Remove all node modules with a Shell script

In specific scenarios, there is often a need to eliminate deep folders, for example when we are managing a monorepo and we would like to clean some files in every package, as node_modules or dist. Or, simply, you want to free up disk space.

This process can be automatized implementing a Shell script, available in Unix and Linux systems (also in Git Bash).

find . -name \"node_modules\" -type d -prune -exec rm -rf '{}' +

• find .: Searches for files and directories in a file system. In this case, the dot . indicates the current directory.

• -name "node_modules": Specifies to search for items with the name node_modules.

• -type d: Indicates that only directories (folders) should be searched.

• -prune: Stops the search in the matching directories, meaning it will not descend further into those directories.

• -exec rm -rf '{}' +: This segment executes the rm -rf command on the results found by find. rm is the command for removing files or directories, and the options -rf mean “recursively” and “forcefully” (without asking for confirmation).

  • '{}' is a placeholder that find will replace with the found file path.
  • + indicates find that multiple results can be passed to the command in a single execution.

Then, in our root package.json we can add a script:

{
  "scripts": {
    "clean:node_modules": "find . -name \"node_modules\" -type d -prune -exec rm -rf '{}' +",
    "clean:dist": "find . -name \"dist\" -type d -prune -exec rm -rf '{}' +"
  }
}

This simple Shell script allows you to clean files in your monorepo. Also, it will function in any folder, providing the flexibility to execute it wherever you choose!

Happy coding! 🚀