A Comprehensive Guide to Modern JavaScript Package Managers: npm, pnpm, Yarn, and Bun

Ever wondered which package manager, should I use? How to choose between npm, pnpm, yarn or bun? This article tries to answer these questions, in details:

npm:

NPM (Node Package Manager) is the default package manager for Node.js, allowing developers to share and reuse code. It manages dependencies for JavaScript projects and provides a command-line interface to interact with the npm ecosystem.

• 2010: npm was created by Isaac Z. Schlueter as a solution to manage Node.js packages.
• 2013: npm Inc. was founded to support the development and maintenance of npm.
• 2016: npm 3 was released, introducing a flat dependency structure¹ to reduce duplication.
• 2017: npm 5 introduced significant performance improvements and the package-lock.json file for deterministic installs.
• 2020: npm 7 brought workspaces² support and improved dependency resolution.
• 2021: npm 8 was released with further performance enhancements and security features³.

PNPM:

PNPM (Performant npm) is a fast, disk space-efficient package manager. It uses symlinks⁴ to create a single content-addressable storage for all files, avoiding duplication and speeding up installations.

• 2016: pnpm was created by Zoltan Kochan to address the inefficiencies of npm.
• 2017: pnpm 1.0 was released, focusing on performance and disk space efficiency.
• 2018: pnpm 2.0 introduced support for monorepos⁵ and workspaces.
• 2020: pnpm 5 brought significant improvements in speed and reliability.
• 2021: pnpm 6 added support for peer dependencies and improved compatibility with other tools2.

Yarn:

Yarn is a fast, reliable, and secure dependency manager. It was developed by Facebook to address performance and security issues in npm⁶.

• 2016: Yarn was released by Facebook, Google, Exponent, and Tilde. It introduced a lockfile (yarn.lock) to ensure consistent installs.
• 2017: Yarn 1.0 brought performance improvements and new features like workspaces.
• 2018: Yarn 1.3 introduced Plug’n’Play (PnP)⁷, eliminating the need for a node_modules folder.
• 2020: Yarn 2 (Berry) was released, focusing on modularity and performance. It introduced new features like constraints and improved PnP ⁸.
• 2021: Yarn 3 continued to build on the improvements of Yarn 2, adding more features and optimizations3 ⁹.

Bun:

Bun is a modern JavaScript runtime and package manager designed for speed and efficiency. It aims to be an all-in-one toolkit, including a runtime, test runner, and package manager.

• 2022: Bun was introduced by Jarred Sumner. It quickly gained attention for its performance, leveraging the JavaScriptCore engine from WebKit.
• 2023: Bun continued to evolve, adding more features and improving compatibility with existing tools and platforms.
• 2024: Bun remains in active development, with ongoing improvements in speed, efficiency, and feature set.

Summary of the changes of package managers, over time:

1. npm: Evolved from a basic package manager to a robust tool with features like package-lock.json, workspaces, and improved performance.
2. pnpm: Focused on performance and disk space efficiency, introducing features like monorepos and peer dependencies.
3. Yarn: Introduced innovations like Plug’n’Play and workspaces, with a strong focus on performance and reliability.
4. Bun: A newcomer designed for speed and efficiency, integrating multiple tools into a single package.

Comparing them in multiple criteria:

Feature / Tool	npm	pnpm	Yarn	Bun
Initial Release	2010	2016	2016	2022
Speed10	Moderate	Fast	Fast	Very Fast
Disk Space Usage11	High	Low (uses symlinks)	Moderate	Low
Dependency Resolution12	Flat	Nested (efficient)	Plug’n’Play (PnP)	Flat
Lockfile	package-lock.json	pnpm-lock.yaml	yarn.lock	bun.lockb
Installation Command	npm install	pnpm install	yarn install	bun install
Unique Features	Largest ecosystem, default for Node.js	Efficient disk space usage, fast installations	Plug’n’Play, workspaces	All-in-one toolkit (runtime, test runner, package manager)
Compatibility13	Widely compatible	Compatible with most tools	Compatible with most tools	Limited Windows support (best with WSL)

Let’s dive into each criteria in details:

Speed:

• npm: Generally considered moderate in speed. This conclusion is based on various benchmarks and user reports. npm has improved over the years, but its flat dependency structure and the way it handles network requests can sometimes slow it down compared to newer tools.
• pnpm: Known for its fast installation times. pnpm uses a unique approach by creating a single content-addressable storage for all files, which means it doesn’t need to duplicate files for different projects. This significantly speeds up installations.
• Yarn: Also fast, especially with its Plug’n’Play (PnP) feature, which eliminates the need for a node_modules folder. Yarn’s caching mechanism and parallel installation process contribute to its speed.
• Bun: Designed for speed from the ground up. Bun uses the JavaScriptCore engine (part of WebKit) and is optimized for performance. Benchmarks show that Bun can be significantly faster than other package managers.

Disk Space Usage:

• npm: Uses a flat dependency structure, which can lead to higher disk space usage because it may duplicate packages across different projects.
• pnpm: Very efficient in terms of disk space usage. It uses symlinks to create a single content-addressable storage for all files, avoiding duplication.
• Yarn: Moderate disk space usage. Yarn’s Plug’n’Play (PnP) feature can reduce disk space usage by eliminating the node_modules folder, but it still may not be as efficient as pnpm.
• Bun: Low disk space usage. Bun’s design focuses on efficiency, and it uses a similar approach to pnpm in terms of avoiding duplication.

Dependency Resolution:

• npm: Uses a flat dependency structure, which can sometimes lead to conflicts and issues with dependency resolution. However, it is straightforward and widely understood.
• pnpm: Uses a nested dependency structure, which is more efficient and reduces conflicts. This approach ensures that each project has its own set of dependencies, avoiding global conflicts.
• Yarn: Introduced Plug’n’Play (PnP), which eliminates the node_modules folder and uses a virtual file system to manage dependencies. This can improve dependency resolution and reduce conflicts.
• Bun: Uses a flat dependency structure similar to npm but is optimized for speed and efficiency. It aims to provide a balance between simplicity and performance.

Unique Features:

• npm: Largest ecosystem, default package manager for Node.js, and widely supported by various tools and platforms.
• pnpm: Efficient disk space usage, fast installations, and unique symlink-based storage.
• Yarn: Plug’n’Play (PnP), workspaces for managing multiple packages within a single repository, and a strong focus on performance and reliability.
• Bun: All-in-one toolkit (runtime, test runner, package manager), built on WebKit’s JavaScript engine, and designed for speed and efficiency.

Compatibility:

• npm: Widely compatible with almost all Node.js tools and platforms. It is the default package manager for Node.js.
• pnpm: Compatible with most tools and platforms, but some specific tools may require additional configuration.
• Yarn: Generally compatible with most tools and platforms. Yarn’s Plug’n’Play (PnP) feature may require some adjustments in certain environments.
• Bun: Limited Windows support (best with WSL). Bun is still relatively new, so compatibility with some tools and platforms may be limited.

My Recommendation

Choosing the right JavaScript package manager can significantly impact your development workflow. Here’s a detailed look at each tool to help you make an informed decision:

Yarn:

If I had to choose one, Yarn would be my top pick. It offers a great mix of speed and functionality. Yarn’s workspaces are ideal for managing monorepos, and its deterministic installation process ensures consistency across different environments. This can be a huge advantage for larger projects with numerous dependencies.

Bun:

For those who prioritize speed and are eager to use the latest tools, Bun is a fascinating option. It’s designed for performance and efficiency, making it perfect for projects where installation speed is critical. Although Bun is still maturing, it’s definitely a project to keep an eye on.

pnpm:

If saving disk space and maintaining a tight dependency tree are your main concerns, pnpm is an excellent choice. Its unique approach using symlinks minimizes duplication and speeds up installations. This makes it particularly suitable for projects where disk space is limited or where you want to avoid redundant dependencies.

npm:

As the default package manager for Node.js, npm offers broad compatibility and the largest ecosystem. It’s a reliable choice for most projects, especially if you need extensive community support and documentation. While it may not be the fastest, its widespread use and support make it a dependable option.

Which One to Choose?¹⁴

• Working on a large application with many dependencies? Yarn might be your best bet.
• Need the fastest installation and want to experiment with the newest tools? Bun could be the right choice for you.
• Looking to save disk space and ensure a tight dependency tree? pnpm is an excellent option.
• Need broad compatibility and extensive community support? npm is a solid choice.

Ultimately, the best tool is the one that fits your workflow and project requirements the most. It’s wise to test a couple of them on smaller projects before committing to one for larger endeavors to see which one you prefer.

Happy coding! 🚀

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1. In flat dependency trees, you just have one version of a component that is available. If some component requires another one (like B, C, and D, which are dependent on A), they all have to work with the same version of this component ↩

2. It's a feature in npm version 7 that allows developers to manage multiple packages within a monorepo. ↩

3. like Async Hooks API, N-API, Buffer security improvements, etc ↩

4. pnpm's node_modules layout uses symbolic links to create a nested structure of dependencies. ↩

5. A monorepo is a single repository containing multiple distinct projects, with well-defined relationships. ↩

6. To see a list of common mistakes, use this link ↩

7. See this ↩

8. Here is an article about yarn 2 ↩

9. What's new with yarn 3 ↩

10. Speed refers to how quickly a package manager can install dependencies. This includes the time taken to resolve dependencies, download packages, and set them up in the project. ↩

11. This refers to the amount of disk space consumed by the package manager when installing dependencies. ↩

12. This refers to how the package manager resolves and installs dependencies, including handling conflicts and ensuring all required packages are available.  ↩

13. This refers to how well the package manager works with various tools, platforms, and environments. ↩

14. The recommendation is mostly based on damiano-dotto reply, which is a clear and concise for our subject. ↩