How To Install and Use Yarn on CentOS 7 with Easy Steps
In the realm of modern web development, efficient dependency management is paramount. This guide on the Orcacore website aims to teach you How To Install and Use Yarn on CentOS 7. Yarn stands out as a popular package manager, streamlining the process of packaging projects and sharing them with the global developer community.
Yarn distinguishes itself with its speed, security, and consistency, qualities developed to address shortcomings found in its competitor, the Node Package Manager (npm).
Before proceeding, ensure you have a non-root user with sudo privileges on your CentOS 7 server. Our guide on Initial Server Setup with CentOS 7 provides detailed instructions on how to achieve this. This setup is a prerequisite for a smooth installation of How To Install and Use Yarn on CentOS 7.
1. Installing Node.js on CentOS 7
Yarn depends on Node.js. Thus, the first step is to install Node.js on your CentOS 7 server. Begin by updating your package index:
sudo yum update -y
Next, enable the Nodesource repository using the following command:
curl --silent --location https://rpm.nodesource.com/setup_10.x | sudo bash -
Finally, install Node.js:
sudo yum install nodejs -y
2. Add Yarn GPG Key and Repository
To guarantee you’re installing the latest and most stable version of Yarn, it’s recommended to add the official Yarn repository. Start by enabling the repository and importing its GPG key:
# curl --silent --location https://dl.yarnpkg.com/rpm/yarn.repo | sudo tee /etc/yum.repos.d/yarn.repo

sudo rpm --import https://dl.yarnpkg.com/rpm/pubkey.gpg
Apply the changes by running a system update:
sudo yum update -y
3. Install Yarn Package Manager on CentOS 7
With the repository added and updated, installing Yarn is now straightforward:
sudo yum install yarn -y
Confirm the installation’s success by checking the Yarn version:
yarn --version
**Output**
1.22.19
4. How To Use Yarn Command on CentOS 7?
Now that Yarn is installed, let’s explore its basic usage, including creating projects and managing dependencies. This is a crucial part of understanding How To Install and Use Yarn on CentOS 7.
To initiate a new Yarn project, use the yarn init
command.
For instance, to create a project named my_project
:
yarn init my_project
The command prompts for project details. You can accept the defaults by pressing Enter or provide custom information.

This creates a package.json
file containing the provided details. You can modify this file at any time.
You can also initiate a Yarn project in an existing directory. Navigate to the directory and run:
yarn init
To add a package as a dependency:
yarn add [package_name]
This installs the package and its dependencies, updating the package.json
and yarn.lock
files. By default, Yarn installs the latest version.
To install a specific version or tag:
yarn add [package_name]@[version_or_tag]
To upgrade packages, use:
$ yarn upgrade
$ yarn upgrade [package_name]
$ yarn upgrade [package_name]@[version_or_tag]
Without a package name, the command updates all dependencies to their latest versions as defined in package.json
. Otherwise, only the specified packages are updated.
To remove a package:
yarn remove [package_name]
This updates the package.json
and yarn.lock
files accordingly.
In an existing project, install all dependencies listed in package.json
with:
yarn
Or:
yarn install
Alternative Solutions
While the yum
package manager method is the recommended way to install Yarn on CentOS 7, alternative approaches exist, each with its own benefits and drawbacks.
1. Installing Yarn via npm (Node Package Manager)
Since Yarn is a Node.js package, it can be installed globally using npm, which comes bundled with Node.js. This method bypasses the need for adding a separate Yarn repository.
Explanation:
This approach leverages npm, the default package manager for Node.js, to install Yarn globally on the system. It’s a quick and easy method, particularly useful if you already have npm configured. However, it relies on npm for the installation process, potentially inheriting any issues or limitations associated with npm. It can also lead to version conflicts if not managed correctly.
Code Example:
sudo npm install -g yarn
After the installation, verify the installation by checking the Yarn version:
yarn --version
2. Using a Docker Container
Another approach involves using a Docker container that already has Yarn installed. This isolates Yarn and its dependencies from the host system, preventing potential conflicts.
Explanation:
This method utilizes Docker, a containerization platform, to run Yarn in an isolated environment. It ensures consistency across different systems and avoids dependency conflicts. This approach requires Docker to be installed on the system. It is especially useful for development and deployment scenarios where reproducibility is important.
Code Example:
First, ensure Docker is installed on your CentOS 7 system. Then, pull a Docker image that includes Node.js and Yarn, such as the official Node.js image with Yarn pre-installed.
docker pull node:lts-alpine
Next, run a container from the image, mounting your project directory to the container:
docker run -it --rm -v "$PWD:/app" -w /app node:lts-alpine yarn --version
This command executes the yarn --version
command within the Docker container, showing the installed Yarn version. You can replace --version
with any other Yarn command to manage your project’s dependencies.
Conclusion
In conclusion, installing Yarn on CentOS 7 is a straightforward process, with options available to suit different needs and preferences. The primary method involves adding the Yarn repository and using yum
for installation. However, alternative methods, such as installing via npm or using Docker containers, offer flexibility and isolation. Choosing the right method depends on your specific requirements and the existing infrastructure. Understanding How To Install and Use Yarn on CentOS 7 is essential for modern web development.
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