Skip to main content

require-node-version-file

Require a .node-version file in Node.js projects.

Targeted pattern scope​

This rule checks the repository root for .node-version.

What this rule reports​

This rule reports when .node-version is missing from the repository root.

Why this rule exists​

Different Node.js versions can silently change runtime behaviour. Without a pinned version file, developers, CI runners, and containerised builds may each use a different Node.js version, leading to hard-to-reproduce bugs. .node-version is widely supported by version managers and CI setup tooling.

❌ Incorrect​

// .node-version is missing from the repository root

✅ Correct​

// .node-version contains the pinned version
20.11.1

ESLint flat config example​

import repoPlugin from "eslint-plugin-repo";

export default [
  repoPlugin.configs.node,
  {
    plugins: { "repo-compliance": repoPlugin },
    rules: {
      "repo-compliance/require-node-version-file": "warn",
    },
  },
];

When not to use it​

Disable this rule if your project intentionally standardizes on .nvmrc only and you enforce that in a separate check (for example require-nvmrc-file).

Rule catalog ID: R039

Further reading​