rollup-plugin-delete

3.0.2 verified Mon Apr 27 auth: no javascript

A Rollup plugin for deleting files and folders before or during a build, powered by the del package. Current stable version is 3.0.2, released as pure ESM requiring Node.js 18+. It is written in TypeScript and ships native types. Key differentiators include support for multiple target patterns, verbose output, customizable hook (e.g., buildStart, buildEnd), and a runOnce option for watch mode. Active maintenance with recent updates focused on modernizing internals (vitest to node test runner, tsdown).

Common errors

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

cause Importing the package with require() in a CommonJS environment, but v3+ is ESM-only.

fix

Use import del from 'rollup-plugin-delete' and ensure your project is ESM ("type": "module" in package.json), or downgrade to v2.x.

error TypeError: del is not a function ↓

cause The default export is a factory function; importing the named export incorrectly or using a wrong import style.

fix

Use default import: import del from 'rollup-plugin-delete'

error Error: Cannot find module 'rollup-plugin-delete' ↓

cause Package not installed or not listed in dependencies.

fix

Run npm install rollup-plugin-delete --save-dev (or yarn/pnpm equivalent).

Warnings

breaking Package converted to pure ESM in v3.0.0 - require() will throw an error ↓

fix Use import syntax instead of require(). If you must use CommonJS, stay on v2.x.

breaking Requires Node.js 18+ starting from v3.0.0 ↓

fix Upgrade Node.js to version 18 or later, or use v2.x for older Node versions.

breaking Underlying del package was upgraded with breaking changes in glob engine and options ↓

fix Review del changelog for version 5.0.0 and adjust your glob patterns/options accordingly.

deprecated Support for Node.js 8 dropped in v2.0.0 ↓

fix Use Node.js 10+ or stay on v1.x.

gotcha Default hook is 'buildStart' - files are deleted at the start of the build, not the end ↓

fix If you need deletion after bundle, set hook: 'buildEnd' or 'writeBundle'.

gotcha Using wildcard * in targets may cause confusion with dotfiles ↓

fix Explicitly include dotfiles patterns (e.g., '**/.*') if you intend to delete hidden files.

Install

npm install rollup-plugin-delete

yarn add rollup-plugin-delete

pnpm add rollup-plugin-delete

Imports

del
wrong
```
const del = require('rollup-plugin-delete')
```
correct
```
import del from 'rollup-plugin-delete'
```
Default export is the plugin factory. The package is ESM-only since v3, requiring import syntax.

DelOptions

wrong

import { DelOptions } from 'rollup-plugin-delete'

correct

import type { DelOptions } from 'rollup-plugin-delete'

TypeScript users should import types with 'import type' to avoid runtime inclusion.

RollupPluginDeleteOptions
```
import type { RollupPluginDeleteOptions } from 'rollup-plugin-delete'
```
Type alias for the plugin's configuration object; available since v3 with TypeScript rewrite.

Quickstart

Shows basic usage: delete all files in 'dist' before bundle, with verbose output and runOnce to avoid re-deletion in watch mode.

// rollup.config.js
import del from 'rollup-plugin-delete';

export default {
  input: 'src/index.js',
  output: { file: 'dist/bundle.js' },
  plugins: [
    del({ targets: 'dist/*', verbose: true, runOnce: true })
  ]
};