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If fs.cpSync copied your framework but the destination’s symlinks still point into a cache, check the options passed to the copy: Node.js defaults dereference to false, so links are preserved rather than followed. Set dereference: true to request copies of the symlink targets. Because the Node.js version and exact call are not specified here, confirm both before treating that default as the cause.
Why the copied framework still points at the cache
fs.cpSync(src, dest[, options]) copies a directory structure and files. Its dereference option controls whether it follows symlinks; the Node.js API documents the option as “dereference symlinks. Default: false.” With the default, the destination can contain a symlink rather than a copy of the item the link targets. If that link is relative or absolute in a way that resolves into the original cache, it can continue to point there after the copy.
This explanation fits a call that omits dereference or sets it to false. The symptom alone does not establish what options were used, what the source and destination paths are, or how each link resolves. Check those details before diagnosing a particular copy.
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How to make fs.cpSync copy symlink targets
Set dereference: true in the options object. If the source is a directory tree, include recursive: true so the copy traverses it:
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const fs = require('node:fs');
fs.cpSync(source, destination, {
recursive: true,
dereference: true,
});Use the equivalent import syntax if your project uses ES modules. The important setting for following symlinks is dereference; recursive controls recursive directory copying.
Do not confuse dereference with verbatimSymlinks
verbatimSymlinks is a different option. It controls whether path resolution for symlinks is skipped, and its documented default is false. It does not mean “copy the targets instead of the links”; use dereference: true for that request.
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Check the call and the links when the result is unexpected
- Confirm the runtime: run
node --versionin the same environment that performs the copy. The API documentsfs.cpSyncas added in Node.js v16.7.0 and no longer experimental starting in v22.3.0. - Inspect the literal options: verify that the executing call—not just a wrapper’s intended configuration—passes
dereference: true. For directory trees, check whetherrecursive: trueis present. - Check both paths: record the source and destination layout and inspect whether each relevant symlink is relative or absolute. Determine where its target resolves from the copied location; a relative link can resolve differently when its surrounding directory changes.
- Reproduce with a small copy: test the same runtime and options on a minimal directory containing a symlink. This helps distinguish a configuration or path-layout issue from behavior specific to the larger framework.
If dereference: true still leaves a symlink
A report in Node.js issue #59168 describes a caller on v22.17 who saw a destination symlink despite using { dereference: true, recursive: true }. That is a version-specific reported reproduction, not proof that every v22.17 copy behaves this way or that it explains another user’s result. The available information does not establish the issue’s resolution or an affected-version range.
If your minimal reproduction behaves the same way, capture the exact Node.js version, source and destination layout, options, and link targets when investigating the report or preparing a new issue. Those details are needed to compare your result with the reported case.
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Module symlink flags do not change fs.cpSync
Node.js flags such as --preserve-symlinks and --preserve-symlinks-main affect module loading and module path resolution; they do not configure filesystem copying and will not make fs.cpSync dereference a link. If you also have import or dependency-resolution problems, consult the Node.js CLI documentation for the flags’ scope. It notes that loading linked native modules from more than one location can cause them to be treated as separate modules and fail to load.
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