# Install all dependencies
pnpm install
pnpm i                          # Shorthand
Add a package
pnpm add express
pnpm add -D typescript          # Dev dependency
pnpm add -g nodemon             # Global
Remove
pnpm remove express
pnpm rm express                 # Shorthand
Update
pnpm update
pnpm update express             # Specific package
pnpm update —latest            # Ignore semver ranges
Check outdated
pnpm outdated

# npm                    → pnpm
npm install              → pnpm install
npm install express      → pnpm add express
npm install -D jest      → pnpm add -D jest
npm uninstall express    → pnpm remove express
npm run build            → pnpm build (or pnpm run build)
npm test                 → pnpm test
npx create-next-app      → pnpm create next-app
npm ci                   → pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
npm cache clean --force  → pnpm store prune

# Run a script from package.json
pnpm run build
pnpm build              # Shorthand (no "run" needed)
pnpm dev
pnpm test
Run a binary from node_modules
pnpm exec eslint src/
pnpm dlx create-next-app  # Like npx (download and run)
Pass args to scripts
pnpm test — —watch
pnpm build — —mode production

# pnpm-workspace.yaml (in repo root)
packages:
  - 'apps/*'
  - 'packages/*'
Structure:
my-monorepo/
pnpm-workspace.yaml
apps/
web/package.json
api/package.json
packages/
shared/package.json
ui/package.json

# Run command in specific workspace
pnpm --filter web dev
pnpm --filter api build

# Run in all workspaces
pnpm -r build
pnpm -r test

# Add dependency to specific workspace
pnpm --filter web add react

# Add workspace package as dependency
pnpm --filter web add @myorg/shared --workspace

# Install all workspaces
pnpm install

# .npmrc
# Auto-install peers (recommended)
auto-install-peers=true
Hoist to root node_modules (needed for some tools)
shamefully-hoist=true
Strict peer dependencies
strict-peer-dependencies=false
Use specific Node version
use-node-version=20.11.0

pnpm uses a content-addressable store — packages are stored once globally and hard-linked into projects. This saves massive disk space.

# Show store path
pnpm store path
Clean unused packages from store
pnpm store prune
Check store status
pnpm store status

# Disk space: pnpm stores packages once, links them
# npm: each project gets its own copy of every package
# pnpm: one copy shared across all projects
Speed: pnpm is faster because it links instead of copying
npm install: ~30s (typical project)
pnpm install: ~10s (same project)
Strictness: pnpm doesn’t hoist by default
This means you can’t accidentally import packages
you didn’t declare as dependencies (phantom dependencies)