Introducing Yarn: An Alternative to npm
Introducing Yarn: An Alternative to npm 관련
While npm is the default package manager for Node.js, another powerful alternative exists: Yarn. Developed by Facebook in 2016, Yarn was created to improve speed, security, and reliability in dependency management.
In this section, we’ll explore what Yarn is, how it differs from npm, and when you might prefer using Yarn over npm.
What is Yarn?
Yarn (Yet Another Resource Negotiator) is a package manager that works similarly to npm but with a focus on performance, security, and consistency. It offers:
🚀 Faster dependency installation thanks to parallel downloads
🔐 More secure package management using checksum verification
📦 Reliable dependency resolution with an offline cache
To check if you have Yarn installed, run:
yarn -v
If you don’t have it yet, you can install it globally using npm:
npm install --global yarn
Once installed, you can use it just like npm to manage dependencies.
Differences Between npm and Yarn
Although npm and Yarn serve the same purpose, they have some key differences:
| Feature | npm | Yarn |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Installs packages one at a time | Installs multiple packages in parallel (faster) |
| Lock File | package-lock.json | yarn.lock |
| Offline Cache | Not available (by default) | Can install packages from local cache |
| Security | Verifies package integrity but lacks checksum enforcement | Uses checksum verification for security |
| Monorepo Support | Supports workspaces but not optimized | Built-in support for monorepos with workspaces |
Performance Comparison
When installing dependencies, Yarn is often faster because it downloads packages in parallel, while npm installs them sequentially.
For example, to install all dependencies in a project:
yarn install
npm install
Yarn can also install packages from a local cache, meaning it doesn't always need to fetch dependencies from the internet.
Common Yarn Commands vs. npm
Many npm commands have an equivalent in Yarn:
| Action | npm Command | Yarn Command |
|---|---|---|
| Initialize a new project | npm init | yarn init |
| Install all dependencies | npm install | yarn install |
| Install a package | npm install package-name | yarn add package-name |
| Install a dev dependency | npm install package-name --save-dev | yarn add package-name --dev |
| Remove a package | npm uninstall package-name | yarn remove package-name |
| Update all packages | npm update | yarn upgrade |
| Run a script | npm run script-name | yarn script-name |
For example, installing axios using Yarn:
yarn add axios
When to Use Yarn Instead of npm
Yarn is a great choice when:
- You want faster installations – Yarn installs multiple packages in parallel, making it faster than npm.
- You need better dependency consistency – The
yarn.lockfile ensures that all developers use the same dependency versions. - You're working with monorepos – Yarn’s built-in workspaces make it easier to manage multiple projects within the same repository.
- You want improved security – Yarn’s checksum verification prevents corrupted packages from being installed.
Still, npm has improved significantly in recent years, especially with npm v7+, making it a viable choice for most projects.
Switching Between npm and Yarn
If your project was originally set up using npm but you want to switch to Yarn, you can:
# 1️⃣ Delete node_modules and package-lock.json
rm -rf node_modules package-lock.json
# 2️⃣ Run Yarn to install dependencies
yarn install
This will generate a yarn.lock file, ensuring all dependencies are managed by Yarn moving forward.
Both npm and Yarn are powerful tools for package management. Choosing between them depends on your project’s needs:
✔️ Use npm if you want the default, widely used package manager that works well with most projects.
✔️ Use Yarn if you need faster installs, better security, and monorepo support.
Ultimately, both tools allow you to install, manage, and publish JavaScript packages efficiently.