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Overview

The pm x command executes packages directly from the registry without permanently installing them. It’s the Better PM equivalent of npx, pnpx, or bunx, automatically using the right tool for your package manager.

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Syntax

pm x <package> [...args]

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Arguments

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package
string
required
The package or command to execute
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args
string[]
Arguments to pass to the executed command

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Examples

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Run Package Binary

pm x typescript --version
Output
Running: pnpx typescript --version
Version 5.0.0

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Execute One-off Command

pm x create-vite my-app
Output
Running: pnpx create-vite my-app

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Run CLI Tool

pm x prettier --write .
Output
Running: pnpx prettier --write .

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Execute with Arguments

pm x eslint --init
Output
Running: pnpx eslint --init

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Run Versioned Package

pm x [email protected] --version
Output
Running: pnpx [email protected] --version

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Package Manager Mapping

Better PM automatically uses the appropriate execution tool:
Package ManagerTool UsedExample
pnpmpnpxpnpx create-vite
bunbunxbunx create-vite
npmnpxnpx create-vite
You don’t need to remember which tool to use - pm x handles it automatically.
From src/commands/x.ts:13-14: 
const execBin =
  pm.name === 'pnpm' ? 'pnpx' : pm.name === 'bun' ? 'bunx' : 'npx';

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Use Cases

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Project Scaffolding

Create new projects without global installs: 
pm x create-next-app my-app
pm x create-vite my-app --template react
pm x degit user/repo my-project

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One-time Tools

Run tools you don’t need permanently: 
pm x prettier --check .
pm x eslint --fix src/
pm x markdownlint **/*.md

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Version Testing

Test different package versions: 
pm x [email protected] --version
pm x [email protected] --version
pm x typescript@latest --version

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CI/CD Scripts

Run commands without adding to dependencies: 
pm x semantic-release
pm x commitizen
pm x lint-staged

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Common Commands

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Create Projects

pm x create-next-app@latest

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Development Tools

pm x prettier --write .

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Generators

pm x license mit > LICENSE

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How It Works

From src/commands/x.ts:10-19: 
export const xCmd = cli.Command.make('x', { args: argsArg }, (args) =>
  Effect.gen(function* () {
    const pm = yield* PackageManagerService;
    const execBin =
      pm.name === 'pnpm' ? 'pnpx' : pm.name === 'bun' ? 'bunx' : 'npx';
    const passthrough = Array.from(args.args);
    const cmd = ShellCommand.make(execBin, ...passthrough);
    yield* Console.log(`Running: ${execBin} ${passthrough.join(' ')}`);
    yield* runShellCommand(cmd);
  }).pipe(Effect.provide(PackageManagerLayer)),
);
The command:
  1. Detects your package manager
  2. Maps to the appropriate execution binary (npx/pnpx/bunx)
  3. Passes all arguments through
  4. Executes the command

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Benefits

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No Global Installs

Keep your global environment clean: 
# Instead of:
npm install -g create-vite
create-vite my-app

# Use:
pm x create-vite my-app

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Always Latest Version

Run the latest version without updating: 
pm x create-next-app@latest
# Always gets the newest version

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Try Before Installing

Test tools before adding to package.json: 
pm x vitest
# Try it out first

# If you like it:
pm add -D vitest

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Package Manager Agnostic

Same command works everywhere: 
pm x prettier --write .
# Works with pnpm, bun, or npm

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Performance

Execution tools cache packages for faster subsequent runs: 
# First run (downloads package)
pm x prettier --version
# ~2-3 seconds

# Second run (uses cache)
pm x prettier --version
# ~200ms
For frequently used tools, consider installing them locally with pm add -D for even better performance.

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Best Practices

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Use for Generators

# Perfect for project creation
pm x create-vite my-app

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Use for One-off Tasks

# Great for occasional commands
pm x prettier --check .

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Install for Repeated Use

# If used frequently, install it
pm add -D prettier
pm run format

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Pin Versions for Consistency

# In CI/CD, use specific versions
pm x [email protected] --check .

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Common Workflows

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Quick Project Setup

pm x create-vite my-app --template react-ts
cd my-app
pm install
pm run dev

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Format and Lint

pm x prettier --write .
pm x eslint --fix src/

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Generate Files

pm x license mit > LICENSE
pm x gitignore node > .gitignore

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Run Scripts

pm x tsx src/script.ts
pm x ts-node src/script.ts
  • pm run - Run package.json scripts
  • pm add - Install packages permanently
  • pm install - Install all dependencies