package.json

Why do I need this file and why do I need to install jquery packages with yarn or npm

I don't think you do. I may be wrong though.

Colin

fugee,

I will answer your question in the last paragraph but wanted to say something:

I've been following your posts and a lot of your questions can be answered with really simple Google searches...that skill is a far more valuable skill...it means you can learn new things and get up to speed quickly and independently. Rather than running to this list every time you hit an issue, try to do basic google searches first...if you fail to find the answer (you likely won't) -- THEN ask here.

Anyways -- the answer is that a package.json file exists for npm to handle dependencies...you might need them if your asset pipeline uses something like webpack (it really should)...

Also, to add on:

The reason you'd install jquery this way is that you don't have to track it in git -- so the source tree becomes less cluttered...it's a much cleaner way to handle assets. Bower was kinda-sorta deprecated in favor of using yarn. Yarn is super nice to work with and has some caching built-in.

--rob