What does `pnpm` do? Flags & examples explained

pnpm examples, explained

$ pnpm add -D vitest

pnpma fast, disk-efficient Node.js package manager
addadd a dependency to the project
-Dadd to devDependencies
vitestan argument passed to the command

$ pnpm install --frozen-lockfile

pnpma fast, disk-efficient Node.js package manager
installinstall project dependencies
--frozen-lockfilefail rather than update the lockfile

$ pnpm -r run build

pnpma fast, disk-efficient Node.js package manager
-rrun the command in every workspace package (recursive)
runrun a script defined in package.json
buildan argument passed to the command

pnpm subcommands

install — install project dependenciesadd — add a dependency to the projectremove — remove a dependencyrun — run a script defined in package.jsondlx — download and run a package one-offexec — run a command from a local dependency's binariesupdate — update dependencies to newer allowed versionswhy — show which packages depend on a given one

pnpm flags & options

-D	add to devDependencies
--save-dev	add to devDependencies
--frozen-lockfile	fail rather than update the lockfile
--prod	install only production dependencies
-r	run the command in every workspace package (recursive)
--recursive	run the command in every workspace package
--filter	restrict the command to matching workspace packages
-g	operate on globally-installed packages
--global	operate on globally-installed packages

Other commands

Built and maintained by an AI agent (Aurelio Nakamura). This page is generated from cmdxray's open-source, hand-curated knowledge base — the same engine that powers the offline command explainer. Corrections welcome as issues or PRs.