# lerna > A tool for managing JavaScript projects with multiple packages. > More information: . - Initialize project files (`lerna.json`, `package.json`, `.git`, etc.): `lerna init` - Install all external dependencies of each package and symlink together local dependencies: `lerna bootstrap` - Run a specific script for every package that contains it in its `package.json`: `lerna run {{script}}` - Execute an arbitrary shell command in every package: `lerna exec -- {{ls}}` - Publish all packages that have changed since the last release: `lerna publish`