npm-cache-rm

library0.0.3jsnpmunverified

A minimal CLI tool to remove specific entries from the npm cache by regex pattern matching on cache keys. Version 0.0.3, no active release cadence. Simple single-purpose tool with zero dependencies beyond Node.js's built-in modules. Differentiator: allows targeted cache cleanup vs clearing the entire npm cache.

devops

npm install npm-cache-rm

github ↗package ↗homepage ↗

INSTALL

IMPORT

SIG · NPM-CACHE-RM

npm-cache-rm

devopsjavascriptv0.0.3

harness data pending

Install & Compatibility

Where this runs

No compatibility data collected yet for this library.

Code

Verified usage

List all cache entries matching 'electron' (dry-run), then remove entries matching the regex pattern for Electron 10.0.0.

npx npm-cache-rm --dry-run electron npx npm-cache-rm "electron.*?10\\.0\\.0"

Debug

Known issues

gotchaThe regex pattern is matched against the full cache key, not just package names. Ensure proper escaping of dots and special characters.

fix

Use proper regex escaping, e.g., for exact version use 'electron.*?10\\.0\\.0'.

affects: >=0.0.0

gotchaDry-run prints 'rm ...' lines but does not actually remove anything. Users often assume it only lists matching entries without 'rm' prefix.

fix

Run with --dry-run to preview, then remove --dry-run to execute.

affects: >=0.0.0

gotchaThe tool only works with npm cache entries stored via make-fetch-happen and pacote. Custom registries or different cache formats may not be affected.

fix

Use npm cache ls to verify cache keys before attempting to remove.

affects: >=0.0.0

breakingNo error if the regex matches nothing; exits silently. Users may think cleanup happened when no entries matched.

fix

Manually verify cache contents with 'npm cache ls' before and after.

affects: >=0.0.0

gotchaRequires Node.js and npm installed. Not a standalone executable.

fix

Ensure Node.js is in PATH.

affects: >=0.0.0

Errors

Common errors & fixes

rm: missing operand

The tool internally uses 'rm' command but does not validate regex argument.

fix

Ensure you provide a regex pattern as argument, e.g., 'npm-cache-rm electron'

SyntaxError: Invalid regular expression

Invalid regex pattern passed as argument.

fix

Use valid regex syntax; escape special characters. Example: 'npm-cache-rm "electron.*?10\\.0\\.0"'

The tool appears to do nothing on Windows

Uses Unix shell commands (rm) under the hood.

fix

Run on Linux/macOS or use WSL on Windows.

Upgrade

Version history

0.0.3latest on npm

Audit

Dependencies

No dependency data recorded yet.

Agent activity

2 hits · last 30 days

node

Resources

githubhttps://github.com/greggman/npm-cache-rm ↗

packagenpm-cache-rm ↗

homepagehttps://github.com/greggman/npm-cache-rm#readme ↗