Node.js package managers cheat sheet

npm-pnpm-yarn-bun-cheatsheet.md

Node.js Package Managers Cheat Sheet

A quick reference for pnpm, Yarn, and npm commands, organized by task, including advanced commands and flags.

1. Project Setup

Action	pnpm	Yarn	npm
Initialize a new project	pnpm init	yarn init	npm init
Install all dependencies	pnpm install	yarn install or yarn	npm install or npm i
Install with frozen lockfile	pnpm install --frozen-lockfile	yarn install --frozen-lockfile	npm ci
Install only production dependencies	pnpm install --prod	yarn install --production	npm install --production
Install exact version of a package	pnpm add <package>@<version>	yarn add <package>@<version>	npm install <package>@<version>
Install package from Git repo	pnpm add <git-url>	yarn add <git-url>	npm install <git-url>

2. Managing Dependencies

Action	pnpm	Yarn	npm
Add a dependency	pnpm add <package>	yarn add <package>	npm install <package>
Add a development dependency	pnpm add -D <package>	yarn add <package> -D	npm install <package> -D
Add a peer dependency	pnpm add -P <package>	yarn add <package> -P	npm install <package> --save-peer
Remove a dependency	pnpm remove <package>	yarn remove <package>	npm uninstall <package>
Update dependencies	pnpm update	yarn upgrade	npm update
Update a specific package	pnpm update <package>	yarn upgrade <package>	npm update <package>
Check outdated dependencies	pnpm outdated	yarn outdated	npm outdated
List installed packages	pnpm list	yarn list	npm list
View package info	pnpm info <package>	yarn info <package>	npm view <package>
Install exact versions (lock)	pnpm add <package> --save-exact	yarn add <package> --exact	npm install <package> --save-exact

3. Running Scripts

Action	pnpm	Yarn	npm
Run a custom script	pnpm run <script>	yarn run <script>	npm run <script>
Start project	pnpm start	yarn start	npm start
Run tests	pnpm test	yarn test	npm test
Run a script in parallel (workspace)	pnpm -r run <script>	yarn workspaces run <script>	npm run <script> (with lerna or npm-workspaces)

4. Global Packages

Action	pnpm	Yarn	npm
Install a global package	pnpm add -g <package>	yarn global add <package>	npm install -g <package>
Remove a global package	pnpm remove -g <package>	yarn global remove <package>	npm uninstall -g <package>
List global packages	pnpm list -g	yarn global list	npm list -g

5. Caching

Action	pnpm	Yarn	npm
Clean cache	pnpm cache clean	yarn cache clean	npm cache clean --force
Verify cache integrity	pnpm store status	yarn cache list	npm cache verify

6. Auditing & Security

Action	pnpm	Yarn	npm
Audit dependencies	pnpm audit	yarn audit	npm audit
Fix audit issues automatically	pnpm audit fix	yarn audit --fix	npm audit fix

7. Version Management

Action	pnpm	Yarn	npm
Bump package version	pnpm version <new-version>	yarn version --new-version <new-version>	npm version <new-version>
Bump major/minor/patch	pnpm version major/minor/patch	yarn version --major/--minor/--patch	npm version major/minor/patch
Tag a release	pnpm version <version> --tag <tag>	yarn version --new-version <version> --tag <tag>	npm version <version> --tag <tag>

8. Workspaces & Monorepo

Action	pnpm	Yarn	npm
Add workspace	pnpm add <package> -w	yarn workspace <workspace-name> add <package>	npm install <package> --workspace <workspace-name>
Run script in all workspaces	pnpm -r run <script>	yarn workspaces run <script>	npm run <script> --workspaces
List all workspace packages	pnpm list -r	yarn workspaces info	npm ls --workspaces

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Tip: pnpm and Yarn workspaces provide efficient dependency sharing and are faster in monorepo setups compared to npm. Always check the lockfile (pnpm-lock.yaml, yarn.lock, package-lock.json) to ensure reproducible installs.