# npmignore [![NPM version](https://badge.fury.io/js/npmignore.svg)](http://badge.fury.io/js/npmignore)
> Command line tool for creating or updating a .npmignore file based on .gitignore.
## Usage
Say `.gitignore` has:
```bash
node_modules/
build/
```
… so that build output is not committed, and you want `.npmignore` to have:
```bash
node_modules/
src/
test/
```
… so that source files and test files are not published, but build output is.
### Automatic usage
On the command line, run `npm install --save-dev npmignore`.
In your `.gitignore`, add `.npmignore` so that the `.npmignore` file is no longer committed to version control.
In your `package.json`, add the following JSON to “scripts” and “publishConfig”:
```json
"scripts": {
…
"prepack": "npmignore --auto"
…
},
"publishConfig": {
…
"ignore": [
"!build/",
"src/",
"test/"
]
…
}
```
Whenever you run `npm pack` or `npm publish`, an `.npmignore` file will automatically be created:
```bash
node_modules/
build/
# npmignore
!build/
src/
test/
```
### Manual usage
On the command line run:
```bash
npx npmignore -i src/,test/,!build/
```
An `.npmignore` file will be created, or updated:
```bash
node_modules/
build/
# npmignore
!build/
src/
test/
```
**Heads up!**
The `# npmignore` comment is used to ensure that `.npmignore` reflects the latest changes in your `.gitignore` file, just by running `npmignore` in the command line.
_If you want to preserve everything in your `.npmignore` file, regardless of what is in `.gitignore`, just add the `# npmignore` comment at the top of the `.npmignore` file.
### Verification
Run `npm pack --dry-run` (or `npm publish --dry-run`) in a modern version of npm to get a printout of the files that will be included in your npm package.
## CLI commands
- `--auto`: automatic mode. The `--ignore`, `--unignore`, `keepdest`, and `--npmignore` options are incompatible with this mode.
- `-i`|`--ignore`: comma-separated list of patterns to add to `.npmignore`
- `-u`|`--unignore`: comma-separated list of patterns to remove from `.npmignore`. This will not un-ignore patterns in `.gitignore`.
- `-d`|`--dest`: optionally define a different destination filepath. Good for test driving to see what will be generated in advance.
- `-g`|`--gitignore`: alternate source filepath for `.gitignore`.
- `-n`|`--npmignore`: alternate source filepath for `.npmignore`.
- `-k`|`--keepdest`: avoids altering the destination file
- `--commentLines`: a comma-separated list of lines of comment text.
## API
To use via API, first:
```bash
npm install --save npmignore
```
Then:
```js
var npmignore = require('npmignore');
npmignore(npm, git, options);
```
**Params**
- `npm` {String|Array}: String from `.npmignore` or an array of patterns to use.
- `git` {String|Array}: String from `.gitignore` or an array of patterns to use.
- `options` {Object}
+ `commentLines` Array of comment lines. Defaults to:
```
[
'content above this line is automatically generated and modifications may be omitted',
'see npmjs.com/npmignore for more details.'
]
```
+ `ignore` Array of patterns to add to the existing patterns from `.gitignore`
+ `unignore` Array of patterns to remove from `.npmignore`. This will not un-ignore patterns in `.gitignore`
+ `keepdest` if `true`, avoids altering the destination file
## Tests
Simply clone the repo, `npm install`, and run `npm test`
## Contributing
Pull requests and stars are always welcome. For bugs and feature requests, [please create an issue](https://github.com/ljharb/npmignore/issues)