node-linker-pro

node-linker-pro

💾 Keep node_modules out of cloud sync folders by linking them to a local cache.
⚡ Cross-platform: macOS, Linux, and Windows.
📦 One-step global command: npm setup.

Why this exists

If your projects live in cloud-synced folders like Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or iCloud, you’ve likely seen these problems:

❌ Slow syncs — node_modules can be hundreds of MBs.
❌ Wasted storage — dependencies don’t need to be backed up.
❌ CPU/bandwidth drain while coding.

✅ Save cloud storage space.
✅ Faster project syncs.
✅ No changes to your workflow.

The solution

node-linker-pro moves your node_modules to a local cache folder outside
cloud sync, then creates a link back so your project works exactly the same.

Before

/Google Drive/MyProject
  package.json
  node_modules/   ← huge folder synced to the cloud

After

/Google Drive/MyProject
  package.json
  node_modules → /Users/you/Library/Caches/node_modules_store/<hash>

ℹ️ <hash> is a unique folder name based on your project path, ensuring no conflicts between different projects.

Features

• 💾 Save cloud storage space.
• ⚡ Faster project syncs.
• 🌍 Cross-platform: macOS, Linux, Windows.
• 📦 Works with npm, Yarn, and pnpm.
• 🔄 Auto-installs missing dependencies.
• 🛠 No changes to your package.json.

Installation

Install globally once:

npm i -g node-linker-pro

Usage

From any project folder:

npm setup

This will:

• Move node_modules to the cache folder.
• Create a symlink (mac/Linux) or junction (Windows).
• Install dependencies if the cache is empty.

If your npm version doesn’t support npm setup:

npm-setup

Cache locations

OS	Default cache path
macOS	~/Library/Caches/node_modules_store
Linux	~/.cache/node_modules_store
Windows	%LOCALAPPDATA%\Temp\node_modules_cache

Custom path:

# mac/Linux
EXTERNAL_NODE_MODULES_DIR="/path/to/cache" npm setup

# Windows PowerShell
$env:EXTERNAL_NODE_MODULES_DIR="D:\path\to\cache"; npm setup

When to use it

✅ You keep projects in Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or iCloud.
✅ You want a cross-platform, cloud-safe workflow.
✅ You switch between multiple OSes and don’t want to re-download dependencies.

When not to use it

❌ CI/CD pipelines (use npm ci instead).
❌ Highly isolated builds requiring separate installs for security.

FAQ

Will it break my project?
No. Your tools see node_modules normally.

What if the cache is deleted?
Run npm setup again — dependencies will reinstall.

Does it require admin rights on Windows?
No, if Developer Mode is enabled. Otherwise, Windows may ask.

License

MIT — Free to use, modify, and share.

• npm: node-linker-pro on npm
• GitHub: node-linker-pro on Github