pnpm: Fast Package Manager

npm and Yarn duplicate packages across projects. pnpm uses hard links to share packages, saving gigabytes of disk space. At ZIRA Software, pnpm reduced our node_modules footprint by 70%.

Installation

# npm
npm install -g pnpm

# Homebrew
brew install pnpm

# Windows
iwr https://get.pnpm.io/install.ps1 -useb | iex

How pnpm Works

Traditional (npm/Yarn):

project-a/node_modules/lodash/   (4MB)
project-b/node_modules/lodash/   (4MB)
project-c/node_modules/lodash/   (4MB)
Total: 12MB

pnpm:

~/.pnpm-store/lodash@4.17.21/    (4MB, stored once)
project-a/node_modules/.pnpm/lodash -> store (hard link)
project-b/node_modules/.pnpm/lodash -> store (hard link)
project-c/node_modules/.pnpm/lodash -> store (hard link)
Total: 4MB

Basic Usage

# Install all dependencies
pnpm install

# Add package
pnpm add react

# Add dev dependency
pnpm add -D typescript

# Remove package
pnpm remove lodash

# Update packages
pnpm update

# Run scripts
pnpm run build
pnpm test

Workspaces

# pnpm-workspace.yaml
packages:
  - 'packages/*'
  - 'apps/*'

# Install in specific workspace
pnpm --filter app add react

# Run in all workspaces
pnpm -r build

# Run in specific workspace
pnpm --filter app dev

Migration from npm

# Remove old files
rm -rf node_modules package-lock.json

# Install with pnpm
pnpm install

# Import existing lock file
pnpm import

Performance

# Benchmarks (1000 packages)
npm install:  45s
yarn install: 35s
pnpm install: 20s (first run)
pnpm install: 5s  (cached)

Conclusion

pnpm provides fastest installs and most efficient disk usage. Essential for developers with multiple JavaScript projects.

Need build optimization? Contact ZIRA Software for frontend tooling consultation.