pnpm 11 cannot install dependencies because `node:sqlite` `DatabaseSync` methods are missing

[karlhorky]

Companion StackBlitz issue to pnpm issues pnpm/pnpm#14018

Describe the bug

pnpm 11 cannot install dependencies in StackBlitz WebContainers because the WebContainers implementation of node:sqlite is missing DatabaseSync methods required by pnpm, including exec().

pnpm 11 replaced the JSON-per-package store index with a SQLite database in Apr 2026:

• https://pnpm.io/blog/releases/11.0

Link to the blitz that caused the error

https://stackblitz.com/edit/github-fuwsaec6?file=pnpm-workspace.yaml

Steps to reproduce

1. Visit the reproduction URL above
2. Install pnpm 11 using the StackBlitz workarounds detailed in issue #2149 and observe that pnpm 11 can now print its version

   ~/projects/github-fuwsaec6
   ❯ npm install --global --prefix "$HOME/.local" pnpm@11
   
   added 1 package in 3s
   
   1 package is looking for funding
     run `npm fund` for details
   
   ~/projects/github-fuwsaec6
   ❯ mkdir -p "$HOME/.config/pnpm"
   
   ~/projects/github-fuwsaec6
   ❯ touch "$HOME/.config/pnpm/config.yaml"
   
   ~/projects/github-fuwsaec6
   ❯ "$HOME/.local/bin/pnpm" --version
   11.22.0

3. Attempt to install dependencies, and observe that pnpm fails in its SQLite-backed store because DatabaseSync.exec() is missing 💥

   ~/projects/github-fuwsaec6
   ❯ "$HOME/.local/bin/pnpm" install
   [ERROR] this.db.exec is not a function
   
   pnpm: this.db.exec is not a function
       at StoreIndex.openDatabase (file:///home/.local/lib/node_modules/pnpm/dist/pnpm.mjs:102459:17)
       at new StoreIndex (file:///home/.local/lib/node_modules/pnpm/dist/pnpm.mjs:102445:14)
       at createNewStoreController (file:///home/.local/lib/node_modules/pnpm/dist/pnpm.mjs:182750:83)
       at async installDeps (file:///home/.local/lib/node_modules/pnpm/dist/pnpm.mjs:219799:17)
       at async Object.handler5 (file:///home/.local/lib/node_modules/pnpm/dist/pnpm.mjs:220906:3)
       at async eval (file:///home/.local/lib/node_modules/pnpm/dist/pnpm.mjs:322605:19)
       at async main4 (file:///home/.local/lib/node_modules/pnpm/dist/pnpm.mjs:322573:30)
       at async runPnpm (file:///home/.local/lib/node_modules/pnpm/dist/pnpm.mjs:322869:5)
       at async eval (file:///home/.local/lib/node_modules/pnpm/dist/pnpm.mjs:322862:3)

4. Inspect the WebContainers node:sqlite implementation and observe that DatabaseSync.exec() and the other expected prototype methods are missing 💥

   ~/projects/github-fuwsaec6
   ❯ node --input-type=module --eval "import * as sqlite from 'node:sqlite'; console.log(Object.keys(sqlite)); const db = new sqlite.DatabaseSync(':memory:'); console.log({ exec: typeof db.exec, methods: Object.getOwnPropertyNames(Object.getPrototypeOf(db)).sort() })"
   [ 'DatabaseSync', 'StatementSync', 'backup', 'constants', 'default' ]
   { exec: 'undefined', methods: [ 'constructor' ] }
   (node:18) ExperimentalWarning: SQLite is an experimental feature and might change at any time
   (Use `node --trace-warnings ...` to show where the warning was created)

Expected behavior

pnpm 11 installs dependencies successfully in StackBlitz WebContainers

More generally, WebContainers should support the node:sqlite DatabaseSync methods available in Node.js 22 that pnpm 11 relies on, including exec().

Parity with Local

• I have run the project in my local machine and I could not reproduce the issue.

Screenshots

No response

Platform

• OS: macOS Tahoe 26.5.2 (25F84)
• Browser: Chrome
• Version: 151.0.7922.138 (macOS)

Additional context

Related issues:

• bundled pnpm 8.15.6: Ancient included pnpm 8.15.6 fails out of the box on modern pnpm-workspace.yaml without packages #2149

cc @SamVerschueren if this should be reported some other way or in stackblitz/core, let me know

[bolt-new-by-stackblitz]

Start a new pull request in StackBlitz Codeflow.

• github-fuwsaec6 (Open reproduction)