How to resolve error “npm WARN package.json: No repository field” ?

The warning “npm WARN package.json: No repository field” indicates that the package.json file in your project lacks a “repository” field. The “repository” field is crucial for providing information about the version-controlled source code repository of your project. While not mandatory, including this field is recommended to enhance project documentation and collaboration.

We will discuss the following approaches to resolve the error:

Before discussing about resolving the error let us first understand the cause of the error.

Reason behind the Error:

• This error usually arises when you run the command:

npm init

• if you do not provide information about the repository where your project is hosted. During the npm init process, you might skip the question related to the repository, or you may not provide a value for the repository. Incomplete package.json:
• As a result of skipping or not providing a repository value, your package.json file might look similar to this:

{
  "name": "your-project",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "description": "Your project description",
  "main": "index.js",
  "scripts": {
    "start": "node index.js"
  },
  "dependencies": {
    "some-package": "1.0.0"
  },
  "author": "Your Name",
  "license": "MIT"
}

• After initializing your project, you might proceed to install dependencies or perform other npm commands, such as:

npm install

• You see a warning similar to the following:

Adding Repository Information:

Adding repository information to your package.json file involves inserting a “repository” field with details about the version-controlled source code repository for your project. This is typically useful for others who want to collaborate on or contribute to your project, as it provides a clear link to the source code.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to add repository information:

1. Open package.json in a Text Editor: Use a text editor of your choice to open the package.json file in your project.
2. Insert the “repository” Field: Inside the package.json file, add a “repository” field. This field should be an object with two properties: “type” and “url.” The “type” indicates the version control system, and for Git, it should be set to “git.” The “url” is the URL of your Git repository. Make sure to replace the placeholders with your actual GitHub repository URL. The below code is for package.json code.

{
 "name": "your-project-name",
 "version": "1.0.0",
 "description": "A description of your project",
 "main": "index.js",
 "scripts": {
    "test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1"
 },
 "repository": {
    "type": "git",
    "url": "https://github.com/your-username/your-project-name.git"
 },
 "keywords": [],
 "author": "Your Name",
 "license": "ISC",
 "bugs": {
    "url": "https://github.com/your-username/your-project-name/issues"
 },
 "homepage": "https://github.com/your-username/your-project-name#readme"
}

Ignoring the Warning:

• If you want to ignore this warning, you can do so by running the following command.This command tells npm to ignore warnings from scripts.

npm config set ignore-scripts true

• Another approach is to disable this specific warning using the following command:

npm config set package.json:repository:type "git"

This command sets the default value for the “repository” field to “git”, effectively disabling the warning.

• After making the necessary changes to the package.json file, save it.
• run npm install to apply the changes and ensure that the warning no longer appears.

Note: Remember, these are workarounds to hide the warning. The best practice is to include the “repository” field in your “package.json” file, as shown in the first solution.

Output: Below, You can see dependencies installed without any error or warnings.

Example:

• Create a New Project: Start a new Node.js project in a clean directory.

mkdir my-test-project
cd my-test-project
npm init -y

• Remove the “repository” Field: Open the package.json file in your text editor and remove the “repository” field.
• Install a Package: Install a package to trigger the audit.

npm install lodash

• You will see error :-

• Resolve the Error by Adding the “repository” Field: Open the package.json file again in your text editor and add the “repository” field.