# Does project's package.json need node red dependency?

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/does-projects-package-json-need-node-red-dependency/99504>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [25 October 2025 21:11 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/does-projects-package-json-need-node-red-dependency/99504 "2025-10-25T21:11:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ThingsTinkerer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/91b2a8/32.png) [@ThingsTinkerer](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ThingsTinkerer)\
**Post date:** [25 October 2025 21:11 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/does-projects-package-json-need-node-red-dependency/99504/1 "2025-10-25T21:11:41Z")

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Got into an argument with AI about project's package.json haha. It currently includes node-red (with version) as dependency. But the AI claims that it could create a duplicate copy, and that node-red should only be declared in node red root folder's package.json as dependency.

I assumed the project's package.json was auto-generated and correct. But did a mistake happen and this shouldn't also include node-red as dep?

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**Author:** ![marcus-j-davies](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/marcus-j-davies/32/103435_2.png) [@marcus-j-davies](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/marcus-j-davies)\
**Post date:** [25 October 2025 21:23 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/does-projects-package-json-need-node-red-dependency/99504/2 "2025-10-25T21:23:33Z")

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Hi @ThingsTinkerer

In my experience, I have never needed to included Node RED as a dependancy itself

There is one exception, if developing a Node RED Node, in typescript - I do including Node RED typings - but Evan that is Out of Date (I think)

So, IMO - Others may suggest otherwise - No - it's not needed, even developing a Node in most cases., it serves very little purpose

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ThingsTinkerer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/91b2a8/32.png) [@ThingsTinkerer](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ThingsTinkerer)\
**Post date:** [25 October 2025 21:32 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/does-projects-package-json-need-node-red-dependency/99504/3 "2025-10-25T21:32:16Z")

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Ok thanks was worried I got gaslighted by AI (again 😆)

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**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/uploads/nodered/original/1X/d073cd938eafa2e558d7c2cd59003b3ef4963033.png) [@system](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/system)\
**Post date:** [23 January 2026 21:32 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/does-projects-package-json-need-node-red-dependency/99504/4 "2026-01-23T21:32:23Z")

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