> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/electron-userland/electron-builder/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Loading App Dependencies Manually

> Learn how to manually load app dependencies during development when using the two package.json structure

<Warning>
  This approach must be used only in development environment. In the release version of your application, the `app` directory should be self-contained with all used files.
</Warning>

## Problem

When using the [two package.json structure](/guides/advanced/two-package-structure), if your app runs the main process (executed by Electron) outside the `/app` folder during development, you may need to load the `/app` dependencies manually.

The app dependencies are placed at `/app/node_modules`, and your main process running in a different directory will not have access to that directory by default.

## Solution

Instead of duplicating the app dependencies in the development `package.json`, you can make the Electron main process load the app dependencies manually.

### Implementation

Here's how to load app dependencies manually in your main process:

```js theme={null}
// given this file is: /src/browser/main.js

const path = require('path')
const devMode = (process.argv || []).indexOf('--dev') !== -1

// load the app dependencies in dev mode
if (devMode) {
  const PATH_APP_NODE_MODULES = path.join(__dirname, '..', '..', 'app', 'node_modules')
  const Module = require('module')
  
  // for electron 16 or lower
  Module.globalPaths.push(PATH_APP_NODE_MODULES)
  
  // for electron 17 or higher
  const nodeModulePaths = Module._nodeModulePaths
  Module._nodeModulePaths = (from) =>
    nodeModulePaths(from).concat([PATH_APP_NODE_MODULES])
}
```

### How It Works

1. **Detect development mode** - The code checks for a `--dev` flag in the command line arguments
2. **Construct path** - Creates the path to `/app/node_modules` relative to the current file
3. **Modify module resolution** - Adds the app's `node_modules` directory to Node's module search paths

### Version Compatibility

* **Electron 16 or lower** - Use `Module.globalPaths.push(PATH_APP_NODE_MODULES)`
* **Electron 17 or higher** - Override `Module._nodeModulePaths` to include the app's node\_modules path

## Example Usage

You can launch your app in development mode with the `--dev` flag:

```bash theme={null}
electron . --dev
```

Or add it to your package.json scripts:

```json theme={null}
{
  "scripts": {
    "dev": "electron . --dev",
    "start": "electron ."
  }
}
```

## Related

* [Two package.json Structure](/guides/advanced/two-package-structure)