better-import

CLI tool to detect replaceable dependencies in your package.json files. Automatically scans monorepo workspaces and suggests better, lighter, or more performant alternatives.

Features

• 🔍 Auto-detect workspaces: Supports pnpm-workspace.yaml and package.json workspaces (npm/yarn/pnpm)
• 📦 Query mode: Check if a specific dependency has better alternatives
• 🎨 Multiple output formats: Clean multi-line layout or JSON for CI/CD integration
• ⚡ Fast & lightweight: Uses curated rules from industry best practices

Installation

As a global CLI tool

# pnpm
pnpm add -g @unbird/better-import

As a dev dependency

# pnpm
pnpm add -D @unbird/better-import

From source

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/better-import
cd better-import
pnpm install
pnpm build

Usage

Check all packages in monorepo

better-import check

Output:

Scanning packages...
axios (^1.0.0)
  → Use https://www.npmjs.com/package/ky instead.
  /path/to/package.json

lodash (^4.17.0)
  → Use https://es-toolkit.slash.page instead.
  /path/to/package.json

Found 2 package(s) with better alternatives

Query specific package

better-import query axios

Output:

axios
  → Use https://www.npmjs.com/package/ky instead.

JSON output

better-import check --json
better-import query lodash --json

Commands

check

Check all packages in monorepo for replaceable dependencies.

better-import check [--json] [--cwd <path>]

Flags:

• --json: Output in JSON format
• --cwd <path>: Working directory (default: current directory)

query <package>

Query if a specific package has better alternatives.

better-import query <package> [--json]

Flags:

• --json: Output in JSON format

Help

better-import --help
better-import check --help
better-import query --help

Exit Codes

• 0: No replaceable dependencies found
• 1: Found replaceable dependencies (useful for CI/CD)

Rules Source

The replacement rules are based on src/rules/, which maintains curated lists of common dependencies and their better alternatives from industry best practices.

Sukka

https://github.com/SukkaW/eslint-config-sukka/blob/308947197c4d06d7261a5fab5c81257e79a6133e/packages/shared/src/restricted-import.ts

License

MIT