npx vs. npm vs. pnpm: A Comparison for JavaScript Projects

JavaScript project management tools such as npm, npx, and pnpm play crucial roles in handling dependencies and scripts in development environments. npm, bundled with Node.js, is the default package management tool and is used for initializing projects, managing dependencies, running scripts, and publishing packages. npx, introduced in npm version 5.2.0, is a command-line tool that allows users to execute Node.js packages and binaries without needing global installations, making it ideal for one-off commands, trying new packages, and running local development tools. pnpm, a third-party package manager, addresses disk space and duplicate package issues by using store linking, making it suitable for monorepos and secure environments, though it is more complex than npm. Understanding the distinct features and appropriate use cases for each tool can help developers optimize their JavaScript workflows, with Earthly offering further integration for containerized builds.