better-npkill

Fast CLI to find and delete dependency folders across JavaScript projects.

• Works with npm, pnpm, yarn, and bun
• Lists only parent dependency folders (no nested node_modules/.../node_modules noise)
• Interactive TUI with multi-select, filtering, sorting, and safe delete options
• JSON mode for scripts and automation

Quick Start

Run without global install:

npx better-npkill@latest

Other runtimes:

bunx better-npkill@latest
pnpm dlx better-npkill@latest

Install

Optional global install:

npm install -g better-npkill@latest

Then run:

better-npkill

Usage

# Current directory
better-npkill

# Specific root
better-npkill ~/dev

# Include package-manager caches as well
better-npkill ~/dev --pattern deps

# Only folders >= 100MB
better-npkill ~/dev --min-size 100MB

# Only folders older than 30 days
better-npkill ~/dev --older-than 30d

# Skip confirmation
better-npkill ~/dev --yes

# Move to trash instead of permanent delete
better-npkill ~/dev --trash

# Simulate delete
better-npkill ~/dev --dry-run

# Non-interactive JSON output
better-npkill ~/dev --json

CLI Options

| Flag | Description | | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | | [rootDir] | Directory to scan (default: current working directory) | | --pattern <name> | Folder pattern or alias (deps), repeatable | | --min-size <size> | Minimum size, e.g. 100MB, 1.5GB | | --older-than <duration> | Minimum age, e.g. 30d, 12h | | --dry-run | Simulate deletion | | --yes | Skip confirmation | | --trash | Move to system trash | | --json | Print results as JSON and exit | | -h, --help | Show help | | -v, --version | Show version |

Patterns

| Pattern / alias | Default | Description | | ----------------------------- | --------------- | --------------------------------------------- | | node_modules | yes | Dependency folder (npm, pnpm, yarn, bun) | | deps | via --pattern | Alias: node_modules, .yarn, .pnpm-store | | .yarn | via --pattern | Yarn Berry cache | | .pnpm-store | via --pattern | pnpm store (local setups) | | .next | via --pattern | Next.js build cache | | dist, build | via --pattern | Build output folders | | .expo, android, .gradle | via --pattern | Expo / Android tooling folders |

Keybinds

| Key | Action | | ---------------------- | -------------------------------- | | ↑ / ↓ or j / k | Move cursor | | Space | Toggle selection | | a | Select all visible | | / | Filter by path | | s | Cycle sort (size / path / mtime) | | Enter or D | Delete selected (or focused row) | | ? | Toggle help | | q | Quit |

Confirm dialog: y to confirm, n to cancel.

Requirements

• Node.js 20+

License

MIT