Select the Options check box and type -g in the text box next to it.
  5. Optionally specify the product version and click Install Package to start installation.

Installing Bower in a project

Local installation in a specific project restricts the use of a package manager to this project.

• Run the installation from the command line:
  1. Launch the embedded Terminal (View | Tool Windows | Terminal or by hovering your mouse pointer over in the lower left corner of IntelliJ IDEA and choosing Terminal from the menu
  2. Switch to the project root folder and type the following command at the command line prompt:
     npm install bower
• Run NPM from IntelliJ IDEA using the Node.js and NPM page of the Settings dialog box.
  1. Open the Settings / Preferences Dialog by pressing Ctrl+Alt+S or by choosing File | Settings for Windows and Linux or IntelliJ IDEA | Preferences for macOS, and click Node.js and NPM under Languages & Frameworks.
  2. On the Node.js and NPM page that opens, the Packages area shows all the Node.js-dependent packages that are currently installed on your computer, both at the global and at the project level. Click .
  3. In the Available Packages dialog box that opens, select the required package.
  4. Optionally specify the product version and click Install Package to start installation.

Creating a Bower configuration file bower.json

1. In the command line mode, switch to your project directory.
2. Type the following command at the command line prompt:
   bower init

   If Bower does not start, check the installation: the parent folder or the Bower executable file should be specified in the PATH variable.

3. Answer the questions to specify the following basic settings:
   • The testing framework to use.
   • The browsers to be captured automatically.
   • The patterns that define the location of test files to be involved in testing or excluded from it. For more details, see
   For more details, see Bower: Configuration.

Configuring Bower in IntelliJ IDEA

1. Open the Settings / Preferences Dialog by pressing Ctrl+Alt+S or by choosing File | Settings for Windows and Linux or IntelliJ IDEA | Preferences for macOS. Expand the Languages & Frameworks node, and then click Bower under JavaScript.
2. On the Bower page that opens, specify the location of the Node.js and Bower executable files and the bower.json configuration file.