[arcatek]

> If there are clearly better algorithms, why not refactor npm and add them in experimental flags to npm

While node_modules has many flaws, in the current ecosystem all modes have their own pros and cons, and there isn't a "clearly better" algorithm: node_modules has less friction, PnP is sounder, and pnpm's symlinks attempt to be kind of an in-between, offering half the benefits at half the "cost".

Like in many computer science things, it's tradeoffs all the way. Part of why Yarn implements all three.

[zkochan]

pnpm also implements all three: https://pnpm.io/feature-comparison

But I think it is best to use Yarn for PnP and pnpm for the symlinked node_modules structure.