# Corepack — Node.js Package Manager Version Manager

> Corepack is a Node.js tool that manages package manager versions (npm, yarn, pnpm) per project, ensuring every contributor uses the exact same version without manual installs.

## Install

Save as a script file and run:

# Corepack — Node.js Package Manager Version Manager

## Quick Use
```bash
corepack enable
corepack prepare pnpm@latest --activate
pnpm install
```

## Introduction
Corepack is a zero-install manager for JavaScript package managers that ships with Node.js. It reads the `packageManager` field in `package.json` to automatically download and use the correct version of npm, yarn, or pnpm, eliminating version drift across development teams.

## What Corepack Does
- Automatically downloads and caches the correct package manager version specified in package.json
- Intercepts calls to yarn, pnpm, and npm to transparently shim the correct binary
- Enforces version consistency across all contributors without requiring manual installs
- Supports pinning exact package manager versions per project via the packageManager field
- Ships with Node.js 16.9+ and requires only a one-time `corepack enable` to activate

## Architecture Overview
Corepack installs lightweight shim scripts for each supported package manager in the Node.js bin directory. When you run `yarn` or `pnpm`, the shim reads `packageManager` from the nearest `package.json`, downloads that exact version to a local cache if missing, and forwards the command. The cache is shared across projects, so identical versions are downloaded only once.

## Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Enable with `corepack enable` (may require sudo on system Node.js installs)
- Add to package.json: `"packageManager": "pnpm@9.1.0"` to pin the version
- Use `corepack prepare pnpm@9.1.0 --activate` to pre-download and set a default
- Set `COREPACK_HOME` environment variable to customize the cache directory
- In CI, run `corepack enable` before `npm install` or `yarn install` for consistent builds

## Key Features
- Ships with Node.js out of the box, no additional installation required
- Transparent shimming means existing scripts and CI pipelines work without changes
- Supports npm, yarn (Classic and Berry), and pnpm with automatic version resolution
- Offline-capable once versions are cached; useful for air-gapped environments
- Hash verification ensures downloaded package managers match expected checksums

## Comparison with Similar Tools
- **nvm / fnm** — Manage Node.js versions; Corepack manages package manager versions within a Node.js install
- **volta** — Manages both Node.js and package manager versions; Corepack is lighter and ships with Node.js
- **asdf / mise** — General version managers for multiple tools; Corepack is Node.js-specific and zero-install
- **npx** — Runs packages without installing; Corepack pins and caches the package manager itself
- **ni** — Smart package manager dispatcher; Corepack ensures version consistency rather than just detecting which manager to use

## FAQ
**Q: Is Corepack enabled by default in Node.js?**
A: Corepack ships with Node.js 16.9+ but is not enabled by default. Run `corepack enable` once to activate the shims.

**Q: Does Corepack manage npm versions?**
A: Corepack can manage npm versions when specified in `packageManager`, but npm management is opt-in since npm already ships with Node.js.

**Q: What happens if the specified version is not cached?**
A: Corepack downloads it automatically on first use and caches it for subsequent runs.

**Q: Can I use Corepack in Docker builds?**
A: Yes. Add `RUN corepack enable` in your Dockerfile before running package install commands. In Node.js 20+ images, Corepack is already present.

## Sources
- https://github.com/nodejs/corepack
- https://nodejs.org/api/corepack.html

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Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/asset-aa43e0ab
Author: Script Depot