knip-dead-code

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Translated

Knip finds unused files, dependencies, exports, and types in JavaScript/TypeScript projects. Plugin system for frameworks (React, Next.js, Vite), test runners (Vitest, Jest), and build tools. Use when cleaning up codebases, optimizing bundle size, or enforcing strict dependency hygiene in CI.

2installs

Sourcelaurigates/claude-plugins

Added on2026-03-14

NPX Install

npx skill4agent add laurigates/claude-plugins knip-dead-code

SKILL.md Content

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Knip Dead Code Detection

Knip is a comprehensive tool for finding unused code, dependencies, and exports in JavaScript and TypeScript projects. It helps maintain clean codebases and catch dead code before it accumulates.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when...	Use another approach when...
Finding unused dependencies	Removing unused CSS (use PurgeCSS)
Detecting unused exports in libraries	Finding runtime dead code paths
Cleaning up codebases after refactors	Optimizing bundle size (use bundler tree-shaking)
Enforcing dependency hygiene in CI	Detecting duplicate dependencies (use npm-dedupe)

Core Expertise

What is Knip?

Unused detection: Files, dependencies, exports, types, enum members
Plugin system: Supports 80+ frameworks and tools
Fast: Analyzes large codebases in seconds
Actionable: Clear reports with file locations
CI-ready: Exit codes for failing builds

Installation

bash

# Project-local (recommended)
bun add --dev knip

# Verify installation
bunx knip --version

Basic Usage

bash

# Run Knip (scans entire project)
bunx knip

# Show only unused dependencies
bunx knip --dependencies

# Show only unused exports
bunx knip --exports

# Show only unused files
bunx knip --files

# Production mode (only check production dependencies)
bunx knip --production

# Exclude specific issue types
bunx knip --exclude-exports-used-in-file

# Output JSON (for CI)
bunx knip --reporter json

# Debug mode (show configuration)
bunx knip --debug

Configuration

Auto-detection (Zero Config)

Knip automatically detects:

Entry points (package.json
```
main
```
,
```
exports
```
,
```
bin
```
)
Frameworks (Next.js, Vite, Remix, etc.)
Test runners (Vitest, Jest, Playwright)
Build tools (ESLint, TypeScript, PostCSS)

No configuration needed for standard projects.

knip.json (Explicit Configuration)

json

{
  "$schema": "https://unpkg.com/knip@latest/schema.json",
  "entry": ["src/index.ts", "src/cli.ts"],
  "project": ["src/**/*.ts"],
  "ignore": ["**/*.test.ts", "scripts/**"],
  "ignoreDependencies": ["@types/*"],
  "ignoreBinaries": ["npm-check-updates"]
}

knip.ts (TypeScript Configuration)

typescript

// knip.ts
import type { KnipConfig } from 'knip';

const config: KnipConfig = {
  entry: ['src/index.ts', 'src/cli.ts'],
  project: ['src/**/*.ts', 'scripts/**/*.ts'],
  ignore: ['**/*.test.ts', '**/*.spec.ts', 'tmp/**'],
  ignoreDependencies: [
    '@types/*', // Type definitions
    'typescript', // Always needed
  ],
  ignoreExportsUsedInFile: true,
  ignoreWorkspaces: ['packages/legacy/**'],
};

export default config;

Common Patterns

Check Only Unused Dependencies

bash

# Fastest check - only dependencies
bunx knip --dependencies

# Exit with error if any unused dependencies
bunx knip --dependencies --max-issues 0

Use in CI to enforce strict dependency hygiene.

Check Only Exports (Library Development)

bash

# Check for unused exports
bunx knip --exports

# Allow exports used in same file
bunx knip --exports --exclude-exports-used-in-file

Use for libraries to ensure clean public API.

Production vs Development Dependencies

bash

# Check production code only
bunx knip --production

# Check everything (including dev dependencies)
bunx knip

Interpreting Results

Example Output

No unused files
No unused dependencies
2 unused exports

src/utils.ts:
  - calculateTax (line 42)
  - formatDate (line 58)

src/types.ts:
  - UserRole (line 12)

Issue Types

Type	Description	Action
Unused file	File not imported anywhere	Delete or add to entry points
Unused dependency	Package in package.json not used	Remove from dependencies
Unused export	Exported but never imported	Remove export or make private
Unused type	Type/interface exported but unused	Remove or make internal
Unused enum member	Enum member never referenced	Remove member
Duplicate export	Same export from multiple files	Consolidate exports

Agentic Optimizations

Context	Command
Quick scan	`bunx knip`
Dependencies only	`bunx knip --dependencies`
Exports only	`bunx knip --exports`
CI strict mode	`bunx knip --max-issues 0`
Production check	`bunx knip --production`
JSON output	`bunx knip --reporter json`
Debug config	`bunx knip --debug`
Changed files	`bunx knip --changed --base main`

Quick Reference

Flag	Description
`--dependencies`	Check only unused dependencies
`--exports`	Check only unused exports
`--files`	Check only unused files
`--production`	Production dependencies only
`--max-issues N`	Fail if more than N issues
`--reporter json`	JSON output for CI
`--reporter compact`	Compact output
`--debug`	Show configuration details
`--changed`	Check only changed files
`--changed --base main`	Changed files since main
`--workspace NAME`	Check specific workspace
`--exclude-exports-used-in-file`	Ignore same-file exports

For detailed examples, advanced patterns, and best practices, see REFERENCE.md.

References

Official docs: https://knip.dev
Configuration: https://knip.dev/reference/configuration
Plugins: https://knip.dev/reference/plugins
CLI reference: https://knip.dev/reference/cli
FAQ: https://knip.dev/reference/faq

knip-dead-code

NPX Install

Tags

SKILL.md Content

Knip Dead Code Detection

When to Use This Skill

Core Expertise

Installation

Basic Usage

Configuration

Auto-detection (Zero Config)

knip.json (Explicit Configuration)

knip.ts (TypeScript Configuration)

Common Patterns

Check Only Unused Dependencies

Check Only Exports (Library Development)

Production vs Development Dependencies

Interpreting Results

Example Output

Issue Types

Agentic Optimizations

Quick Reference

References