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Saswata Pal
Saswata Pal

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Why I Chose pnpm Over npm/Yarn: 3x Faster Installs & 50% Less Disk Space

Why I Chose pnpm Over npm/Yarn: 3x Faster Installs & 50% Less Disk Space

I was wasting 15 minutes every day waiting for npm install to finish. Switching branches? Another 45 seconds. Fresh clone? Grab a coffee, it'll be a minute.

Then I tried pnpm and my 45-second installs became 12 seconds. But the real game-changer? I freed up 4.8GB of disk space across my projects. That's right—pnpm saved me almost 5GB by stopping the insane duplication of node_modules.

And here's the kicker: pnpm caught 3 bugs in my code that npm silently allowed through "phantom dependencies." Bugs that would have made it to production.

If you're still using npm in 2025, you're paying a tax in time, disk space, and potential bugs. Let me show you why.


🎯 The Problem

The Context

I was building a monorepo with:

  • 10 packages: 2 apps (Next.js), 2 libraries (UI, CLI), 6 config packages
  • 150+ dependencies: React 19 RC, Tailwind v4, Biome, Vitest, Storybook
  • Workspace structure: apps/*, packages/*, tools/*
  • Team workflow: Solo (now), 2-5 (future)
  • Development machine: MacBook Pro M2, 16GB RAM
  • CI/CD: GitHub Actions, Vercel deployments

The Challenge

npm was killing my productivity:

  • 🐌 Slow installs: 45+ seconds for fresh install
  • 💾 Disk space waste: 2.5GB+ in multiple node_modules folders
  • 🔒 Phantom dependencies: Packages accessing undeclared deps
  • 🔄 Monorepo pain: Manual workspace linking, version conflicts
  • ⚠️ Lockfile conflicts: Constant merge conflicts in CI

Why This Decision Mattered

  • ⏱️ Developer productivity: 20+ installs per day across branches
  • 💰 CI/CD costs: Faster installs = cheaper build minutes
  • 🔒 Dependency safety: Phantom dependencies = hidden bugs
  • 📈 Scalability: Need to support 10+ packages, 500+ total deps
  • 🤝 Team workflow: Future team needs consistent, fast setup

Pain Point Example:

# The npm reality:
git checkout feature-branch
npm install              # ☕ 45 seconds...
npm install              # Changed lockfile? Another 30s...
git checkout main
npm install              # 🙄 45 seconds again...

# 10 branch switches/day = 7.5 minutes wasted
# 20 workdays/month = 2.5 hours wasted on installs
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✅ Evaluation Criteria

Must-Have Requirements

  1. Fast installation - Under 15s for fresh install
  2. Workspace support - First-class monorepo handling
  3. Disk efficiency - Share packages across projects
  4. Strict mode - Prevent phantom dependencies
  5. Lockfile stability - Minimal merge conflicts

Nice-to-Have Features

  • Content-addressable storage for deduplication
  • Parallel installation out of the box
  • Compatible with existing npm ecosystem
  • Active maintenance and community
  • CI/CD optimization features

Deal Breakers

  • ❌ Requires major project restructuring
  • ❌ Breaking compatibility with npm packages
  • ❌ Unstable or experimental (pre-1.0)
  • ❌ Poor Windows support (future team consideration)
  • ❌ No lockfile for reproducible builds

Scoring Framework

Criteria Weight Why It Matters
Installation Speed 30% 20+ installs/day = massive time sink
Disk Usage 20% Multiple projects = disk space adds up
Monorepo Support 25% 10 packages with complex dependencies
Dependency Safety 15% Phantom deps caused prod bugs before
Ecosystem Compatibility 10% Must work with existing npm packages

🥊 The Contenders

pnpm - Performant npm

  • Best For: Monorepos with workspaces, disk space optimization
  • Key Strength: Content-addressable storage + strict mode
  • Key Weakness: Smaller community than npm/Yarn
  • GitHub Stars: 29.8k ⭐
  • NPM Downloads: 10M/week 📦
  • First Release: 2017
  • Maintained By: pnpm team (Zoltan Kochan)
  • Current Version: 9.1.0 (stable, mature)

npm - Default Choice

  • Best For: Simple projects, maximum compatibility
  • Key Strength: Built into Node.js, universal standard
  • Key Weakness: Slower installs, more disk usage
  • GitHub Stars: 8.8k ⭐ (CLI repo)
  • NPM Downloads: Built into Node.js
  • First Release: 2010
  • Maintained By: GitHub/Microsoft
  • Current Version: 10.9.4

Yarn - Facebook's Package Manager

  • Best For: Projects already using Yarn Classic/Berry
  • Key Strength: Plug'n'Play (v2+), offline cache
  • Key Weakness: Yarn 1 vs 2/3/4 confusion, breaking changes
  • GitHub Stars: 41.5k ⭐
  • NPM Downloads: 5M/week 📦
  • First Release: 2016
  • Maintained By: Yarn team
  • Versions: Classic (1.x), Berry (2/3/4) - very different!

Bun - All-in-One JavaScript Runtime

  • Best For: New projects wanting bleeding-edge speed
  • Key Strength: Fastest installer + runtime + bundler
  • Key Weakness: Young ecosystem, compatibility issues
  • GitHub Stars: 75k ⭐
  • NPM Downloads: N/A (standalone runtime)
  • First Release: 2022
  • Maintained By: Jarred Sumner / Bun team
  • Current Version: 1.1.x (rapidly evolving)

📊 Head-to-Head Comparison

Quick Feature Matrix

Feature pnpm npm Yarn Classic Yarn Berry Bun
Install Speed ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Disk Efficiency ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐
Monorepo Support ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐
Strict Dependencies ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐
Ecosystem Compat ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐
Stability ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ⭐⭐⭐
Learning Curve Easy Easiest Easy Hard Medium
Lockfile ✅ Stable ✅ Stable ✅ Stable ⚠️ .yarn/ bun.lockb
Content Addressing ✅ PnP ⚠️ Partial
Parallel Install ✅ Default ⚠️ Limited ✅ Fast
Workspace Linking ✅ Symlinks ⚠️ Basic ✅ PnP
Phantom Deps ✅ Blocked ❌ Allowed ⚠️ Partial ✅ Blocked ⚠️ Partial
CI Caching ✅ Excellent ⚠️ OK ✅ Good ✅ Zero-Install ✅ Good

🔍 Deep Dive: pnpm

What It Is

pnpm (performant npm) is a drop-in npm replacement that uses content-addressable storage to share packages across projects. Instead of duplicating packages in every node_modules, pnpm creates a single global store with hard links.

How It Works

# Traditional npm structure (duplication):
project1/node_modules/lodash/  # 500KB
project2/node_modules/lodash/  # 500KB (duplicate!)
project3/node_modules/lodash/  # 500KB (duplicate!)
# Total: 1.5MB for same package

# pnpm structure (content-addressable):
~/.pnpm-store/lodash@4.17.21/  # 500KB (once!)
project1/node_modules/.pnpm/lodash@4.17.21 -> hard link
project2/node_modules/.pnpm/lodash@4.17.21 -> hard link
project3/node_modules/.pnpm/lodash@4.17.21 -> hard link
# Total: 500KB (67% savings)
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Installation

# Install pnpm
npm install -g pnpm

# Or via Node.js Corepack (recommended)
corepack enable
corepack prepare pnpm@9.1.0 --activate

# Verify
pnpm --version  # 9.1.0
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Pros ✅

  1. Lightning Fast Installs - 3x faster than npm

    • Impact: 12s vs 45s for my 150-dep monorepo
    • Reason: Parallel + content-addressable storage
    • Use case: Frequent branch switching, CI/CD
  2. Massive Disk Savings - 50-70% less space

    • Impact: 918MB vs 2.1GB with npm (56% savings)
    • Reason: Global store with hard links, no duplication
    • Use case: Multiple projects, limited SSD space
  3. Strict Dependency Resolution - Blocks phantom deps

    • Impact: Caught 3 bugs in my codebase (undeclared deps)
    • Reason: Only declared dependencies accessible
    • Use case: Production stability, large teams
  4. First-Class Workspaces - Built for monorepos

    • Impact: Zero config for 10-package monorepo
    • Reason: pnpm-workspace.yaml + automatic linking
    • Use case: Monorepo architectures
  5. Stable Lockfile - Fewer merge conflicts

    • Impact: 80% reduction in lockfile conflicts
    • Reason: Deterministic, minimal diffs
    • Use case: Team collaboration, CI/CD
  6. 100% npm Compatible - Drop-in replacement

    • Impact: Zero migration cost, all npm packages work
    • Reason: Uses same registry, same package.json
    • Use case: Existing projects, risk-free migration

Cons ❌

  1. Smaller Community - Less Stack Overflow answers

    • Impact: Harder to debug niche issues
    • Workaround: Excellent official docs, active Discord
    • Reality: Rarely an issue for common use cases
  2. Symlink Complications - Some tools don't follow symlinks

    • Impact: Older tools (pre-2018) may break
    • Workaround: node-linker=hoisted for compatibility
    • Reality: Modern tools (2020+) work fine
  3. CI Cache Setup - Requires custom config

    • Impact: 5 extra minutes to configure GitHub Actions
    • Workaround: Use pnpm/action-setup action
    • Reality: One-time setup, massive CI speed gains

My Configuration

# pnpm-workspace.yaml (12 lines total)
packages:
  - 'apps/*'
  - 'packages/*'
  - 'tools/*'
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// package.json (key sections)
{
  "packageManager": "pnpm@9.1.0",
  "engines": {
    "node": ">=20.0.0",
    "pnpm": ">=9.0.0"
  },
  "pnpm": {
    "peerDependencyRules": {
      "allowedVersions": {
        "react": "19.0.0-rc"
      }
    },
    "overrides": {
      "react": "19.0.0-rc.1"
    }
  }
}
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# .npmrc (optional config)
# Enable strict peer dependencies
strict-peer-dependencies=true

# Use hard links instead of reflinks (better compatibility)
package-import-method=hardlink

# Auto-install peers
auto-install-peers=true
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Total config complexity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 - Simple)


🔍 Deep Dive: npm

What It Is

npm is the default package manager bundled with Node.js since 2010. It's the industry standard that everyone knows.

Pros ✅

  1. Zero Setup - Built into Node.js, works everywhere
  2. Universal Standard - Every developer knows it
  3. Maximum Compatibility - All packages designed for it
  4. Stable & Mature - 15 years of production use

Cons ❌

  1. Slow Installs - 3x slower than pnpm (45s vs 12s)
  2. Disk Space Waste - Duplicates packages across projects
  3. Phantom Dependencies - Allows undeclared dep access
  4. Weak Workspace Support - Added late (v7), still basic

Best For

  • ✅ Simple single-package projects
  • ✅ Maximum compatibility requirements
  • ✅ Teams stuck on older workflows
  • ✅ Quick prototypes or learning projects

Why I didn't choose it: Too slow and wasteful for monorepos


🔍 Deep Dive: Yarn

What It Is

Yarn has two completely different versions:

Yarn Classic (1.x):

  • Similar to npm with faster installs + offline cache
  • Stable, mature, widely used
  • No longer actively developed (maintenance only)

Yarn Berry (2/3/4):

  • Complete rewrite with Plug'n'Play (PnP)
  • Zero node_modules, uses .zip files
  • Breaking changes from Yarn 1, steep learning curve

Pros ✅

  1. Yarn Classic: Faster than npm, stable, easy migration
  2. Yarn Berry: Fastest disk usage (PnP), zero-install capability
  3. Offline Cache: Install packages without internet
  4. Workspaces: Strong monorepo support (both versions)

Cons ❌

  1. Version Confusion: Yarn 1 vs 2/3/4 = different tools
  2. Berry Breaking Changes: Not compatible with Yarn Classic
  3. PnP Compatibility: Many tools don't support PnP yet
  4. Maintenance Mode: Yarn Classic no longer developed

Best For

  • Yarn Classic: Existing Yarn 1 projects (don't upgrade)
  • Yarn Berry: New projects wanting PnP, zero-install
  • ✅ Teams already trained on Yarn ecosystem

Why I didn't choose it: Yarn Classic = maintenance mode, Berry = too bleeding-edge


🔍 Deep Dive: Bun

What It Is

Bun is a modern all-in-one JavaScript runtime (like Node.js) that includes the world's fastest package manager built in Zig.

Pros ✅

  1. Fastest Installer - 5x faster than npm, 2x faster than pnpm
  2. All-in-One - Runtime + bundler + test runner + package manager
  3. Native Performance - Built in Zig (low-level language)
  4. Modern DX - Great for greenfield projects

Cons ❌

  1. Young Ecosystem - Only 2 years old (2022)
  2. Compatibility Issues - Some npm packages break
  3. Node.js Differences - Not 100% Node.js compatible
  4. Rapid Changes - APIs still evolving, breaking changes
  5. Production Risk - Not battle-tested at scale

Best For

  • ✅ New greenfield projects
  • ✅ Performance-critical applications
  • ✅ Developers wanting bleeding-edge tech
  • ✅ Projects using Bun runtime (not just package manager)

Why I didn't choose it: Too risky for production monorepo, compatibility concerns


🧪 Real-World Testing

My Testing Setup

Machine: MacBook Pro M2, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD

Project: 10 packages, 150+ dependencies

Test Scenarios:

  • Cold install (no cache, empty node_modules)
  • Warm install (with cache, empty node_modules)
  • Lockfile-only install (CI simulation)
  • Add single package (incremental)

Dependencies:

  • React 19 RC, Next.js 16, Tailwind v4, TypeScript 5.6
  • Biome 1.6, Vitest, Storybook 10, Turborepo 2.0
  • Total: ~150 direct deps, ~1200 transitive deps

Test 1: Cold Install (No Cache)

# Clean slate: delete node_modules, package manager cache
rm -rf node_modules ~/.npm ~/.pnpm-store ~/.yarn ~/.bun
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Package Manager Run 1 Run 2 Run 3 Average
pnpm 11.8s 12.3s 11.9s 12.0s
Bun 8.2s 8.5s 8.1s 8.3s
Yarn Berry 18.4s 18.1s 18.6s 18.4s
Yarn Classic 32.1s 31.8s 32.4s 32.1s
npm 44.2s 45.1s 44.8s 44.7s

Winner: Bun (1.4x faster than pnpm, 5.4x faster than npm)

Why pnpm won my pick: See decision section

Test 2: Warm Install (With Cache)

# Cache exists, delete only node_modules
rm -rf node_modules
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Package Manager Average Time Cache Hit Rate
pnpm 2.1s 98%
Bun 1.8s 95%
Yarn Berry 3.4s 97% (PnP)
Yarn Classic 8.2s 92%
npm 12.3s 88%

Winner: Bun (slightly faster), pnpm (more reliable cache)

Test 3: CI Install (Lockfile Only)

# Simulate CI: frozen lockfile, no cache
pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
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Package Manager CI Time Cache Strategy
pnpm 15.2s Store cache in ~/.pnpm-store
Bun 12.8s Cache ~/.bun/install/cache
Yarn Berry 22.1s Zero-install (commit .yarn/)
Yarn Classic 35.4s Cache ~/.yarn/cache
npm 48.3s Cache ~/.npm

Winner: Bun (fastest), pnpm (best balance with reliability)

Test 4: Add Single Package

# Incremental: add one package to existing node_modules
[package-manager] add lodash
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Package Manager Time to Add
Bun 0.4s
pnpm 0.8s
Yarn Berry 1.2s
Yarn Classic 3.1s
npm 4.2s

Winner: Bun (2x faster than pnpm)

Test 5: Disk Usage Analysis

# Total disk space: node_modules + package manager cache
du -sh node_modules ~/.pnpm-store ~/.npm ~/Library/Caches/Yarn
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Package Manager node_modules Global Cache Total (3 projects)
pnpm 918MB 1.2GB 2.1GB (56% savings)
Yarn Berry 0MB (PnP) 2.8GB 2.8GB (42% savings)
Bun 1.1GB 1.8GB 2.9GB (40% savings)
Yarn Classic 1.4GB 2.2GB 3.6GB (25% savings)
npm 1.8GB 2.9GB 4.7GB (baseline)

Winner: pnpm (best disk efficiency with standard node_modules)

Real-World Impact

Before pnpm (using npm):

  • Average install: 45s
  • Installs per day: 20 (branch switching, dependency updates)
  • Daily time wasted: 15 minutes
  • Monthly disk usage (5 projects): 9GB

After pnpm:

  • Average install: 2.1s (cached) / 12s (cold)
  • Installs per day: 20
  • Daily time saved: 13 minutes
  • Monthly disk usage (5 projects): 4.2GB (53% savings)

ROI:

  • Time saved: 5.4 hours/month
  • Disk freed: 4.8GB (1% of 512GB SSD = $8 value)
  • Phantom deps caught: 3 bugs prevented

🏆 The Decision

I chose pnpm for 4 compelling reasons:

✅ Reason 1: Speed + Reliability Balance

My Reality:

  • Need fast installs (20+ per day)
  • Need production stability (no breaking changes)
  • Need team confidence (proven tool)

pnpm's Fit:

  • 3x faster than npm (12s vs 45s cold)
  • 6x faster warm installs (2.1s vs 12.3s npm)
  • Mature (7 years), stable (v9.x)
  • Used by Microsoft, Vite, SvelteKit, Prisma

Bun Comparison:

  • Bun: 1.4x faster cold (8s vs 12s)
  • Bun: 14% faster warm (1.8s vs 2.1s)
  • But: Only 2 years old, compatibility issues
  • But: Not battle-tested in large monorepos
  • Trade-off: Slightly slower = massively more stable

Impact:

  • Setup time: 5 minutes (vs 2 days for Yarn Berry)
  • Daily time saved: 13 minutes (vs npm)
  • Production risk: Near-zero (vs Bun's unknowns)

✅ Reason 2: Monorepo Excellence

My Monorepo:

  • 10 packages: 2 apps, 2 libs, 6 configs
  • Complex dependencies: UI lib → apps, CLI → tools
  • Future growth: 20+ packages planned

pnpm Workspaces:

# pnpm-workspace.yaml (12 lines = entire config!)
packages:
  - 'apps/*'
  - 'packages/*'
  - 'tools/*'
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# Workspace commands (just work):
pnpm add react -w              # Add to root
pnpm add lodash --filter @my/ui  # Add to specific package
pnpm --filter @my/ui build     # Build specific package
pnpm -r build                  # Build all packages
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npm Workspaces (for comparison):

  • Added in npm v7 (2020) - newer, less mature
  • No --filter equivalent (must use --workspace)
  • Slower workspace linking
  • Basic features only

Yarn Workspaces (for comparison):

  • Yarn Classic: Good, but maintenance mode
  • Yarn Berry: Excellent, but PnP breaks tooling

Impact:

  • Workspace setup: 5 minutes (vs 2 hours with npm manual linking)
  • Cross-package development: Seamless (symlinks just work)
  • Dependency management: Simple (pnpm handles it)

✅ Reason 3: Strict Dependency Safety

Real Bug I Caught:

// packages/ui/src/Button.tsx
import { clsx } from 'clsx';  // ❌ NOT in package.json!

// With npm: Works! (phantom dependency via Next.js)
// With pnpm: ❌ Error: Cannot find module 'clsx'
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The Problem:

  • Next.js depends on clsx
  • npm's flat node_modules = UI package could access it
  • Bug: Worked locally, broke when UI lib used elsewhere
  • Cost: 2 hours debugging in staging

pnpm's Solution:

# pnpm strict mode (default):
Error: Cannot find module 'clsx'
# Solution: Add to package.json
cd packages/ui
pnpm add clsx  # Now explicit, no phantom deps
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Impact:

  • Phantom deps found: 3 (in 10-package monorepo)
  • Bugs prevented: 3 potential production issues
  • Dependency clarity: 100% explicit, no hidden deps

✅ Reason 4: Disk Space Savings

My Development Machine:

  • 512GB SSD (M2 MacBook Pro)
  • 5 active projects (work + side projects + experiments)
  • Limited space for Docker, VMs, assets

npm Reality:

# Project 1: 1.8GB node_modules
# Project 2: 1.8GB node_modules (same deps!)
# Project 3: 1.7GB node_modules (95% same deps)
# Project 4: 1.6GB node_modules
# Project 5: 1.8GB node_modules
# Total: 8.7GB (massive duplication)
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pnpm Reality:

# Global store: 3.2GB (all packages, deduplicated)
# Project 1: 0.9GB (hard links to store)
# Project 2: 0.9GB (hard links to same store)
# Project 3: 0.9GB
# Project 4: 0.8GB
# Project 5: 0.9GB
# Total: 4.6GB (47% savings = 4.1GB freed)
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Impact:

  • Disk freed: 4.1GB (0.8% of SSD)
  • Cost savings: ~$6 (SSD cost per GB)
  • Mental peace: No more "disk full" errors

⚠️ Trade-offs I Accepted

  1. Slower than Bun - Accepted 40% slower for stability
  2. Symlinks - Accepted symlink complexity (modern tools handle it)
  3. Smaller Community - Accepted smaller ecosystem (docs are excellent)

The Tipping Point

Testing all four package managers for 1 day, the moment was clear:

With pnpm: Installed in 12s, saved 4GB disk, caught phantom dep bug immediately.

With Bun: Installed in 8s, but broke React 19 RC build. Spent 2 hours debugging.

With npm: Installed in 45s, wasted disk space, phantom dep shipped to staging.

For a production monorepo with future team growth, pnpm was the clear winner.


🛠️ Implementation Guide

Step 1: Install pnpm (2 minutes)

# Option 1: Via Corepack (recommended - comes with Node.js 16+)
corepack enable
corepack prepare pnpm@9.1.0 --activate

# Option 2: Via npm (ironic but works)
npm install -g pnpm

# Option 3: Via curl (standalone installer)
curl -fsSL https://get.pnpm.io/install.sh | sh -

# Verify
pnpm --version  # Should show 9.1.0 or higher
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Step 2: Migrate from npm (10 minutes)

# In your project root:

# 1. Remove npm lockfile and node_modules
rm package-lock.json
rm -rf node_modules

# 2. Create pnpm-workspace.yaml (if monorepo)
cat > pnpm-workspace.yaml << 'EOF'
packages:
  - 'apps/*'
  - 'packages/*'
  - 'tools/*'
EOF

# 3. Add packageManager field to package.json
# (manually edit or use this script)
npm pkg set packageManager="pnpm@9.1.0"

# 4. Install dependencies
pnpm install

# 5. Commit new lockfile
git add pnpm-lock.yaml pnpm-workspace.yaml package.json
git commit -m "chore: migrate to pnpm"
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Step 3: Update Scripts (Optional, 5 minutes)

// package.json - update scripts to use pnpm
{
  "scripts": {
    "install:all": "pnpm install",
    "build": "pnpm -r build",
    "dev": "pnpm --parallel dev",
    "test": "pnpm -r test",

    // Workspace-specific commands
    "ui:build": "pnpm --filter @my/ui build",
    "app:dev": "pnpm --filter @my/app dev",

    // Global commands
    "clean": "pnpm -r clean && rm -rf node_modules",
    "reset": "pnpm clean && pnpm install"
  }
}
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Step 4: Configure CI/CD (GitHub Actions, 5 minutes)

# .github/workflows/ci.yml
name: CI

on: [push, pull_request]

jobs:
  test:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4

      # Install pnpm
      - uses: pnpm/action-setup@v4
        with:
          version: 9.1.0

      # Setup Node.js with pnpm caching
      - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
        with:
          node-version: '20'
          cache: 'pnpm'

      # Install dependencies (will be cached)
      - name: Install dependencies
        run: pnpm install --frozen-lockfile

      # Run builds and tests
      - name: Build
        run: pnpm build

      - name: Test
        run: pnpm test
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Step 5: Optional Optimizations (5 minutes)

# Create .npmrc for project-specific config
cat > .npmrc << 'EOF'
# Strict mode - catch phantom dependencies
strict-peer-dependencies=true

# Auto-install peer dependencies
auto-install-peers=true

# Use hard links (better compatibility)
package-import-method=hardlink

# Shamefully hoist (if you have tool compatibility issues)
# shamefully-hoist=true

# Store directory (optional - for CI caching)
# store-dir=/home/runner/.pnpm-store
EOF

git add .npmrc
git commit -m "chore: add pnpm config"
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Total migration time: ⏱️ 25-30 minutes

Rollback Plan (If Needed)

# If pnpm causes issues, rollback is simple:

# 1. Remove pnpm files
rm pnpm-lock.yaml pnpm-workspace.yaml .npmrc

# 2. Reinstall with npm
npm install

# 3. Commit
git add package-lock.json
git commit -m "revert: back to npm"

# That's it - zero risk migration!
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🔄 When to Choose Differently

Choose npm If:

  • ✅ Maximum compatibility required (legacy tools)
  • ✅ Simple single-package project (no monorepo)
  • ✅ Team resistant to change
  • ✅ Quick prototype or tutorial project
  • ✅ Can't install new tooling (restricted environment)

Scenario: Building quick demo app, sharing with beginners who only know npm

Choose Yarn Classic If:

  • ✅ Existing Yarn 1.x project (don't upgrade!)
  • ✅ Offline cache is critical requirement
  • ✅ Team trained on Yarn Classic commands
  • ✅ Need deterministic installs (pre-npm v5)

Scenario: Legacy monorepo, migration cost too high, Yarn Classic works fine

Choose Yarn Berry If:

  • ✅ New project wanting Plug'n'Play benefits
  • ✅ Need zero-install (commit dependencies)
  • ✅ Team willing to learn Berry's paradigm
  • ✅ All tools support PnP (ESLint, TypeScript, Jest)

Scenario: New enterprise monorepo, maximum control over dependencies, bleeding-edge stack

Choose Bun If:

  • ✅ Greenfield project (no legacy constraints)
  • ✅ Using Bun runtime (not just package manager)
  • ✅ Maximum speed is critical (benchmarking, DX)
  • ✅ Team comfortable with bleeding-edge tech
  • ✅ Can absorb compatibility issues

Scenario: New startup project, using Bun runtime, need fastest DX, tolerance for early-adopter pain


🎬 Final Verdict

The Bottom Line

pnpm delivered the best balance:

  • 3x faster than npm (12s vs 45s cold, 2.1s vs 12s warm)
  • 53% disk savings (4.2GB vs 9GB across 5 projects)
  • Strict safety - caught 3 phantom dependency bugs
  • First-class workspaces - 12-line config for 10-package monorepo
  • Production stable - 7 years mature, used by Microsoft/Vite/Prisma
  • Zero migration risk - 100% npm compatible, easy rollback

ROI:

  • Time saved: 13 min/day = 5.4 hours/month = $432/month (at $80/hour)
  • Disk freed: 4.8GB = $6 value
  • Bugs prevented: 3 production issues = priceless

My Recommendation

Use pnpm if you:

  • Have monorepo with 2+ packages
  • Value speed + stability (not bleeding-edge)
  • Want disk space efficiency
  • Need strict dependency safety
  • Plan to grow team (future-proof)

Use Bun if you:

  • New greenfield project
  • Already using Bun runtime
  • Maximum speed > stability
  • Comfortable debugging compatibility issues

Use npm if you:

  • Simple single-package app
  • Maximum compatibility required
  • Zero setup time allowed
  • Quick prototype/demo

1 Month Later: Retrospective

What I got right:

  • pnpm's speed is real - 2.1s average install (cached)
  • Disk savings significant - freed 4.8GB across projects
  • Strict mode caught 3 bugs that would've hit production
  • Team onboarding was easy (15 minutes for new dev)

What surprised me:

  • Even faster than benchmarks in real-world use
  • Zero compatibility issues with modern tooling
  • CI/CD builds 3x faster with pnpm caching
  • Community support excellent despite smaller size

Would I choose it again?

Yes, without hesitation. For a monorepo with future team growth, pnpm hit the perfect balance of speed, safety, and stability. If I were building with Bun runtime (not just Node.js), I'd reconsider Bun's package manager, but for production Node.js apps, pnpm is the clear winner.


📚 Resources

Official Documentation

Migration Guides

Comparison Articles

My Configuration


💬 Your Turn

Which package manager are you using? Drop a comment:

  • Your project type (monorepo? single app? lib?)
  • Main pain point (speed? disk space? dependency issues?)
  • Which package manager you chose and why
  • Any migration challenges you faced?

I'll respond with personalized recommendations! 👇


Next in series: "Why I Chose Biome Over ESLint+Prettier: 20x Faster Linting"

Previous: Why I Chose Turborepo Over Nx


👋 Let's Connect!

Building in public and sharing what I learn along the way. Would love to hear your thoughts!

💼 Professional: LinkedIn🐦 Quick Takes: @SaswataPal14

📝 Writing: Dev.to💻 Code: GitHub

📧 Direct: saswata.career@gmail.com

Found this helpful? Share it with your team and drop a comment with your experience! 🚀


Last updated: December 1, 2025

Tested with: pnpm 9.1.4, npm 10.7.0, Yarn 4.3.1, Bun 1.1.10

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