SKILL.md
Link Workspace Packages
Add dependencies between packages in a monorepo. All package managers support workspaces but with different syntax.
Detect Package Manager
Check whether there's a packageManager field in the root-level package.json.
Alternatively check lockfile in repo root:
pnpm-lock.yaml→ pnpm
yarn.lock→ yarn
bun.lock/bun.lockb→ bun
package-lock.json→ npm
Workflow
- Identify consumer package (the one importing)
- Identify provider package(s) (being imported)
- Add dependency using package manager's workspace syntax
- Verify symlinks created in consumer's
node_modules/
pnpm
Uses workspace: protocol - symlinks only created when explicitly declared.
# From consumer directory
pnpm add @org/ui --workspace
# Or with --filter from anywhere
pnpm add @org/ui --filter @org/app --workspaceResult in package.json:
{ "dependencies": { "@org/ui": "workspace:*" } }yarn (v2+/berry)
Also uses workspace: protocol.
yarn workspace @org/app add @org/uiResult in package.json:
{ "dependencies": { "@org/ui": "workspace:^" } }npm
No workspace: protocol. npm auto-symlinks workspace packages.
npm install @org/ui --workspace @org/appResult in package.json:
{ "dependencies": { "@org/ui": "*" } }npm resolves to local workspace automatically during install.
bun
Supports workspace: protocol (pnpm-compatible).
cd packages/app && bun add @org/uiResult in package.json:
{ "dependencies": { "@org/ui": "workspace:*" } }Examples
Example 1: pnpm - link ui lib to app
pnpm add @org/ui --filter @org/app --workspaceExample 2: npm - link multiple packages
npm install @org/data-access @org/ui --workspace @org/dashboardExample 3: Debug "Cannot find module"
- Check if dependency is declared in consumer's
package.json
- If not, add it using appropriate command above
- Run install (
pnpm install,npm install, etc.)
Notes
- Symlinks appear in
<consumer>/node_modules/@org/<package>
- Hoisting differs by manager:
- npm/bun: hoist shared deps to root
node_modules
- pnpm: no hoisting (strict isolation, prevents phantom deps)
- yarn berry: uses Plug'n'Play by default (no
node_modules)
- Root
package.jsonshould have"private": trueto prevent accidental publish