migrate-to-deno

name	migrate-to-deno
description	Use when moving a Node.js, npm, Yarn, pnpm, or Bun project to Deno, or when adopting Deno incrementally in an existing JavaScript or TypeScript codebase. Covers using Deno as a drop-in package manager, running existing package.json scripts, CommonJS versus ESM, node_modules layout, lockfile migration, permissions, whether to adopt the built-in toolchain, and per-tool command equivalents.
license	MIT
metadata	{"author":"denoland","version":"1.0"}

Migrating to Deno

Requires Deno 2.9 or later. For general Deno usage once migrated, see the deno skill.

Most Node projects already run under Deno

Deno reads an existing package.json, resolves the same npm packages, writes a real node_modules, runs the same scripts, and supports node: built-ins. TypeScript runs with no build step.

There is usually no code to change — only which binary you invoke. Don't start by rewriting imports to jsr:, swapping dependencies for Deno-specific ones, or restructuring directories. Proposing that is the most common way this goes wrong.

Migrate in rungs

Each rung is independently useful and reversible. Stop wherever suits the project; plenty of teams stop at rung 1.

Rung 1 — Deno as the package manager only

deno install

Reads package.json, resolves the same dependencies, writes , and creates — seeded from any existing , , , or pnpm lockfile, so pins and integrity hashes carry over instead of drifting.