diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b5ea54c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+node_modules
+.project
+examples/basic.json
diff --git a/lambda-create.js b/lambda-create.js
index afc0d87..3fba4ec 100644
--- a/lambda-create.js
+++ b/lambda-create.js
@@ -46,10 +46,18 @@ if (!program.skipUpload) {
 		process.exit(1);
 	}
 	
-	//run an npm update to get the latest dependencies
-	console.log(`Updating package dependencies...`);
+	//remove the yarn.lock file
 	try {
-		execSync('npm update -S && npm update -D');
+		execSync(`rm -f yarn.lock`);
+	} catch (err) {
+		console.error(`Error removing yarn.lock: ${err.message}`);
+		process.exit(1);
+	}
+	
+	//run a yarn install to get the latest dependencies
+	console.log(`Installing package dependencies...`);
+	try {
+		execSync('yarn install');
 	} catch (err) {
 		console.error(`Error updating dependencies: ${err.message}`);
 		process.exit(1);
@@ -58,7 +66,7 @@ if (!program.skipUpload) {
 	//compile the package
 	console.log(`Compiling package...`);
 	try {
-		execSync('npm run compile');
+		execSync('yarn run compile');
 	} catch (err) {
 		console.error(`Error compiling package: ${err.message}`);
 		process.exit(1);
@@ -67,7 +75,7 @@ if (!program.skipUpload) {
 	//remove dev dependencies from output to streamline output
 	console.log(`Removing dev dependencies...`);
 	try {
-		execSync('npm prune --production');
+		execSync('rm -rf node_modules/ && yarn install --production');
 	} catch (err) {
 		console.error(`Error removing dev dependencies: ${err.message}`);
 		process.exit(1);
diff --git a/lambda-update.js b/lambda-update.js
index 15a232a..1da5111 100644
--- a/lambda-update.js
+++ b/lambda-update.js
@@ -48,10 +48,18 @@ if (!program.skipUpload) {
 		process.exit(1);
 	}
 	
-	//run an npm update to get the latest dependencies
-	console.log(`Updating package dependencies...`);
+	//remove the yarn.lock file
 	try {
-		execSync('npm update -S && npm update -D');
+		execSync(`rm -f yarn.lock`);
+	} catch (err) {
+		console.error(`Error removing yarn.lock: ${err.message}`);
+		process.exit(1);
+	}
+	
+	//run a yarn install to get the latest dependencies
+	console.log(`Installing package dependencies...`);
+	try {
+		execSync('yarn install');
 	} catch (err) {
 		console.error(`Error updating dependencies: ${err.message}`);
 		process.exit(1);
@@ -60,7 +68,7 @@ if (!program.skipUpload) {
 	//compile the package
 	console.log(`Compiling package...`);
 	try {
-		execSync('npm run compile');
+		execSync('yarn run compile');
 	} catch (err) {
 		console.error(`Error compiling package: ${err.message}`);
 		process.exit(1);
@@ -69,11 +77,11 @@ if (!program.skipUpload) {
 	//remove dev dependencies from output to streamline output
 	console.log(`Removing dev dependencies...`);
 	try {
-		execSync('npm prune --production');
+		execSync('rm -rf node_modules/ && yarn install --production');
 	} catch (err) {
 		console.error(`Error removing dev dependencies: ${err.message}`);
 		process.exit(1);
-	}
+	} 
 	
 	//zip up the distribution files
 	console.log(`Creating distribution package '${zipfile}' from [${files.join()}]...`);
diff --git a/lambda.js b/lambda.js
old mode 100644
new mode 100755