roblox-ts-multiple-node-modules

A roblox-ts patch that adds support for using multiple node_modules folders across different Roblox services.

This is intended as a temporary workaround while the official roblox-ts PR for multiple node_modules support is still open:

https://github.com/roblox-ts/roblox-ts/pull/3008

❓ Why?

By default, roblox-ts expects dependencies to be placed in the shared rbxts_include folder, usually under ReplicatedStorage.

This package allows you to define additional service-specific node_modules folders, such as:

• Server-only dependencies in ServerScriptService
• Client-only dependencies in StarterPlayerScripts
• Shared dependencies in ReplicatedStorage
• Developer-only tooling that should not replicate to every player

⚙️ Install

npm install roblox-ts-multiple-node-modules

✅ Requirements

• Override the default rbxts_include path in ReplicatedStorage.
• @rbxts-js must only exist under ReplicatedStorage.
• The rbxts_include.$path property is only required in ReplicatedStorage.
• services is required and must be located at:

ReplicatedStorage/node_modules

🧩 Basic Rojo Example

{
    "ReplicatedStorage": {
        "rbxts_include": {
-           "$path": "include",
+           "$path": "node_modules/roblox-ts-multiple-node-modules/include",

            "node_modules": {
                "$className": "Folder",

                "@rbxts": {
                    "$path": "node_modules/@rbxts"
                },

                "@rbxts-js": {
                    "$path": "node_modules/@rbxts-js"
                }
            }
        }
    },

    "ServerScriptService": {
+       "rbxts_include": {
+           "node_modules": {
+               "$className": "Folder",
+
+               "@my_server_modules": {
+                   "$path": "node_modules/@my_server_modules"
+               }
+           }
+       }
    }
}

💡 Usage Ideas

1. Server-only or client-only modules

You can define specific @rbxts modules manually for each service instead of mapping the entire node_modules folder.

For example:

• Shared dependencies can stay in ReplicatedStorage.
• Server-only dependencies can be placed in ServerScriptService.
• Client-only dependencies can be placed in a client service such as StarterPlayerScripts.

This helps avoid replicating unnecessary packages to places where they are not needed.

2. UI Labs

If this UI Labs PR is accepted:

https://github.com/PepeElToro41/ui-labs/pull/105

You can keep the UI Labs package only inside ServerScriptService.

If your stories are still located in shared folders, you can remove them in production by using a server script that deletes story scripts when the server starts.

3. Developer-specific modules

You can keep developer-only modules, such as Iris, out of the default replicated tree.

This allows you to manually replicate them only when needed, instead of making them visible to every player by default.

📝 Notes

• Keep shared runtime dependencies in ReplicatedStorage.
• Keep server-only dependencies in server services.
• Avoid placing @rbxts-js outside ReplicatedStorage.rbxts_include.node_modules.
• Make sure services exists under ReplicatedStorage's node modules ([email protected]).

🚧 Status

This package is a workaround until official multiple node_modules support is available in roblox-ts. PR #3008