This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Yousuf Khan Ratul
When it comes to JavaScript/TypeScript development, selecting the appropriate tools can greatly influence your productivity and project management. Are you using npm and nvm/fnm? You might not realize that there's a faster, more efficient way to develop. Here are two powerful tools, pnpm and Volta, that can boost your development workflow without any drawbacks.
The Current State: npm and nvm/fnm
If you're like most JavaScript developers, you're probably using:
- npm for package management
- nvm or fnm for Node.js version management
These tools have served us well, but they come with some hidden costs:
- Sluggish package installations eating into your coding time
- Massive node_modules folders clogging up your hard drive
- The "works on my machine" syndrome due to inconsistent Node.js versions
- Onboarding friction for new team members
pnpm: The Package Manager You Wish You Knew About Sooner
Think of pnpm as npm's faster, smarter cousin. It does everything npm does, but better:
- ✨ Lightning-fast installations: pnpm is up to 2x faster than npm
- 💾 Tiny disk footprint: Say goodbye to duplicate dependencies
- 🔒 Bulletproof dependency management: No more phantom dependencies
- 📦 Built for modern development: First-class monorepo support
A real-world example from the Vue.js repository source: pnpm benchmarks, 2023:
# Before (npm):
Time: 1m 22s
Disk space: 1.3GB
# After (pnpm):
Time: 41s
Disk space: 390MB
Additional benchmarks from the Next.js repository source: pnpm documentation:
| Package Manager | Installation Time | Disk Space |
|---|---|---|
| npm | 75 seconds | 910MB |
| yarn | 68 seconds | 899MB |
| pnpm | 33 seconds | 333MB |
Volta: The Node.js Version Manager That Just Works
Volta is what nvm wants to be when it grows up:
- 🔄 Automatic project-specific tooling: The right Node.js version, every time
- 🔨 Beyond Node.js: Manages ALL your JavaScript tools
- ⚡ Blazing fast: Built in Rust for instant switching
- 🖥️ Actually cross-platform: Works flawlessly on Windows too
Making the Switch: Easier Than You Think
Install Your New Tools
npm install -g pnpm
curl https://get.volta.sh | bash
winget install Volta.Volta
Convert Your Existing Project to pnpm
pnpm import
rm -rf node_modules
pnpm install
Set Up Volta Correctly
Ensuring Volta Manages Your Path
# For Bash
echo 'export VOLTA_HOME="$HOME/.volta"' >> ~/.bashrc
echo 'export PATH="$VOLTA_HOME/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bashrc
# For Zsh
echo 'export VOLTA_HOME="$HOME/.volta"' >> ~/.zshrc
echo 'export PATH="$VOLTA_HOME/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.bashrc # or source ~/.zshrc
# For Fish
set -Ux VOLTA_HOME "$HOME/.volta"
fish_add_path "$VOLTA_HOME/bin"
# For PowerShell
$userPath = [Environment]::GetEnvironmentVariable("PATH", "User")
$voltaPath = "$env:USERPROFILE\.volta\bin"
if ($userPath -notlike "*$voltaPath*") {
[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("PATH", "$voltaPath;$userPath", "User")
}
[Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("VOLTA_HOME", "$env:USERPROFILE\.volta", "User")
Verifying Your Setup
which node # Unix-like systems
where.exe node # Windows
volta list
Everyday Command Comparisons
1. Installing Node.js Versions
# nvm
nvm install 16
nvm install 14
# Volta
volta install node@16
volta install node@14
2. Switching Global Node.js Version
# nvm
nvm use 16
# Volta
volta install node@16
3. Setting Project-Specific Node.js Version
# nvm
echo "16" > .nvmrc
nvm use
# Volta
volta pin node@16
4. Installing and Using Tools
# npm
npm install -g yarn
# Volta
volta install yarn
Real-World Example: Managing Multiple Projects
volta install node@18
cd ~/projects/nextjs-app
volta pin node@18
volta pin npm@9
volta pin yarn@1.22
cd ~/projects/legacy-app
volta pin node@14
volta pin npm@6
cd ~/projects/nextjs-app # Node.js 18 and npm 9 automatically activated
cd ~/projects/legacy-app # Node.js 14 and npm 6 automatically activated
"But What About…" — Addressing Common Concerns
"Will this break my existing projects?"
Nope! pnpm is 100% compatible with npm. Your package.json remains the same, and you can even keep package-lock.json as a backup.
"Is it worth the hassle of switching?"
The migration takes minutes, and the benefits are immediate: faster installs, less disk space, and consistent environments across your team.
"What if I need to switch back?"
No problem! Your npm knowledge isn't wasted — pnpm uses similar commands:
npm install → pnpm install
npm run dev → pnpm dev
npm test → pnpm test
The Day-to-Day Difference
Before:
nvm use 14
npm install
cd another-project
nvm use 16
npm install
After:
cd project-1
pnpm install
cd project-2
pnpm install
Troubleshooting Common Issues
PATH Issues
If you're still seeing the system Node.js or nvm-managed Node.js:
Check your PATH order:
echo $PATH # Unix-like systems
$env:Path # Windows PowerShell
Common issues and fixes:
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| System Node.js still active | Ensure Volta's bin directory is first in PATH |
| nvm interfering | Remove nvm initialization from shell config |
| Wrong version showing | Run volta install node@desired-version
|
Complete Migration Guide: From npm/nvm to pnpm/Volta
Project Migration
cd your-project-directory
volta pin node@$(node -v)
pnpm import
rm -rf node_modules package-lock.json
pnpm install
Update Scripts
{
"scripts": {
"start": "pnpm run start",
"test": "pnpm run test",
"build": "pnpm run build"
}
}
Update CI/CD Pipeline
name: CI
on: [push]
jobs:
build:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v2
- uses: volta-cli/action@v1
- uses: pnpm/action-setup@v2
with:
version: 8
- name: Install dependencies
run: pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
- name: Run tests
run: pnpm test
Transition Period Workflow
During team transition, you might need to maintain compatibility:
# If someone runs npm install, sync with pnpm
npm install
pnpm import
pnpm install
# Commit both lock files during transition
git add package-lock.json pnpm-lock.yaml
Common Issues & Solutions
Missing Packages After Migration
# Check for and add missing peer dependencies
pnpm install
Global Packages Missing
volta install package-name
Script Running Issues
pnpm rebuild
Migration Verification Checklist
-
volta listshows the correct Node.js version -
pnpm installruns successfully - All scripts in package.json work
- CI/CD pipeline passes
- The development server starts correctly
- Tests pass with pnpm
- The build process completes successfully
Rollback Plan (If Needed)
rm -rf node_modules pnpm-lock.yaml
npm install
rm package.json.volta
nvm use $(cat .nvmrc)
Ready to Upgrade Your Developer Experience?
Making the switch to pnpm and Volta is all upside:
- ✅ Faster installations
- ✅ Less disk space usage
- ✅ Automatic tool management
- ✅ Better dependency handling
- ✅ Full compatibility with existing projects
Ready to get started? Once you make the switch, you'll question why you didn't do it earlier — trust me.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Yousuf Khan Ratul
Yousuf Khan Ratul | Sciencx (2024-10-06T01:34:46+00:00) Moving to pnpm and Volta: Enhancing Your Frontend Development Workflow. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2024/10/06/moving-to-pnpm-and-volta-enhancing-your-frontend-development-workflow/
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