GRADLE & NODE NPM - gradle task for execute npm install and bower install

https://gist.github.com/spikeheap/8558786

import org.gradle.api.tasks.Exec
	defaultTasks 'bower'
	// Get the path for the locally installed binaries
	task npmBin << {
	new ByteArrayOutputStream().withStream { os ->
	def result = exec {
	executable = 'npm'
	args = ['bin']
	standardOutput = os
	}
	ext.binPath = os.toString().trim() + "/"
	}
	}
	// Install packages from package.json
	task npm(type: Exec) {
	description = "Grab NodeJS dependencies (from package.json)"
	commandLine = ["npm", "install"]
	inputs.file "package.json"
	outputs.dir "node_modules"
	tasks.npmBin.execute()
	}
	// Install the bower components for front-end library management
	task bower(dependsOn: 'npm', type: Exec){
	commandLine "${npmBin.binPath}bower", 'install'
	}

BOWER - difference between tilde(~) and caret(^) before version number

In the simplest terms, the tilde matches the most recent minor version (the middle number). ~1.2.3 will match all 1.2.x versions but will miss 1.3.0.

The caret, on the other hand, is more relaxed. It will update you to the most recent major version (the first number). ^1.2.3 will match any 1.x.x release including 1.3.0, but will hold off on 2.0.0.

More is here.