Introduction
For more than a decade, npm has been the default package manager for JavaScript projects. Almost every frontend or backend project—React, Angular, Node.js, or even tooling scripts—started with npm install. It became so common that many developers never questioned it.
But things are changing.
In 2025, more teams are asking a serious question:
Is npm still the right choice for modern applications, or is it time to move on?
Two strong alternatives have gained massive adoption:
pnpm, a faster and more disk-efficient package manager
Bun, an all-in-one JavaScript runtime with a built-in package manager
This article explains:
Why npm is losing ground
How pnpm works internally
What Bun brings to the table
Real Angular project comparisons
Which tool makes sense for production in 2025
This is not hype-driven content. It is based on real-world usage, CI pipelines, enterprise Angular apps, and long-term maintenance concerns.
Why Package Managers Matter More Than Ever
In the early days, package managers were just tools to download libraries. Today, they are core infrastructure.
A package manager affects:
Build speed
CI/CD time
Disk usage
Dependency correctness
Security
Developer productivity
For large Angular applications with:
…the choice of package manager can easily save or waste hours every week.
npm: The Default That Became a Bottleneck
npm deserves respect. It solved a massive problem and enabled the JavaScript ecosystem to grow. But over time, some serious limitations became visible.
1. Slow Install Times
Even today, many teams face:
npm install taking several minutes
Repeated installs across projects
CI pipelines slowed down by dependency installs
For Angular enterprise apps, this pain multiplies because:
Angular CLI has many dependencies
RxJS, build tools, testing libraries add weight
Monorepos amplify the problem
2. Massive node_modules Size
npm installs duplicate dependencies across projects.
Example:
Project A depends on lodash
Project B depends on lodash
npm installs lodash twice
On a developer machine, this quickly becomes:
3. Flat Dependency Hoisting Problems
npm flattens dependencies aggressively. This leads to:
Angular apps are especially sensitive because:
4. Lockfile Instability (Historically)
Although npm has improved, many teams still remember:
Lockfile changes without reason
Different installs across machines
“Works on my machine” issues
Enter pnpm: A Smarter Package Manager
pnpm is not a new tool, but in recent years it has gone from “interesting alternative” to enterprise-ready standard.
Core Idea of pnpm
pnpm uses a content-addressable store.
Instead of copying dependencies into every project:
This single idea changes everything.
How pnpm Works Internally
Global Store
pnpm keeps a global store like:
~/.pnpm-store/
Each package version exists only once.
If 20 Angular projects depend on:
@angular/[email protected]
It is stored once and shared.
Strict Dependency Resolution
pnpm enforces true dependency isolation.
A package can only access:
This prevents accidental imports.
For Angular, this is extremely valuable because:
pnpm vs npm: Real Angular Project Comparison
Let’s consider a real Angular enterprise app:
Angular 17
Nx monorepo
5 applications
12 shared libraries
npm Experience
npm install: ~4–6 minutes
node_modules size: ~4.5 GB
CI pipeline dependency step: slow
Occasional dependency resolution issues
pnpm Experience
pnpm install: ~1–2 minutes
node_modules size: ~900 MB
CI pipeline much faster
Fewer hidden dependency bugs
This is not theoretical. Many teams report similar numbers.
Using pnpm with Angular (Step-by-Step)
1. Install pnpm
npm install -g pnpm
2. Create Angular App with pnpm
pnpm create @angular/app my-app
cd my-app
pnpm install
Angular CLI works without issues.
3. pnpm Configuration for Angular
Add .npmrc:
strict-peer-dependencies=trueauto-install-peers=true
This ensures:
4. Using pnpm in Monorepos
pnpm shines in monorepos.
Example pnpm-workspace.yaml:
packages:- apps/*- libs/*
Angular + Nx + pnpm is now a common enterprise stack.
pnpm in CI/CD Pipelines
pnpm dramatically improves CI performance.
Example GitHub Actions step:
- uses: pnpm/action-setup@v3with:
version: 9
- run: pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
Benefits:
Faster builds
Less network usage
Deterministic installs
Bun: More Than a Package Manager
Bun is not just competing with npm or pnpm.
It is trying to replace Node.js tooling entirely.
Bun includes:
JavaScript runtime
Package manager
Bundler
Test runner
All in one binary.
Why Bun Exists
The JavaScript ecosystem has become complex:
Node.js runtime
npm or pnpm
Webpack or Vite
Jest or Vitest
Bun’s goal is simple:
Make JavaScript tooling fast, simple, and integrated.
Bun Package Manager Basics
Using Bun feels familiar:
bun install
bun add rxjs
bun remove lodash
But internally, Bun is written in Zig, not JavaScript.
This gives it huge performance advantages.
Bun Performance: Reality Check
Installation Speed
In many benchmarks:
Disk Usage
Bun uses caching and deduplication but:
Using Bun with Angular (Current State in 2025)
This is where things get interesting.
Can You Use Bun with Angular?
Yes, but with caveats.
bun install
bun run ng serve
Most Angular projects work, but…
Angular CLI Compatibility
Angular CLI:
Still assumes Node.js environment
Some scripts expect Node APIs
Bun supports many Node APIs, but not all
In real projects:
Bun as a Runtime vs Node.js
Bun is fast, but Node.js is battle-tested.
For Angular:
Development tooling still expects Node
SSR with Angular Universal is more stable on Node
Enterprise teams value stability over raw speed
As of 2025:
Bun in CI/CD: Is It Ready?
Bun can significantly reduce pipeline time.
But enterprises face concerns:
Many teams adopt Bun locally, but keep Node.js in CI.
pnpm vs Bun: Feature Comparison
| Feature | pnpm | Bun |
|---|
| Package Manager | Yes | Yes |
| Runtime | No | Yes |
| Disk Efficiency | Excellent | Good |
| Angular Compatibility | Excellent | Partial |
| Monorepo Support | Excellent | Improving |
| CI Stability | Proven | Emerging |
| Ecosystem | Mature | Growing |
Is npm Really Ending?
Short answer: No
Practical answer: It is no longer the best default
npm will continue to exist because:
It is bundled with Node.js
It is deeply embedded in tooling
Millions of projects depend on it
But for new projects, npm is increasingly avoided.
What Senior Developers Are Choosing in 2025
Typical Enterprise Angular Stack
Experimental / High-Performance Teams
Bun (local development)
pnpm fallback
Node.js for production
Migration Strategy: npm → pnpm
Step 1: Replace Lockfile
rm package-lock.json
pnpm install
Step 2: Fix Hidden Dependencies
pnpm will expose:
Missing dependencies
Incorrect imports
Fix them properly.
Step 3: Update CI
Replace npm install with pnpm install.
Migration Strategy: npm → Bun
Proceed carefully.
Recommended only if:
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Blindly switching without CI testing
Mixing npm and pnpm lockfiles
Using Bun in production without fallback
Ignoring peer dependency warnings
Long-Term Outlook (2025–2027)
Angular ecosystem trends strongly favour pnpm.
Final Verdict
So, is this the end of npm?
Not officially—but functionally, yes for many teams.
pnpm is the safest, most efficient choice for Angular in 2025
Bun is exciting and fast, but still maturing
npm is stable but increasingly outdated for large-scale apps
If you are starting a new Angular project today, pnpm should be your default choice.
If you want to experiment and push performance limits, explore Bun carefully.
The future of JavaScript tooling is faster, stricter, and more intentional—and npm is no longer leading that future.