Create package.json from package-lock.json

Question

I downloaded a theme and it has a package-lock.json file but no package.json file. Is there a way I can generate the package.json from the package-lock.json file. How do I install the node modules with just the package-lock.json file. Is there a way to do that?

Something not right with the theme because package.json is necessary to install other dependencies.. what’s the url of the theme ? — Johnson Samuel, May 26 '18 at 16:38
possible duplicate of https://stackoverflow.com/questions/53858814/npm-to-create-a-package-json-file-out-of-the-package-lock-json-file — cangosta, Feb 08 '19 at 20:32

score 41 · Answer 1 · edited Jun 13 '22 at 21:32

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Warning: Do not attempt before reading comments below & backup package-lock.json.

Install the latest npm with npm install -g npm

Run npm init and respond to the questions.

The above command will generate a package.json and include the existing packages listed in package-lock.json

edited Jun 13 '22 at 21:32

Simon_Weaver

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answered Aug 20 '18 at 05:29

VeeeneX

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I tried it with the latest npm (`6.4.1`) and it doesn't work. It only creates a `package.json` file without any dependencies listed. – Amade Sep 02 '18 at 13:46
@Amade Interesting I was able to recover my packages with that command :/ – VeeeneX Sep 03 '18 at 08:12
@MajAfy Well, I'm not sure why (shrug) – VeeeneX Nov 26 '18 at 12:17
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npm `6.6.0`. `package.json` does not include the existing packages listed in `package-lock.json` – Lin Du Jan 23 '19 at 02:57
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6.9.0 and it is still not working, neither is npm ci - what is the point of this file's use in CI if it seems to be ignored ? – RuiDC Jun 21 '19 at 14:53
Worked for me with version 6.4.1 – Jakub Hubert Jun 23 '19 at 10:20
see @paul 's answer below – Vincent Buscarello Aug 31 '20 at 22:27
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wiped out package-lock.json – nerkn Jan 05 '21 at 18:53
This wiped out my package-json. I've edited the question with a warning but I'm not knowledgeable enough about this to know what's going on or if it's just not possible. – Simon_Weaver Jun 13 '22 at 21:32

score 27 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 23 '19 at 14:33

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I think I figured it out.

I don't think npm init can draw from package-lock.json. However it does seem to pull from what is already in your /node_modules. I believe this is why @Harry B's solution works for some and not at all for others.

For example, if you have just cloned your project which contains package-lock.json, no package.json, and empty/non-existence node_modules, npm init won't create any dependencies. However, if you run npm install pkg1 pkg2 pkg3 ... then run npm init it will create the dependencies in package.json.

answered Aug 23 '19 at 14:33

Paul

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This is a perfect explanation. I cloned a project to local that included node_modules but not package.json, so I couldn't rebuild and deploy. This was the perfect solution to my issue. – billoverton Feb 28 '20 at 20:22
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This is perfect comment on situation, but it has nothing to do with answering to the question: `How do I install the node modules with just the package-lock.json file` – Kos Apr 11 '20 at 21:34

score 19 · Answer 3 · answered Feb 01 '21 at 22:53

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https://pravnyadv.github.io/unpackage/ seems to work. Copy your package lock file text in, hit the button, copy out the text into a new package.json file.

answered Feb 01 '21 at 22:53

Erhannis

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That's the perfect solution – migli Apr 04 '21 at 05:50
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This should be selected as the valid answer. – Finalmix6 Feb 02 '22 at 18:16
https://pravnyadv.github.io/unpackage/ may return your `package.json` a single line. If so and you'd like to unfurl it a multi-line format, pipe it into `jq` with: `echo '$your_package_blobl' | jq` – Alex Mapley Apr 29 '22 at 01:13
I am late here, but the above link: https://pravnyadv.github.io/unpackage/ is not working anymore, do you have any alternatives? – Mithun Shreevatsa Aug 29 '23 at 11:35

score 6 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 06 '19 at 16:50

package-lock.json file relies on the presence of a package.json file, So it's not possible to retrieve package.json (happy to be proved wrong).

So a possible solution left is to use a module like auto-install which is capable of generating package.json from the project file dependencies.

First, you need to install the module globally npm install -g auto-install. Then run npm init and answer the basic requirements.

Then, run auto-install in your project root directory. All the dependencies should reflect in package.json file.

**

Or Install node modules directly from package-lock.json

**

Run npm ci which bypasses a package’s package.json to install modules from a package’s lockfile.

More Information

`npm ci` always tells me "added 0 packages" and `auto-install` **rewrote my _package-lock.json_**, installed 2 random packages and stopped at "Watchers initialized"... _node_modules_ folder was created but only with these 2 packages... Glad I had a lock backup :( — CPHPython, Apr 12 '19 at 13:24
`npm ci` **depends** on `package.json` so it cannot be used with only `package-lock.json` present — Kos, Apr 11 '20 at 21:36

Create package.json from package-lock.json

4 Answers4

Warning: Do not attempt before reading comments below & backup package-lock.json.

Or Install node modules directly from package-lock.json

Linked