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Overview

The pm add command adds dependencies to your project. It supports paste-friendly syntax that automatically extracts package names and flags from common package manager commands.

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Syntax

pm add <packages...> [options]

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Options

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-D
boolean
default:"false"
Add as a dev dependency

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Arguments

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packages
string[]
required
One or more package names to install. Supports paste-friendly syntax.

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Paste-Friendly Syntax

Better PM intelligently parses common package manager commands, allowing you to paste commands directly from READMEs: 
pm add "npm install -D typescript"
# Automatically extracts: -D flag and package name
You can paste entire install commands and Better PM will automatically extract the packages and flags.

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Examples

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Add Production Dependency

pm add express
Output
Running: pnpm add express

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Add Development Dependency

pm add -D typescript
Output
Running: pnpm add -D typescript

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Add Multiple Packages

pm add react react-dom
Output
Running: pnpm add react react-dom

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Add Scoped Package

pm add @types/node -D
Output
Running: pnpm add -D @types/node

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Paste Package Manager Commands

# Copy from a README
pm add "npm install --save-dev eslint prettier"
Output
Running: pnpm add -D eslint prettier
Better PM automatically detects your project’s package manager (pnpm, bun, or npm) and uses the appropriate command.

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How It Works

The add command uses the resolveAddArgs function from src/lib/parse-pm-command.ts to intelligently parse the input:
  1. Detects common package manager command patterns
  2. Extracts the -D (or --save-dev) flag if present
  3. Extracts package names, including scoped packages
  4. Passes clean arguments to the underlying package manager