Here's how to make jQuery DataTables work with npm and webpack. DT checks for AMD compatibility first 
which breaks when you're using CommonJS with webpack.

Install DT core: npm install datatables.net
Install a DT style: npm install datatables.net-bs (bootstrap)
Install the imports-loader webpack plugin: https://github.com/webpack/imports-loader#disable-amd
Create a loader "exception" just for DT in webpack.config.js:

module: {
  loaders: [
      {
          test: /datatables\.net.*/,
          loader: 'imports?define=>false'
      }
  ]
}

Then to initialize DT in your app, do this in your main entry point:

// you can use import or require
import 'datatables.net';
import dt from 'datatables.net-bs';
dt(window, $);

Now you can use .DataTable():
$('table[data-table]').DataTable(); // or whatever you want