DEV Community

Cover image for Introducing Depmender - The Ultimate Dependency Management CLI for JavaScript/TypeScript Projects
Raj K
Raj K

Posted on

Introducing Depmender - The Ultimate Dependency Management CLI for JavaScript/TypeScript Projects

🎯 What is Depmender?

Depmender
 is a powerful command-line tool that helps you maintain healthy dependencies in your JavaScript/TypeScript projects. It goes beyond simple npm audit by providing:

  • 🔍 Comprehensive Scanning - Detects 6 types of dependency issues
  • 🔧 Intelligent Fixing - Smart suggestions with risk assessment
  • 🏥 System Diagnostics - Complete health check for your environment
  • 🧹 Dependency Cleanup - Remove unused packages safely
  • 👀 Real-time Monitoring - Watch mode with notifications
  • ⚙️ Flexible Configuration - Customize behavior per project

What It Does

  • Scans for 6 types of issues (outdated, security, broken, missing, conflicts)
  • Auto-fixes with smart risk assessment
  • Removes unused dependencies (saved me 125KB!)
  • Real-time monitoring with watch mode
  • Complete system health check

What it checks:

  • Node.js environment and version compatibility
  • Project structure (package.json, lockfiles, node_modules)
  • Package manager health and configuration
  • Dependency analysis (duplicates, large packages)
  • Performance metrics (install time, disk usage)
  • Security audit results
  • Personalized recommendations

How it works:

  • Scans all source files for imports/requires
  • Protects essential dependencies (build tools, linters)
  • Shows potential space savings
  • Safe removal with dependency analysis

Features:

  • Watches package.json and lockfiles
  • Automatic scans on changes
  • Desktop notifications for critical issues
  • Webhook integration for CI/CD
  • Optional auto-fixing

💡 Pro Tips

  1. Run doctor first - Get a complete health check before making changes 2 .Use dry-run - Always preview changes with --dry-run before confirming
  2. Configure per project - Create project-specific configs for different needs
  3. Integrate with CI - Add to your CI pipeline for continuous monitoring
  4. Watch during development - Use watch mode to catch issues early

Here is the link for the Depmender for more detailed information and CLI for how to use:- https://www.npmjs.com/package/depmender

Top comments (0)