cp-cli

2.0.0 verified Sat Apr 25 auth: no javascript

cp-cli is a Node.js CLI tool that replicates the UNIX cp command for cross-platform file and directory copying. Current stable version is 2.0.0, which exits with code 1 on error instead of 0 as in prior versions. It is a lightweight alternative to shell commands or more complex build tools, with no runtime dependencies after installation (only dev deps). Release cadence is irregular; the last release was v2.0.0 with a breaking change in exit code behavior.

Common errors

error Error: Cannot find module 'cp-cli' ↓

cause Package not installed locally or globally.

fix

Run 'npm install -g cp-cli' or use 'npx cp-cli'.

error Usage: cp-cli [-d] source target ↓

cause Missing source or target arguments.

fix

Provide both source and target file paths (e.g., 'cp-cli foo.txt bar.txt').

error Error: ENOENT: no such file or directory ↓

cause Source file does not exist.

fix

Check that the source path is correct and the file exists.

Warnings

breaking Exit code changed from 0 to 1 on error in v2.0.0 ↓

fix Update scripts that check exit codes: errors now return 1 instead of 0.

gotcha Does not support recursive copying by default; no -R option ↓

fix Use other tools like fs-extra or ncp for recursive directory copying.

gotcha Only copies a single file or into an existing directory; no glob or multiple sources ↓

fix Use bash cp or other tools like copyfiles for glob patterns.

Install

npm install cp-cli

yarn add cp-cli

pnpm add cp-cli

Imports

default
wrong
```
const cp = require('cp-cli');
```
correct
```
#!/usr/bin/env node
import cp from 'cp-cli';
```
The package is an ESM module since v2.0.0. Use import instead of require.
cp
wrong
```
import { cp } from 'cp-cli';
```
correct
```
import cp from 'cp-cli';
```
The package exports a default function, not a named export.
cli
wrong
```
npm run cp-cli -- source target
```
correct
```
npx cp-cli source target
```
For CLI usage, install globally or use npx. Not a node require() use case.
dereference option
wrong
```
cp-cli --dereference source target
```
correct
```
cp-cli -d source target
```
The -d flag enables dereferencing symlinks, but both forms work. Only listing -d as common shorthand.

Quickstart

Demonstrates global installation and common copy operations using cp-cli CLI.

# Install globally
npm install -g cp-cli

# Copy a file
cp-cli foo.txt bar.txt

# Copy file into directory
cp-cli foo.txt dest/

# Using npx (no install)
npx cp-cli source.txt target.txt