How to detect dead code in a frontend project

Dead code in a project can hinder maintenance and cause confusion, so it is crucial to detect and manage it effectively using appropriate tools. ESLint is a popular JavaScript linter that helps identify unused variables and arguments, although its basic rules may not catch all instances of dead code, especially in projects using ECMAScript modules. To address this, the eslint-plugin-import can be used to detect unused modules and exports. Webpack, a widely used module bundler, can also help identify dead code through its dependency graph and the webpack-deadcode-plugin, though it has limitations in terms of terminal output and integration with CI pipelines. TypeScript offers another layer of dead code detection, particularly for unused variables and parameters, with tools like ts-prune enhancing its capability to identify unused exports. Lastly, depcheck can be utilized to find unused dependencies within a project. Combining these tools can create a robust approach to managing dead code, but the optimal setup depends on specific project requirements.