10 npm Packages You'll Actually Use in 2026

Every "must-know npm packages" list links to abandoned repos or tools you already know. These 10 are actively maintained, TypeScript-native, and earn their spot in production code — not because they went viral. TL;DR: These 10 npm packages cut real complexity in production Node.js apps — no hype, no toy demos. Table of Contents zod — runtime validation your TypeScript types can't provide tsx — run TypeScript instantly without a build step hono — the web framework fast enough for edge drizzle-orm