Knip dead code detection best practices for JavaScript and TypeScript projects. Use when configuring Knip, analyzing unused code, setting up CI integration, or cleaning up codebases. Triggers on knip.json, dead code, unused exports, unused dependencies, bundle optimization.

Community Knip Dead Code Detection Best Practices Comprehensive guide for detecting and removing dead code in JavaScript and TypeScript projects using Knip. Contains 43 rules across 8 categories, prioritized by impact to guide configuration, CI integration, and cleanup workflows. When to Apply Reference these guidelines when: Configuring Knip for a new project or monorepo Investigating false positives or false negatives Setting up CI pipelines to prevent dead code regressions Using auto fix to clean up unused code Optimizing Knip performance for large codebases Rule Categories by Priority Priority Category Impact Prefix 1 Configuration Foundations CRITICAL config 2 Entry Point Strategy CRITICAL entry 3 Workspace & Monorepo HIGH workspace 4 Dependency Analysis HIGH deps 5 Export Detection MEDIUM HIGH exports 6 CI Integration MEDIUM ci 7 Auto Fix Workflow MEDIUM fix 8 Performance Optimization LOW MEDIUM perf Quick Reference 1. Configuration Foundations (CRITICAL) [ config avoid broad ignore ](references/config avoid broad ignore.md) Avoid broad ignore patterns [ config configure path aliases ](references/config configure path aliases.md) Configure path aliases in Knip [ config enable plugins explicitly ](references/config enable plugins explicitly.md) Enable framework plugins explicitly [ config run without config ](references/config run without config.md) Run without config first for baseline [ config separate entry project ](references/config separate entry project.md) Separate entry files from project files [ config use json schema ](references/config use json schema.md) Use JSON schema for configuration validation [ config use negation patterns ](references/config use negation patterns.md) Use negation patterns for exclusions [ config use production mode ](references/config use production mode.md) Use production mode for shipping code analysis 2. Entry Point Strategy (CRITICAL) [ entry add dynamic imports ](references/entry add dynamic imports.md) Add dynamic import targets as entry points [ entry exclude test files ](references/entry exclude test files.md) Exclude test files from production entries [ entry include all entry points ](references/entry include all entry points.md) Include all application entry points [ entry include bin scripts ](references/entry include bin scripts.md) Include binary scripts as entry points [ entry use compilers ](references/entry use compilers.md) Use compilers for non standard file types [ entry use plugin entries ](references/entry use plugin entries.md) Use plugin entry points for frameworks [ entry verify with debug ](references/entry verify with debug.md) Verify entry points with debug mode 3. Workspace & Monorepo (HIGH) [ workspace configure root workspace ](references/workspace configure root workspace.md) Configure root workspace explicitly [ workspace ignore specific ](references/workspace ignore specific.md) Ignore specific workspaces when needed [ workspace isolate for strict ](references/workspace isolate for strict.md) Isolate workspaces for strict dependency checking [ workspace list cross deps ](references/workspace list cross deps.md) List cross workspace dependencies explicitly [ workspace per workspace plugins ](references/workspace per workspace plugins.md) Configure plugins per workspace [ workspace use workspace globs ](references/workspace use workspace globs.md) Use workspace globs for consistent configuration 4. Dependency Analysis (HIGH) [ deps add unlisted deps ](references/deps add unlisted deps.md) Add unlisted dependencies to package.json [ deps avoid transitive reliance ](references/deps avoid transitive reliance.md) Avoid relying on transitive dependencies [ deps configure plugin deps ](references/deps configure plugin deps.md) Configure plugins for tool specific dependencies [ deps fix files first ](references/deps fix files first.md) Fix unused files before dependencies [ deps ignore conditional deps ](references/deps ignore conditional deps.md) Ignore conditionally loaded dependencies [ deps remove obsolete types ](references/deps remove obsolete types.md) Remove obsolete type definition packages 5. Export Detection (MEDIUM HIGH) [ exports check class members ](references/exports check class members.md) Check class members for unused code [ exports enable entry exports ](references/exports enable entry exports.md) Enable entry export checking for private packages [ exports handle reexports ](references/exports handle reexports.md) Handle re exports in barrel files [ exports ignore same file ](references/exports ignore same file.md) Ignore exports used in same file [ exports tag public api ](references/exports tag public api.md) Tag public API exports with JSDoc [ exports trace usage ](references/exports trace usage.md) Trace export usage before removal [ exports use include libs ](references/exports use include libs.md) Use include libs for type based consumption 6. CI Integration (MEDIUM) [ ci add to pipeline ](references/ci add to pipeline.md) Add Knip to CI pipeline [ ci separate production check ](references/ci separate production check.md) Separate production and default mode checks [ ci use cache ](references/ci use cache.md) Enable cache for faster CI runs [ ci use max issues ](references/ci use max issues.md) Use max issues for gradual adoption [ ci use reporters ](references/ci use reporters.md) Use appropriate reporters for CI output [ ci watch mode local ](references/ci watch mode local.md) Use watch mode for local development 7. Auto Fix Workflow (MEDIUM) [ fix allow remove files ](references/fix allow remove files.md) Explicitly allow file removal [ fix format after fix ](references/fix format after fix.md) Format code after auto fix [ fix review before commit ](references/fix review before commit.md) Review auto fix changes before commit [ fix update deps after ](references/fix update deps after.md) Update package manager after dependency fix [ fix use fix type ](references/fix use fix type.md) Use fix type for targeted cleanup 8. Performance Optimization (LOW MEDIUM) [ perf filter issue types ](references/perf filter issue types.md) Filter issue types for focused analysis [ perf limit output ](references/perf limit output.md) Limit output for large codebases [ perf profile performance ](references/perf profile performance.md) Profile performance for slow analysis [ perf use bun runtime ](references/perf use bun runtime.md) Use Bun runtime for faster analysis [ perf use cache flag ](references/perf use cache flag.md) Enable cache for repeated analysis [ perf use workspace filter ](references/perf use workspace filter.md) Filter workspaces for faster monorepo analysis How to Use Read individual reference files for detailed explanations and code examples: [Section definitions](references/ sections.md) Category structure and impact levels [Rule template](assets/templates/ template.md) Template for adding new rules Reference Files File Description [references/ sections.md](references/ sections.md) Category definitions and ordering [assets/templates/ template.md](assets/templates/ template.md) Template for new rules [metadata.json](metadata.json) Version and reference information

knip-deadcode