dependency-conflict-resolver

Dependency Conflict Resolver Skill

Untangle "could not resolve dependency" hell into a clear, ranked plan.

Working from a brief

Infer the package manager and ecosystem from the error or files mentioned; label assumptions (assumed — confirm). Always deliver a concrete resolution path even from just the error text.

Input

Ask for these if not provided:

• The install error — the conflict output exactly as the tool printed it
• The manifest — package.json, requirements.txt, go.mod, pom.xml, whichever applies
• The lockfile — if one exists, since it is usually where the conflict is pinned
• The package manager — npm, pnpm, yarn, pip, Maven, Go modules; infer what's missing

Output Structure

The conflict

Plain-English: package A needs X of C, package B needs Y of C, and they can't both be satisfied (name the actual packages/versions from the input).

Options (ranked by safety)

1. Safest — e.g. align versions, upgrade the constrained package, or find a compatible range. Exact command.
2. Pragmatic — e.g. an override/resolution (overrides, resolutions, constraints file) with the exact snippet — and the risk it carries.
3. Last resort — e.g. --legacy-peer-deps / --force — clearly flagged as masking the problem, not fixing it.

Give the exact commands/edits for each, and a recommendation of which to pick and why.

Verify & prevent

How to confirm the fix (npm ls <pkg>, a clean reinstall, the build), and one habit to avoid recurrence (lockfile committed, renovate/dependabot, version pinning policy).

Quality Checks

• [ ] Names the actual conflicting packages and versions from the input
• [ ] Options are ranked by safety with the trade-off of each stated
• [ ] --force/--legacy-peer-deps-style escapes are flagged as masking, not fixing
• [ ] Includes a verification step

Anti-Patterns

• [ ] Do not lead with --force / --legacy-peer-deps — it hides the conflict and breaks later
• [ ] Do not delete the lockfile as the first move — explain what that actually does
• [ ] Do not give a single fix when several are viable — rank them with trade-offs
• [ ] Do not skip verifying the resolution actually installs/builds