The JS ecosystem has evolved MASSIVELY. Here's your 2025 cheat sheet:
📦 PACKAGE MANAGERS
npm - The reliable classic
✅ Comes with Node.js (zero setup)
✅ Massive ecosystem, battle-tested
❌ Slower installs, bloated node_modules
Best for: Teams wanting stability over speed
Yarn - The Meta powerhouse
✅ Lightning-fast installs + smart caching
✅ Plug'n'Play mode = no node_modules chaos
❌ Yarn 2+ syntax changes might trip you up
Best for: Speed-obsessed teams with CI/CD focus
pnpm - The efficiency king
✅ Fastest traditional manager + saves 70% disk space
✅ Symlinks = one global store, multiple projects
❌ Still the "new kid" (but growing fast)
Best for: Monorepos and storage-conscious devs
⚙️ GAME-CHANGING RUNTIMES
Bun - The Swiss Army knife
✅ Package manager + test runner + bundler in ONE tool
✅ Written in Zig = insanely fast
❌ Still maturing (some compatibility gaps)
Best for: Early adopters who want everything
Deno - The security-first rebel
✅ Created by Node's original author to "fix" Node.js
✅ Secure by default + built-in formatter/linter/tests
❌ Smaller ecosystem (but growing)
Best for: Security-conscious teams building modern apps
🎯 MY HONEST TAKE:
→ Switching from npm? Try pnpm first (easiest migration)
→ Starting fresh? Consider Bun for greenfield projects
→ Enterprise team? Stick with npm/Yarn until Bun/Deno mature
→ Security-critical app? Deno is worth the learning curve
The real question isn't "which is best?" — it's "which solves YOUR biggest pain point?"
What's your current setup? Drop your stack in the comments!
I'm especially curious:
Who's tried Bun in production?
Any pnpm converts here?
Deno success stories?
Let's share war stories! 👇
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