Package Managers
npm vs Yarn
npm is the default Node.js package manager; Yarn is an alternative that popularized lockfiles and workspaces. Modern npm has closed most of the original gaps.
Side-by-side comparison
| npm | Yarn | |
|---|---|---|
| Bundled with Node | Yes | No (separate install) |
| Lockfile | package-lock.json | yarn.lock |
| Workspaces (monorepo) | Supported | Supported (mature) |
| Speed | Fast (modern npm) | Fast (esp. Yarn Berry PnP) |
| Plug-n-Play | No | Yes (Yarn Berry) |
When to use npm
- You want zero extra setup (ships with Node)
- Standard workflows are enough
- Simplicity and ubiquity
When to use Yarn
- You want Plug-n-Play or advanced monorepo features
- Existing Yarn-based project
- You prefer Yarn’s workspace tooling
Bottom line
For most projects npm is fine and requires no extra install. Choose Yarn (especially Berry) for advanced monorepo and Plug-n-Play needs. pnpm is also worth considering for disk-efficient installs.