What is write-pkg?
The write-pkg npm package is used to write a package.json file. It allows you to create or update the package.json file programmatically, which can be useful for automating project setup or configuration tasks.
What are write-pkg's main functionalities?
Write a new package.json file
This feature allows you to create a new package.json file with the specified content. The code sample demonstrates how to write a new package.json file with basic fields like name, version, and description.
const writePkg = require('write-pkg');
writePkg({
name: 'awesome-package',
version: '1.0.0',
description: 'My awesome package'
}).then(() => {
console.log('package.json written successfully');
});
Update an existing package.json file
This feature allows you to update an existing package.json file. The code sample demonstrates how to update the version field of an existing package.json file.
const writePkg = require('write-pkg');
writePkg({
version: '1.0.1'
}, {cwd: '.'}).then(() => {
console.log('package.json updated successfully');
});
Write a package.json file with nested properties
This feature allows you to write a package.json file with nested properties. The code sample demonstrates how to include nested properties like scripts in the package.json file.
const writePkg = require('write-pkg');
writePkg({
name: 'awesome-package',
version: '1.0.0',
scripts: {
start: 'node index.js',
test: 'npm test'
}
}).then(() => {
console.log('package.json with nested properties written successfully');
});
Other packages similar to write-pkg
jsonfile
The jsonfile package provides similar functionality for reading and writing JSON files. It is more general-purpose compared to write-pkg, which is specifically designed for package.json files. jsonfile can be used to read and write any JSON file, not just package.json.
edit-json-file
The edit-json-file package allows you to easily read, edit, and write JSON files. It provides a more user-friendly API for modifying JSON files compared to write-pkg. It is also more general-purpose and can be used for any JSON file, not just package.json.
fs-extra
The fs-extra package extends the native Node.js fs module with additional methods for working with the file system, including methods for reading and writing JSON files. It is a more comprehensive solution for file system operations, including but not limited to JSON file manipulation.
write-pkg
Write a package.json
file
Writes atomically and creates directories for you as needed. Sorts dependencies when writing. Preserves the indentation if the file already exists.
Install
npm install write-pkg
Usage
import path from 'node:path';
import {writePackage} from 'write-pkg';
await writePackage({foo: true});
console.log('done');
await writePackage(path.join('unicorn', 'package.json'), {foo: true});
console.log('done');
API
writePackage(path?, data, options?)
Returns a Promise
that resolves when the package.json
file has been written.
writePackageSync(path?, data, options?)
path
Type: string
Default: process.cwd()
The path to where the package.json
file should be written or its directory.
data
Type object
JSON data to write to the package.json
file.
options
Type: object
See Options.
updatePackage(path?, data, options?)
Returns a Promise
that resolves when the package.json
file has been updated.
updatePackageSync(path?, data, options?)
import {updatePackage} from 'write-pkg';
await updatePackage({foo: true});
await updatePackage({foo: false, bar: true});
path
Type: string
Default: process.cwd()
The path to where the package.json
file should be written or its directory.
data
Type object
JSON data to write to the package.json
file. If the file already exists, existing fields will be merged with the values in data
.
options
Type: object
See Options.
addPackageDependencies(path?, dependencies, options?)
Returns a Promise
that resolves when the package.json
file has been written.
addPackageDependenciesSync(path?, dependencies, options?)
import {writePackage, addPackageDependencies} from 'write-pkg';
await writePackage({foo: true});
await addPackageDependencies({foo: '1.0.0'});
await addPackageDependencies({dependencies: {foo: '1.0.0'}, devDependencies: {bar: '1.0.0'}});
path
Type: string
Default: process.cwd()
The path to where the package.json
file should be written or its directory.
dependencies
Type: Record<string, string> | Partial<Record<'dependencies' | 'devDependencies' | 'optionalDependencies' | 'peerDependencies', Record<string, string>>>
Dependencies to add to the package.json
file.
options
Type: object
See Options.
removePackageDependencies(path?, dependencies, options?)
Returns a Promise
that resolves when the package.json
file has been written. Does not throw if the file does not exist.
removePackageDependenciesSync(path?, dependencies, options?)
import {writePackage, removePackageDependencies} from 'write-pkg';
await writePackage({foo: true, dependencies: {foo: '1.0.0'}, devDependencies: {bar: '1.0.0'}});
await removePackageDependencies(['foo']);
await removePackageDependencies({devDependencies: ['bar']});
path
Type: string
Default: process.cwd()
The path to where the package.json
file should be written or its directory.
dependencies
Type string[] | Partial<Record<'dependencies' | 'devDependencies' | 'optionalDependencies' | 'peerDependencies', string[]>>
Dependencies to remove from the package.json
file.
options
Type: object
See Options.
Options
indent
Type: string | number
Default: Auto-detected or '\t'
The indentation to use for new files.
Accepts '\t'
for tab indentation or a number of spaces.
If the file already exists, the existing indentation will be used.
normalize
Type: boolean
Default: true
Remove empty dependencies
, devDependencies
, optionalDependencies
and peerDependencies
objects.
write-pkg for enterprise
Available as part of the Tidelift Subscription.
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