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?

Answer 1

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.

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Or Install node modules directly from package-lock.json

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

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Answer 2

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

Answer 3

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.