eslint-plugin-depend

1.5.0 verified Sat Apr 25 auth: no javascript

An ESLint plugin (v1.5.0) that suggests optimized dependencies, native alternatives, and detects package bloat. It helps reduce dependency tree size and redundant polyfills by analyzing imports and providing rule-based suggestions. Active development with regular releases; supports flat config and legacy config. Ships TypeScript types. Requires eslint >=8.40.0 and is ESM-only since v1.0.0.

Common errors

error Error [ERR_REQUIRE_ESM]: require() of ES Module not supported ↓

cause Using require() to import eslint-plugin-depend which is ESM-only since v1.0.0

fix

Switch to import syntax or downgrade to v0.12.0 (last CJS version).

error Oops! Something went wrong! :( ESLint: 8.x.x ESLint couldn't find the plugin "eslint-plugin-depend" ↓

cause Missing or incorrectly configured plugin in flat config

fix

Ensure you have import depend from 'eslint-plugin-depend' and plugins: { depend } in your config.

error Configuration for rule "depend/ban-dependencies" is invalid: Value "error" should be a boolean or object. ↓

cause Using string severity in flat config; flat config expects severity as number or string but rule config is nested incorrectly.

fix

Use "depend/ban-dependencies": "error" inside rules object, not as a string value in extends.

error TypeError: eslint-plugin-depend is not a function ↓

cause Importing the plugin incorrectly (e.g., using default export as function).

fix

Import as import depend from 'eslint-plugin-depend' and use as plugin object.

Warnings

breaking v1.0.0 dropped CommonJS support. require() will fail. ↓

fix Migrate to ESM: use import statements and flat config.

breaking v1.0.0 changed the default export. The plugin object no longer requires .default. ↓

fix import depend from 'eslint-plugin-depend' (not require(...).default).

deprecated Legacy .eslintrc configs are still supported but not recommended. ↓

fix Use flat config with eslint.config.js and the 'depend/flat/recommended' extends.

gotcha When linting package.json, you must use a JSON parser (e.g., @eslint/json or jsonc-eslint-parser) and set files: ['package.json']. ↓

fix Add a separate config block for package.json with appropriate language/parser.

Install

npm install eslint-plugin-depend

yarn add eslint-plugin-depend

pnpm add eslint-plugin-depend

Imports

default

wrong

const depend = require('eslint-plugin-depend')

correct

import depend from 'eslint-plugin-depend'

ESM-only since v1.0.0; default export is the plugin object.

depend (plugin)

wrong

const depend = require('eslint-plugin-depend').default

correct

import depend from 'eslint-plugin-depend'

No named default export; import the default and use as plugins.depend.

flat config extension

wrong

export default [{ plugins: { 'eslint-plugin-depend': depend } }]

correct

import depend from 'eslint-plugin-depend'; export default [{ plugins: { depend }, extends: ['depend/flat/recommended'] }]

Use 'depend/flat/recommended' string in extends; do not import a config object.

Quickstart

Shows how to set up the plugin with flat config for JS files, including the correct import and extends pattern.

// Install: npm i -D eslint-plugin-depend

// eslint.config.js (flat config)
import depend from 'eslint-plugin-depend';
import { defineConfig } from 'eslint/config';

export default defineConfig([
  {
    files: ['**/*.js'],
    plugins: {
      depend
    },
    extends: ['depend/flat/recommended'],
  }
]);

// or .eslintrc.json (legacy)
// {
//   "extends": ["plugin:depend/recommended"]
// }