Summary & Key Takeaways ​

• pnpm list and pnpm why are now feature-complete with many new options like --only-projects, --json, and search by version range.
• New settings include cleanupUnusedCatalogs for managing workspace entries and enableModulesDir: false to prevent node_modules creation.
• Command shims now set NODE_PATH consistently with isolated nodeLinker and hoist patterns.
• A new extendNodePath: false setting allows disabling this NODE_PATH behavior.
• The --force flag for pnpm install and pnpm add now installs optional dependencies regardless of host compatibility and relinks packages.
• sharedWorkspaceLockfile: false is now supported by the install family of commands.

Our Commentary ​

This is a chunky alpha release. I'm always impressed by the sheer volume of features pnpm packs into its updates. The --force flag for optional dependencies is a nice touch, and the list/why command parity is a huge win for consistency. It feels like they're really refining the developer experience.