Proposal: Add Badge for Client-Side, Server-Side, or Universal Packages

[sabeerbikba]

Hi everyone,

I would like to start a discussion around adding badges or clear indicators to npm packages that specify whether they are designed to run on the client side, server side, or both.

Problem:

When using npm packages, it can often be difficult to determine where a package is supposed to be executed. Some libraries are specific to the browser, others to Node.js, and some can work in both environments. Unfortunately, there’s no standard way to quickly identify this from the package name or description. This becomes especially challenging when working in mixed environments or migrating code between client and server.

We currently have badges for things like TypeScript declarations (e.g., dt for DefinitelyTyped) that make it easy to know whether a package supports TypeScript or has built-in types, but no similar standard exists for the runtime environment.

Proposal:

Introduce a standard badge system or metadata flag that can be used in the package.json or on the npm package page to show:

• Client: Packages intended for the browser or client-side execution.
• Server: Packages intended for Node.js or server-side execution.
• Universal: Packages that work in both environments.

These badges could appear next to the package name on npm, similar to how the TypeScript badges are displayed, helping developers immediately know the intended runtime environment.

Benefits:

• Saves time and effort by making it easier to identify the correct package.
• Reduces the risk of runtime errors due to using a package in the wrong environment.
• Helps maintainers clearly communicate the intended usage of their packages.

I’d love to hear feedback from the community on this! Is this something you’ve run into, and would you find these types of badges useful? What other challenges do you face in identifying the appropriate environment for npm packages?

[austin-brockert]

This is a great idea! Adding badges or clear indicators to specify whether npm packages are designed for client-side, server-side, or both would certainly streamline development workflows, especially when working in environments that involve both the browser and Node.js

I give my suggestions:

1. Package Metadata
   Extending the package.json file like a field like "runtime" : "client" | "server" | "universal" could be a helpful and standardized solution.

2. Compatibility Checker
   A tool or script could potentially validate the runtime environment based on this metadata, adding even more value to package management.

Overall, this would be a great addition to NPM, and I think many developer would appreciate the clarity and efficiency it would bring to their workflows.
Looking forward to hearing more thoughts from you!
Thank you.