# NPM Package Scraper — Extract Downloads, Dependencies, Versions (`knotless_cadence/npm-package-scraper`) Actor Analyze any npm package — downloads, dependencies, maintainers, versions, and security advisories. Bulk-scan your project dependencies. Perfect for supply chain security and tech stack research. Custom pipeline: $100 pilot, spinov001@gmail.com - **URL**: https://apify.com/knotless\_cadence/npm-package-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Alex](https://apify.com/knotless_cadence) (community) - **Categories:** Developer tools - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing Pay per usage This Actor is paid per platform usage. The Actor is free to use, and you only pay for the Apify platform usage, which gets cheaper the higher subscription plan you have. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-usage ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## npm Package Scraper — Downloads, Scores & Metadata Extraction Extract detailed npm package data from the official registry. Search by keyword or look up specific packages to get version info, download counts, quality scores, dependencies, maintainers, and more. Perfect for developer tool research and JavaScript ecosystem analysis. ### Features - **Keyword Search** — find packages by topic (e.g., "web scraping", "state management") - **Direct Lookup** — fetch full metadata for specific packages by name - **Download Statistics** — monthly download counts from the npm downloads API - **Quality Scores** — npm search score, quality, popularity, and maintenance ratings - **Dependency Tree** — list of dependencies and devDependencies with counts - **Pagination Support** — extract up to 250 packages per search query - **Author & Maintainer Data** — publisher info, author name, and maintainer list ### Output Example ```json { "name": "express", "description": "Fast, unopinionated, minimalist web framework", "version": "4.18.2", "keywords": ["framework", "http", "rest", "web"], "author": "TJ Holowaychuk", "publisher": "dougwilson", "homepage": "http://expressjs.com/", "repository": "https://github.com/expressjs/express", "npm": "https://www.npmjs.com/package/express", "lastPublished": "2024-10-01T00:00:00.000Z", "score": 0.87, "quality": 0.95, "popularity": 0.97, "maintenance": 0.68, "monthlyDownloads": 32000000, "source": "search:web framework", "scrapedAt": "2026-03-18T10:00:00.000Z" } ```` ### Use Cases - **JavaScript Ecosystem Analysis** — compare package popularity and maintenance across categories - **Competitor Research** — benchmark your npm package against alternatives - **Tech Stack Auditing** — evaluate dependency health, update frequency, and quality scores - **Market Research** — discover trending technologies by analyzing download growth patterns - **Supply Chain Security** — audit package metadata, maintainers, and dependency chains - **Content Creation** — generate data-driven articles about npm trends and top packages ### Input Parameters | Parameter | Type | Default | Description | |-----------|------|---------|-------------| | `searchQueries` | array | `[]` | Keywords to search (e.g., "web scraping") | | `packageNames` | array | `[]` | Specific package names (e.g., "react", "express") | | `maxPackagesPerQuery` | integer | `50` | Max packages per search (1-250) | | `includeDownloads` | boolean | `true` | Fetch monthly download counts (slower) | ### How It Works The scraper queries the official npm registry search API for keyword searches and the package endpoint for direct lookups. For each package, it collects metadata, scoring information, and optionally fetches monthly download statistics from the npm downloads API. Built-in rate limiting ensures stable operation without hitting API limits. # Actor input Schema ## `searchQueries` (type: `array`): Search npm packages by keyword (e.g., 'web scraping', 'machine learning') ## `packageNames` (type: `array`): Specific npm package names to look up (e.g., 'react', 'express', 'crawlee') ## `maxPackagesPerQuery` (type: `integer`): Maximum packages to extract per search query ## `includeDownloads` (type: `boolean`): Fetch monthly download counts for each package (slower) ## Actor input object example ```json { "searchQueries": [], "packageNames": [], "maxPackagesPerQuery": 50, "includeDownloads": true } ``` # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = {}; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("knotless_cadence/npm-package-scraper").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = {} # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("knotless_cadence/npm-package-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{}' | apify call knotless_cadence/npm-package-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=knotless_cadence/npm-package-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "NPM Package Scraper — Extract Downloads, Dependencies, Versions", "description": "Analyze any npm package — downloads, dependencies, maintainers, versions, and security advisories. Bulk-scan your project dependencies. Perfect for supply chain security and tech stack research. Custom pipeline: $100 pilot, spinov001@gmail.com", "version": "1.0", "x-build-id": "EnYedwFrhaprgc5zL" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/knotless_cadence~npm-package-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-knotless_cadence-npm-package-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/knotless_cadence~npm-package-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-knotless_cadence-npm-package-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/knotless_cadence~npm-package-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-knotless_cadence-npm-package-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "searchQueries": { "title": "Search Queries", "type": "array", "description": "Search npm packages by keyword (e.g., 'web scraping', 'machine learning')", "default": [], "items": { "type": "string" } }, "packageNames": { "title": "Package Names", "type": "array", "description": "Specific npm package names to look up (e.g., 'react', 'express', 'crawlee')", "default": [], "items": { "type": "string" } }, "maxPackagesPerQuery": { "title": "Max Packages Per Query", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 250, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum packages to extract per search query", "default": 50 }, "includeDownloads": { "title": "Include Download Stats", "type": "boolean", "description": "Fetch monthly download counts for each package (slower)", "default": true } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```