In the realm of package development, managing locally developed packages without publishing them to remote registries can be a daunting task. Traditional approaches like npm link and yarn link often introduce complexities and constraints, hindering productivity. Enter Yalc – a game-changer for package authors seeking a seamless workflow.

Why Yalc?

While npm link and yarn link offer a similar solution for locally developed packages, they come with their own set of challenges. Dependency resolution issues, symlink interoperability between file systems, and other constraints can impede development progress. Yalc addresses these pain points by providing a robust alternative.

What is Yalc?

Yalc serves as a straightforward local repository for your locally developed packages, enabling seamless sharing across your development environment. Key features include:

• Effortless Publishing: With yalc publish, selectively publish only the files intended for distribution to the Yalc store, ensuring clean and efficient package distribution.
• Dependency Injection: Use yalc add to inject package content into your project, updating package.json with file: or link: dependencies for seamless integration.
• Package Versioning: Ensure consistency with a yalc.lock file, mirroring the functionality of yarn.lock and package-lock.json.
• Compatibility: Yalc seamlessly integrates with projects managed by yarn or npm, offering flexibility without sacrificing compatibility.

Installation

Getting started with Yalc is a breeze:

• Using npm:

npm i yalc -g

• Using Yarn:

yarn global add yalc

Usage

Publish

Publish your package to the Yalc store:

yalc publish

Add

Inject package content into your project:

yalc add my-package

Link

Create a symlink to package content:

yalc link my-package

Update

Update package content:

yalc update my-package

Remove

Remove a package from your project:

yalc remove my-package

Advanced Usage

Take your package development to the next level with advanced Yalc features:

• Automatic Updates: Propagate package updates to all installations with yalc push, simplifying package management across projects.
• Customization: Fine-tune your workflow with options like --pure for minimal intrusion into package.json or --workspace for compatibility with yarn workspaces.
• Clean-Up: Keep your project clean with yalc installations clean, removing obsolete package installations.

Conclusion

Yalc revolutionizes package development by offering a seamless and efficient workflow for managing locally developed packages. Say goodbye to dependency resolution headaches and compatibility issues – embrace Yalc and elevate your package development experience.

Ready to simplify your package development workflow? Give Yalc a try today!

For more information, check out the official Yalc repository.

Happy coding! 🚀