# Very Basic Question \[Solved\]

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/very-basic-question-solved/26954>\
**Category:** Developing Nodes\
**Created:** [19 May 2020 21:28 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/very-basic-question-solved/26954 "2020-05-19T21:28:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tmichaeltx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@tmichaeltx](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/tmichaeltx)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2020 21:28 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/very-basic-question-solved/26954/1 "2020-05-19T21:28:47Z")

</div>

I am trying to start developing my own node. I copied the information from Creating your first node [https://nodered.org/docs/creating-nodes/first-node](https://nodered.org/docs/creating-nodes/first-node)  
I got through this part of the instructions:  
In your node-red user directory, typically `~/.node-red` , run:

```auto
npm install <location of node module>

```

I then expected to be able to go into NR and add the lower-case node. Even after restarting NR (not clear that I had to, but I understood I should and so did so out of an abundance of caution), the node is not showing as an available option.

I looked inside my node\_modules directory and I see the symbolic link that the instructions said would be created:

```auto
lrwxrwxrwx 1 node-red node-red 21 May 19 15:56 debugexample -> ../../CS/DebugExample

```

I am now at a loss on what I have done wrong. Any suggestions?

The solution as shown below was to follow the directions and actually add the

```auto
    "node-red" : {
        "nodes": {
            "lower-case": "lower-case.js"
        }

```

to the npm init generated package.json, just as the directions on the first-node web page said to do.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cinhcet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/cinhcet/32/438_2.png) [@cinhcet](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/cinhcet)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2020 22:01 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/very-basic-question-solved/26954/2 "2020-05-19T22:01:27Z")

</div>

Have your refreshed your browser? (or reopened 127.0.0.1:1880)  
Do you have the `"node-red": {"nodes": {"debugexample": "pathWithinYourModule.js"}}` in the `package.json`?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tmichaeltx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@tmichaeltx](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/tmichaeltx)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2020 22:06 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/very-basic-question-solved/26954/3 "2020-05-19T22:06:31Z")

</div>

I have refreshed my browser. When I look in my package.json I see this:

```auto
{                                                                                                                     
    "name": "node-red-project",                                                                                       
    "description": "A Node-RED Project",                                                                              
    "version": "0.0.1",                                                                                               
    "private": true,                                                                                                  
    "dependencies": {                                                                                                 
        "debugexample": "file:../CS/DebugExample",                                                                    
        "node-red-contrib-actionflows": "~2.0.3",                                                                     
        "node-red-contrib-advanced-ping": "~1.2.0", 

```

Of course it shows many other nodes, but the one I created is listed first.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cinhcet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/cinhcet/32/438_2.png) [@cinhcet](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/cinhcet)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2020 22:08 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/very-basic-question-solved/26954/4 "2020-05-19T22:08:14Z")

</div>

I meant the package.json of your new node, maybe post that here

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tmichaeltx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@tmichaeltx](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/tmichaeltx)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2020 22:11 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/very-basic-question-solved/26954/5 "2020-05-19T22:11:05Z")

</div>

It was not. I wonder what part of

`Once generated, you must added a `node-red` section:`  
I couldn't read.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cinhcet](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/cinhcet/32/438_2.png) [@cinhcet](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/cinhcet)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2020 22:12 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/very-basic-question-solved/26954/6 "2020-05-19T22:12:52Z")

</div>

🙂  
Issue solved?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![tmichaeltx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/73ab20/32.png) [@tmichaeltx](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/tmichaeltx)\
**Post date:** [19 May 2020 22:19 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/very-basic-question-solved/26954/7 "2020-05-19T22:19:17Z")

</div>

Yes. Thank you. As I suspected it was something very straightforward once I had my attention pointed to it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [18 July 2020 22:19 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/very-basic-question-solved/26954/8 "2020-07-18T22:19:20Z")

</div>

This topic was automatically closed 60 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.
