Improve Clarity of `packageManager` Checksum Notation

tl;dr: Corepack version string should use = character for clarity instead of +

"packageManager": "pnpm@10.7.0+sha512.6b865ad4b62a1d9842b61d674..."

The packageManager field in package.json currently uses a + symbol to separate the package manager version from its checksum (e.g., "pnpm@10.7.0+sha512..."). This + notation can be misleading for developers, as it is commonly associated with version ranges or build metadata in other contexts (e.g., 1.0.0+build123). This leads to potential misinterpretation, where users might incorrectly assume it signifies "version 10.7.0 or higher" rather than an exact version with an associated integrity hash.

The checksum is intended to enforce an exact, immutable match for the package manager's binary, ensuring reproducibility and security. The current + symbol, however, can obscure this exactness.

Proposed Solution

We propose changing the separator between the package manager version and its checksum from + to =.

Current:

"packageManager": "pnpm@10.7.0+sha512.6b865ad4b62a1d9842b61d674a393903b871d9244954f652b8842c2b553c72176b278f64c463e52d40fff8aba385c235c8c9ecf5cc7de4fd78b8bb6d49633ab6"

Proposed:

"packageManager": "pnpm@10.7.0=sha512.6b865ad4b62a1d9842b61d674a393903b871d9244954f652b8842c2b553c72176b278f64c463e52d40fff8aba385c235c8c9ecf5cc7de4fd78b8bb6d49633ab6"

Justification:

Using = would more clearly convey that the hash represents an exact match for the preceding version, eliminating ambiguity and aligning better with the deterministic nature of the checksum. This change would:

• Improve Clarity: Make it immediately obvious that the entire string after @ is a precise identifier, not a flexible range.
• Reduce Misinterpretation: Prevent developers from mistakenly assuming version compatibility beyond the exact specified version.
• Enhance User Experience: Reduce cognitive load and potential confusion, especially for new users or those less familiar with Corepack's specific notation.

Current Behavior

Corepack correctly uses the hash for integrity verification. The issue is purely with the visual representation and the potential for misinterpretation due to the + symbol's common usage in other versioning schemes.

Thank you for considering this improvement.

Start at Corepack's packageManager parsing and integrity-verification entry points, then trace every consumer of the '+' separator. Determine the compatibility implications of replacing it with '=', update the affected behavior, and verify exact-version checksum handling with focused tests.