npm-find-dupes

Find duplicate packages in npm projects

TLDR

List all duplicate packages within node_modules

$ npm find-dupes

Include devDependencies in duplicate detection

$ npm find-dupes --include dev

List all duplicate instances of a specific package in node-modules

$ npm find-dupes [package_name]

Exclude optional dependencies from duplicate detection

$ npm find-dupes --omit optional

Set the logging level for output

$ npm find-dupes --loglevel [silent|error|warn|info|verbose]

Output duplicate information in JSON format

$ npm find-dupes --json

Limit duplicate search to specific scopes

$ npm find-dupes --scope [@scope1,@scope2]

Exclude specific scopes from duplicate detection

$ npm find-dupes --omit-scope [@scope1,@scope2]

npm-find-dupes is a command-line tool designed to identify and list duplicate packages installed within an npm project. This helps developers understand where redundant dependencies exist, allowing for potential optimization of the project's dependency tree and reduction of the overall project size.

The tool analyzes the `node_modules` directory and compares the versions of each installed package. It then outputs a report showing packages that have multiple versions installed, along with the paths where each version is located. This information can be used to resolve conflicts, consolidate versions, and streamline the project's dependencies.

Using `npm-find-dupes` can lead to improved build times, smaller deployment packages, and a more manageable dependency structure. It helps with proactively managing dependency bloat. It is most effective when run periodically during the development lifecycle to prevent the accumulation of redundant packages.

CAVEATS

This tool relies on accurate and complete information within the `node_modules` directory. If the directory is corrupted or incomplete, the results may be inaccurate.
It doesn't automatically fix the duplicates; it only identifies them. Manual intervention is required to resolve the duplicate dependencies using npm's resolution strategies.

USAGE EXAMPLES

To run the tool simply execute `npm-find-dupes` from the root of your project. The tool will then analyze the project's `node_modules` directory and print any duplicates found to the console.

INSTALLATION

This tool is installed via `npm install -g npm-find-dupes` globally. After the installation the command `npm-find-dupes` is available.

HISTORY

The specific history of the `npm-find-dupes` command is not widely documented in standard Linux manuals, which suggests it is a third-party npm package rather than a core npm command. Its development and usage are tied to the growing complexity of npm projects and the need to manage dependencies effectively. As npm projects grow in size and complexity, the likelihood of encountering duplicate dependencies increases, leading to the creation and adoption of tools like `npm-find-dupes` to address this issue.