diff --git a/src/apm-cli.js b/src/apm-cli.js
index 5a52d5fd..347728c6 100644
--- a/src/apm-cli.js
+++ b/src/apm-cli.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 const {spawn} = require('child_process');
 const path = require('path');
 
-const _ = require('underscore-plus');
 const colors = require('colors');
 const npm = require('npm');
 const yargs = require('yargs');
@@ -215,12 +214,7 @@ module.exports = {
       if (callbackCalled) { return; }
       callbackCalled = true;
       if (error != null) {
-        let message;
-        if (_.isString(error)) {
-          message = error;
-        } else {
-          message = error.message != null ? error.message : error;
-        }
+        const message = typeof error === 'string' ? error : error.message ?? error;
 
         if (message === 'canceled') {
           // A prompt was canceled so just log an empty line
diff --git a/src/ci.js b/src/ci.js
index 95b6da5a..22631817 100644
--- a/src/ci.js
+++ b/src/ci.js
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 const path = require('path');
 const fs = require('./fs');
 const yargs = require('yargs');
-const _ = require('underscore-plus');
 
 const config = require('./apm');
 const Command = require('./command');
@@ -54,7 +53,11 @@ but cannot be used to install new packages or dependencies.\
 
     fs.makeTreeSync(this.atomDirectory);
 
-    const env = _.extend({}, process.env, {HOME: this.atomNodeDirectory, RUSTUP_HOME: config.getRustupHomeDirPath()});
+    const env = {
+      ...process.env, 
+      HOME: this.atomNodeDirectory,
+      RUSTUP_HOME: config.getRustupHomeDirPath()
+    };
     this.addBuildEnvVars(env);
 
     const installOptions = {env, streaming: options.argv.verbose};
diff --git a/src/command.js b/src/command.js
index 034b186d..6fb0bb49 100644
--- a/src/command.js
+++ b/src/command.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 
 const child_process = require('child_process');
 const path = require('path');
-const _ = require('underscore-plus');
 const semver = require('semver');
 const config = require('./apm');
 const git = require('./git');
@@ -58,7 +57,7 @@ class Command {
   sanitizePackageNames(packageNames) {
     packageNames ??= [];
     packageNames = packageNames.map(packageName => packageName.trim());
-    return _.compact(_.uniq(packageNames));
+    return Array.from(new Set(packageNames)).filter(Boolean); // Array of only unique truthy values
   }
 
   logSuccess() {
diff --git a/src/config.js b/src/config.js
index 149e87c1..0efa78fe 100644
--- a/src/config.js
+++ b/src/config.js
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 
 const path = require('path');
-const _ = require('underscore-plus');
 const yargs = require('yargs');
 const apm = require('./apm');
 const Command = require('./command');
@@ -37,7 +36,11 @@ Usage: ppm config set <key> <value>
     let configArgs = ['--globalconfig', apm.getGlobalConfigPath(), '--userconfig', apm.getUserConfigPath(), 'config'];
     configArgs = configArgs.concat(options.argv._);
 
-    const env = _.extend({}, process.env, {HOME: this.atomNodeDirectory, RUSTUP_HOME: apm.getRustupHomeDirPath()});
+    const env = {
+      ...process.env,
+      HOME: this.atomNodeDirectory,
+      RUSTUP_HOME: apm.getRustupHomeDirPath()
+    };
     const configOptions = {env};
 
     return new Promise((resolve, _reject) => 
diff --git a/src/dedupe.js b/src/dedupe.js
index c3444b89..3670f74d 100644
--- a/src/dedupe.js
+++ b/src/dedupe.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 
 const path = require('path');
 
-const _ = require('underscore-plus');
 const yargs = require('yargs');
 
 const config = require('./apm');
@@ -54,7 +53,11 @@ This command is experimental.\
 
       fs.makeTreeSync(this.atomDirectory);
 
-      const env = _.extend({}, process.env, {HOME: this.atomNodeDirectory, RUSTUP_HOME: config.getRustupHomeDirPath()});
+      const env = {
+        ...process.env,
+        HOME: this.atomNodeDirectory,
+        RUSTUP_HOME: config.getRustupHomeDirPath()
+      };
       this.addBuildEnvVars(env);
 
       const dedupeOptions = {env};
diff --git a/src/develop.js b/src/develop.js
index 643db746..ebb67f98 100644
--- a/src/develop.js
+++ b/src/develop.js
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 const fs = require('fs');
 const path = require('path');
 
-const _ = require('underscore-plus');
 const yargs = require('yargs');
 
 const config = require('./apm');
@@ -43,31 +42,25 @@ cmd-shift-o to run the package out of the newly cloned repository.\
       return options.alias('h', 'help').describe('help', 'Print this usage message');
     }
 
-    getRepositoryUrl(packageName) {
-      return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
-        const requestSettings = {
-          url: `${config.getAtomPackagesUrl()}/${packageName}`,
-          json: true
-        };
-        return request.get(requestSettings, (error, response, body) => {
-          body ??= {};
-          if (error != null) {
-            return void reject(`Request for package information failed: ${error.message}`);
-          }
-
-          if (response.statusCode === 200) {
-            const repositoryUrl = body.repository.url;
-            if (repositoryUrl) {
-              return void resolve(repositoryUrl);
-            }
-
-            return void reject(`No repository URL found for package: ${packageName}`);
-          }
+    async getRepositoryUrl(packageName) {
+      const requestSettings = {
+        url: `${config.getAtomPackagesUrl()}/${packageName}`,
+        json: true
+      };
+      const response = await request.get(requestSettings).catch(error => Promise.reject(`Request for package information failed: ${error.message}`));
+      const body = response.body ?? {};
+
+      if (response.statusCode === 200) {
+        const repositoryUrl = body.repository.url;
+        if (repositoryUrl) {
+          return repositoryUrl;
+        }
+
+        throw `No repository URL found for package: ${packageName}`;
+      }
 
-          const message = request.getErrorMessage(body, error);
-          return void reject(`Request for package information failed: ${message}`);
-        });
-      });
+      const message = request.getErrorMessage(body, error);
+      throw `Request for package information failed: ${message}`;
     }
 
     async cloneRepository(repoUrl, packageDirectory, options) {
@@ -87,16 +80,17 @@ cmd-shift-o to run the package out of the newly cloned repository.\
     }
 
     installDependencies(packageDirectory, options) {
-        process.chdir(packageDirectory);
-        const installOptions = _.clone(options);
+      process.chdir(packageDirectory);
 
-        return new Install().run(installOptions);
+      return new Install().run({...options}); // pass options shallow-copied - protects somewhat from mutations
     }
 
     linkPackage(packageDirectory, options) {
-      const linkOptions = _.clone(options);
+      const linkOptions = {
+        ...options,
+        commandArgs: [packageDirectory, '--dev']
+      };
 
-      linkOptions.commandArgs = [packageDirectory, '--dev'];
       return new Link().run(linkOptions);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/disable.js b/src/disable.js
index 428313cd..d6f24aff 100644
--- a/src/disable.js
+++ b/src/disable.js
@@ -59,13 +59,13 @@ Disables the named package(s).\
         try {
           const installedPackages = await this.getInstalledPackages();
           const installedPackageNames = Array.from(installedPackages).map((pkg) => pkg.name);
-          const uninstalledPackageNames = _.difference(packageNames, installedPackageNames);
-          if (uninstalledPackageNames.length > 0) {
-            console.log(`Not Installed:\n  ${uninstalledPackageNames.join('\n  ')}`);
+          const notInstalledPackageNames = packageNames.filter(elem => !installedPackageNames.includes(elem));
+          if (notInstalledPackageNames.length > 0) {
+            console.log(`Not Installed:\n  ${notInstalledPackageNames.join('\n  ')}`);
           }
 
           // only installed packages can be disabled
-          packageNames = _.difference(packageNames, uninstalledPackageNames);
+          packageNames = packageNames.filter(elem => installedPackageNames.includes(elem));
 
           if (packageNames.length === 0) {
             return "Please specify a package to disable"; //errors as return values atm
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ Disables the named package(s).\
 
           const keyPath = '*.core.disabledPackages';
           const disabledPackages = _.valueForKeyPath(settings, keyPath) ?? [];
-          const result = _.union(disabledPackages, packageNames);
+          const result = Array.from(new Set([...disabledPackages, ...packageNames])); // create a union of the two arrays (no duplicates) //TODO use proper set operations when the runtime allows them
           _.setValueForKeyPath(settings, keyPath, result);
 
           try {
diff --git a/src/enable.js b/src/enable.js
index 57a38c75..2a5e9646 100644
--- a/src/enable.js
+++ b/src/enable.js
@@ -42,19 +42,19 @@ Enables the named package(s).\
       const keyPath = '*.core.disabledPackages';
       const disabledPackages = _.valueForKeyPath(settings, keyPath) ?? [];
 
-      const errorPackages = _.difference(packageNames, disabledPackages);
+      const errorPackages = packageNames.filter(elem => !disabledPackages.includes(elem));
       if (errorPackages.length > 0) {
         console.log(`Not Disabled:\n  ${errorPackages.join('\n  ')}`);
       }
 
-      // can't enable a package that isn't disabled
-      packageNames = _.difference(packageNames, errorPackages);
+      // can only enable a package that is disabled
+      packageNames = packageNames.filter(elem => disabledPackages.includes(elem));
 
       if (packageNames.length === 0) {
         return "Please specify a package to enable"; //errors as retval atm
       }
 
-      const result = _.difference(disabledPackages, packageNames);
+      const result = disabledPackages.filter(elem => !packageNames.includes(elem));
       _.setValueForKeyPath(settings, keyPath, result);
 
       try {
diff --git a/src/featured.js b/src/featured.js
index 27c1a578..1bf50dc6 100644
--- a/src/featured.js
+++ b/src/featured.js
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ List the Pulsar packages and themes that are currently featured.\
       return options.boolean('json').describe('json', 'Output featured packages as JSON array');
     }
 
-    getFeaturedPackagesByType(atomVersion, packageType) {
+    async getFeaturedPackagesByType(atomVersion, packageType) {
 
       const requestSettings = {
         url: `${config.getAtomApiUrl()}/${packageType}/featured`,
@@ -36,21 +36,23 @@ List the Pulsar packages and themes that are currently featured.\
       };
       if (atomVersion) { requestSettings.qs = {engine: atomVersion}; }
 
-      return new Promise((resolve, reject) => void request.get(requestSettings, function(error, response, body) {
-        body ??= [];
-        if (error != null) {
-          return void reject(error);
-        }
-        if (response.statusCode === 200) {
-          let packages = body.filter(pack => (pack != null ? pack.releases : undefined) != null);
-          packages = packages.map(({readme, metadata, downloads, stargazers_count}) => _.extend({}, metadata, {readme, downloads, stargazers_count}));
-          packages = _.sortBy(packages, 'name');
-          return void resolve(packages);
-        }
-        
-        const message = request.getErrorMessage(body, error);
-        reject(`Requesting packages failed: ${message}`);
-      }));
+      const response = await request.get(requestSettings);
+      const body = response.body ?? [];
+      if (response.statusCode === 200) {
+          let packages = body.filter(pack => pack?.releases != null);
+          packages = packages.map(({readme, metadata, downloads, stargazers_count}) => ({
+            ...metadata,
+            readme,
+            downloads,
+            stargazers_count 
+          }));
+
+          packages.sort((left, right) => left.name.localeCompare(right.name));
+          return packages;
+      }
+      
+      const message = request.getErrorMessage(body, error);
+      throw `Requesting packages failed: ${message}`;
     }
 
     async getAllFeaturedPackages(atomVersion) {
diff --git a/src/install.js b/src/install.js
index 46a624be..dc3ade4e 100644
--- a/src/install.js
+++ b/src/install.js
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 const assert = require('assert');
 const path = require('path');
 
-const _ = require('underscore-plus');
 const async = require('async');
 const CSON = require('season');
 const yargs = require('yargs');
@@ -82,7 +81,11 @@ package names to install with optional versions using the
 
       fs.makeTreeSync(this.atomDirectory);
 
-      const env = _.extend({}, process.env, {HOME: this.atomNodeDirectory, RUSTUP_HOME: config.getRustupHomeDirPath()});
+      const env = {
+        ...process.env,
+        HOME: this.atomNodeDirectory,
+        RUSTUP_HOME: config.getRustupHomeDirPath()
+      };
       this.addBuildEnvVars(env);
 
       const installOptions = {env};
@@ -194,7 +197,11 @@ Run ppm -v after installing Git to see what version has been detected.\
 
       fs.makeTreeSync(this.atomDirectory);
 
-      const env = _.extend({}, process.env, {HOME: this.atomNodeDirectory, RUSTUP_HOME: config.getRustupHomeDirPath()});
+      const env = {
+        ...process.env,
+        HOME: this.atomNodeDirectory,
+        RUSTUP_HOME: config.getRustupHomeDirPath()
+      };
       this.addBuildEnvVars(env);
 
       const installOptions = {env};
@@ -209,32 +216,27 @@ Run ppm -v after installing Git to see what version has been detected.\
     // packageName - The string name of the package to request.
     //
     // return value - A Promise that rejects with an appropriate error or resolves to the response body
-    requestPackage(packageName) {
+    async requestPackage(packageName) {
       const requestSettings = {
         url: `${config.getAtomPackagesUrl()}/${packageName}`,
         json: true,
         retries: 4
       };
-      return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
-        request.get(requestSettings, (error, response, body) => {
-          let message;
-          body ??= {};
-          if (error != null) {
-            message = `Request for package information failed: ${error.message}`;
-            if (error.status) { message += ` (${error.status})`; }
-            return void reject(message);
-          }
-          if (response.statusCode !== 200) {
-            message = request.getErrorMessage(body, error);
-            return void reject(`Request for package information failed: ${message}`);
-          }
-          if (!body.releases.latest) {
-            return void reject(`No releases available for ${packageName}`);
-          }
-
-          resolve(body);
-        });
+      const response = await request.get(requestSettings).catch(error => {
+        let message = `Request for package information failed: ${error.message}`;
+        if (error.status) { message += ` (${error.status})`; }
+        throw message;
       });
+      const body = response.body ?? {};
+      if (response.statusCode !== 200) {
+        const message = request.getErrorMessage(body, null);
+        throw `Request for package information failed: ${message}`;
+      }
+      if (!body.releases.latest) {
+        throw `No releases available for ${packageName}`;
+      }
+
+      return body;
     }
 
     // Is the package at the specified version already installed?
@@ -369,7 +371,10 @@ Run ppm -v after installing Git to see what version has been detected.\
     //
     // return value - A Promise that rejects with an error or resolves without a value
     async installPackageDependencies(options) {
-      options = _.extend({}, options, {installGlobally: false});
+      options = {
+        ...options,
+        installGlobally: false
+      };
       const commands = [];
       const object = this.getPackageDependencies(options.cwd);
       for (let name in object) {
@@ -452,7 +457,11 @@ Run ppm -v after installing Git to see what version has been detected.\
 
       fs.makeTreeSync(this.atomDirectory);
 
-      const env = _.extend({}, process.env, {HOME: this.atomNodeDirectory, RUSTUP_HOME: config.getRustupHomeDirPath()});
+      const env = {
+        ...process.env,
+        HOME: this.atomNodeDirectory,
+        RUSTUP_HOME: config.getRustupHomeDirPath()
+      };
       this.addBuildEnvVars(env);
 
       const buildOptions = {env};
@@ -723,7 +732,7 @@ with Pulsar will be used.\
       const iteratee = async fn => await fn();
       try {
         let installedPackagesInfo = await async.mapSeries(commands, iteratee);
-        installedPackagesInfo = _.compact(installedPackagesInfo);
+        installedPackagesInfo = installedPackagesInfo.filter(Boolean);
         installedPackagesInfo = installedPackagesInfo.filter((item, idx) => packageNames[idx] !== ".");
         if (options.argv.json) { console.log(JSON.stringify(installedPackagesInfo, null, "  ")); }
       } catch (error) {
diff --git a/src/list.js b/src/list.js
index 37629525..ccd35bbf 100644
--- a/src/list.js
+++ b/src/list.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 
 const path = require('path');
 
-const _ = require('underscore-plus');
 const CSON = require('season');
 const yargs = require('yargs');
 
diff --git a/src/package-converter.js b/src/package-converter.js
index 502641d3..802999f5 100644
--- a/src/package-converter.js
+++ b/src/package-converter.js
@@ -100,21 +100,21 @@ class PackageConverter {
       settings.shellVariables = shellVariables;
     }
 
-    const editorProperties = _.compactObject({
+    const editorPropertyEntries = Object.entries({
       commentStart: _.valueForKeyPath(settings, 'shellVariables.TM_COMMENT_START'),
       commentEnd: _.valueForKeyPath(settings, 'shellVariables.TM_COMMENT_END'),
       increaseIndentPattern: settings.increaseIndentPattern,
       decreaseIndentPattern: settings.decreaseIndentPattern,
       foldEndPattern: settings.foldingStopMarker,
       completions: settings.completions
-    });
-    if (!_.isEmpty(editorProperties)) { return {editor: editorProperties}; }
+    }).filter(([_, value]) => value != null);
+    if (editorPropertyEntries.length > 0) { return {editor: Object.fromEntries(editorPropertyEntries)}; }
   }
 
   readFileSync(filePath) {
-    if (_.contains(this.plistExtensions, path.extname(filePath))) {
+    if (this.plistExtensions.includes(path.extname(filePath))) {
       return plist.parse(fs.readFileSync(filePath, 'utf8'));
-    } else if (_.contains(['.json', '.cson'], path.extname(filePath))) {
+    } else if (['.json', '.cson'].includes(path.extname(filePath))) {
       return CSON.readFileSync(filePath);
     }
   }
@@ -134,9 +134,9 @@ class PackageConverter {
     const destinationPath = path.join(destinationDir, destinationName);
 
     let contents;
-    if (_.contains(this.plistExtensions, path.extname(sourcePath))) {
+    if (this.plistExtensions.includes(path.extname(sourcePath))) {
       contents = plist.parse(fs.readFileSync(sourcePath, 'utf8'));
-    } else if (_.contains(['.json', '.cson'], path.extname(sourcePath))) {
+    } else if (['.json', '.cson'].includes(path.extname(sourcePath))) {
       contents = CSON.readFileSync(sourcePath);
     }
 
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ class PackageConverter {
         const value = properties[key];
         preferencesBySelector[selector] ??= {};
         preferencesBySelector[selector][key] = preferencesBySelector[selector][key] != null 
-          ? _.extend(value, preferencesBySelector[selector][key])
+          ? { ...value, ...preferencesBySelector[selector][key] }
           : value;
       }
     }
diff --git a/src/publish.js b/src/publish.js
index 3d2776dd..8096c67c 100644
--- a/src/publish.js
+++ b/src/publish.js
@@ -105,35 +105,24 @@ have published it.\
     // return value - A Promise that resolves (without a value) when either the
     //                number of max retries have been reached or the tag could
     //                actually be retrieved.
-    waitForTagToBeAvailable(pack, tag) {
-      let retryCount = 5;
+    async waitForTagToBeAvailable(pack, tag) {
+      const retryCount = 5;
       const interval = 1000;
       const requestSettings = {
         url: `https://api.github.com/repos/${Packages.getRepository(pack)}/tags`,
         json: true
       };
 
-      return new Promise((resolve, _reject) => {
-        const requestTags = () => {
-          request.get(
-            requestSettings,
-            (_error, response, tags) => {
-              tags ??= [];
-              if (response?.statusCode === 200) {
-                if (tags.some(t => t.name === tag)) {
-                  resolve();
-                  return;
-                }
-              }
-              if (--retryCount <= 0) {
-                return void resolve();
-              }
-              setTimeout(requestTags, interval);
-            }
-          );
-        };
-        requestTags();
-      });
+      for (let i = 0; i < retryCount; i++) {
+        const response = await request.get(requestSettings).catch();
+        const tags = response.body ?? [];
+        if (response?.statusCode === 200) {
+          if (tags.some(t => t.name === tag)) {
+            return;
+          }
+        }
+        await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, interval)); //not strictly necessary on the last iteration
+      }
     }
 
     // Does the given package already exist in the registry?
@@ -151,15 +140,9 @@ have published it.\
           authorization: token
         }
       };
-      return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
-        request.get(requestSettings, (error, response, body) => {
-          body ??= {};
-          if (error != null) {
-            return void reject(error);
-          }
-          resolve(response.statusCode === 200);
-        });
-      });
+      const response = await request.get(requestSettings);
+      const body = response.body ?? {};
+      return response.statusCode === 200;
     }
 
     // Register the current repository with the package registry.
@@ -197,22 +180,16 @@ have published it.\
             authorization: token
           }
         };
-        return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
-          request.post(requestSettings, (error, response, body) => {
-            body ??= {};
-            if (error != null) {
-              return void reject(error);
-            }
-            if (response.statusCode !== 201) {
-              const message = request.getErrorMessage(body, error);
-              this.logFailure();
-              return void reject(`Registering package in ${repository} repository failed: ${message}`);
-            }
+        const response = await request.post(requestSettings);
+        const body = response.body ?? {};
+        if (response.statusCode !== 201) {
+          const message = request.getErrorMessage(body, null);
+          this.logFailure();
+          throw `Registering package in ${repository} repository failed: ${message}`; //again, why the double logging?
+        }
 
-            this.logSuccess();
-            return resolve(true);
-          });
-        });
+        this.logSuccess();
+        return true;
       } catch (error) {
         this.logFailure();
         throw error;
@@ -238,20 +215,12 @@ have published it.\
           authorization: token
         }
       };
-      return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
-        request.post(requestSettings, (error, response, body) => {
-          body ??= {};
-          if (error != null) {
-            return void reject(error);
-          }
-          if (response.statusCode !== 201) {
-            const message = request.getErrorMessage(body, error);
-            return void reject(`Creating new version failed: ${message}`);
-          }
-
-          resolve();
-        });
-      });
+      const response = await request.post(requestSettings);
+      const body = response.body ?? {};
+      if (response.statusCode !== 201) {
+        const message = request.getErrorMessage(body, null);
+        throw `Creating new version failed: ${message}`;
+      }
     }
 
     // Publish the version of the package associated with the given tag.
diff --git a/src/rebuild.js b/src/rebuild.js
index dbac1cf8..38d0d947 100644
--- a/src/rebuild.js
+++ b/src/rebuild.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 
 const path = require('path');
 
-const _ = require('underscore-plus');
 const yargs = require('yargs');
 
 const config = require('./apm');
@@ -43,7 +42,11 @@ All the modules will be rebuilt if no module names are specified.\
 
       fs.makeTreeSync(this.atomDirectory);
 
-      const env = _.extend({}, process.env, {HOME: this.atomNodeDirectory, RUSTUP_HOME: config.getRustupHomeDirPath()});
+      const env = {
+        ...process.env,
+        HOME: this.atomNodeDirectory,
+        RUSTUP_HOME: config.getRustupHomeDirPath()
+      };
       this.addBuildEnvVars(env);
 
       return new Promise((resolve, reject) =>
diff --git a/src/request.js b/src/request.js
index c4066236..c9f1dd88 100644
--- a/src/request.js
+++ b/src/request.js
@@ -36,96 +36,69 @@ async function configureRequest(requestOptions){
 }
 
 module.exports = {
-  get(opts, callback) {
-    configureRequest(opts).then(async () => {
-      const retryCount = opts.retries ?? 0;
-
-      if (typeof opts.strictSSL === "boolean") {
-        try {
-          const res = await superagent
-            .get(opts.url)
-            .proxy(opts.proxy)
-            .set(opts.headers)
-            .query(opts.qs)
-            .retry(retryCount)
-            .disableTLSCerts()
-            .ok((res) => OK_STATUS_CODES.includes(res.status));
-          return void callback(null, res, res.body);
-        } catch (error) {
-          return void callback(error, null, null);
-        }
-      }
-
-      try {
-        const res = await superagent
-          .get(opts.url)
-          .proxy(opts.proxy)
-          .set(opts.headers)
-          .query(opts.qs)
-          .retry(retryCount)
-          .ok((res) => OK_STATUS_CODES.includes(res.status));
-        return void callback(null, res, res.body);
-      } catch (error) {
-        return void callback(error, null, null); 
-      }
-    });
+  async get(opts) {
+    await configureRequest(opts);
+    const retryCount = opts.retries ?? 0;
+
+    if (typeof opts.strictSSL === "boolean") {
+      const res = await superagent
+        .get(opts.url)
+        .proxy(opts.proxy)
+        .set(opts.headers)
+        .query(opts.qs)
+        .retry(retryCount)
+        .disableTLSCerts()
+        .ok((res) => OK_STATUS_CODES.includes(res.status));
+      return res;
+    }
+
+    const res = await superagent
+      .get(opts.url)
+      .proxy(opts.proxy)
+      .set(opts.headers)
+      .query(opts.qs)
+      .retry(retryCount)
+      .ok((res) => OK_STATUS_CODES.includes(res.status));
+    return res;
   },
 
-  del(opts, callback) {
-    configureRequest(opts).then(async () => {
-      if (typeof opts.strictSSL === "boolean") {
-        try {
-          const res = await superagent
-            .delete(opts.url)
-            .proxy(opts.proxy)
-            .set(opts.headers)
-            .query(opts.qs)
-            .disableTLSCerts()
-            .ok((res) => OK_STATUS_CODES.includes(res.status));
-          return void callback(null, res, res.body);
-        } catch (error) {
-          return void callback(error, null, null);
-        }
-      }
-
-      try {
-        const res = await superagent
-          .delete(opts.url)
-          .proxy(opts.proxy)
-          .set(opts.headers)
-          .query(opts.qs)
-          .ok((res) => OK_STATUS_CODES.includes(res.status));
-        return void callback(null, res, res.body);
-      } catch (error) {
-        return void callback(error, null, null);
-      }
-    });
+  async del(opts) {
+    await configureRequest(opts);
+    if (typeof opts.strictSSL === "boolean") {
+      const res = await superagent
+        .delete(opts.url)
+        .proxy(opts.proxy)
+        .set(opts.headers)
+        .query(opts.qs)
+        .disableTLSCerts()
+        .ok((res) => OK_STATUS_CODES.includes(res.status));
+      return res;
+    }
+
+    const res = await superagent
+      .delete(opts.url)
+      .proxy(opts.proxy)
+      .set(opts.headers)
+      .query(opts.qs)
+      .ok((res) => OK_STATUS_CODES.includes(res.status));
+    return res;
   },
 
-  post(opts, callback) {
-    configureRequest(opts).then(async () => {
-      if (typeof opts.strictSSL === "boolean") {
-        try {
-          const res = await superagent
-            .post(opts.url)
-            .proxy(opts.proxy)
-            .set(opts.headers)
-            .query(opts.qs)
-            .disableTLSCerts()
-            .ok((res) => OK_STATUS_CODES.includes(res.status));
-          return void callback(null, res, res.body);
-        } catch (error) {
-          return void callback(error, null, null);
-        }
-      }
-
-      try {
-        const res = await superagent.post(opts.url).proxy(opts.proxy).set(opts.headers).query(opts.qs).ok((res) => OK_STATUS_CODES.includes(res.status));
-        return void callback(null, res, res.body);
-      } catch (error) {
-        return void callback(error, null, null);
-      }
-    });
+  async post(opts) {
+    await configureRequest(opts);
+    if (typeof opts.strictSSL === "boolean") {
+      const res = await superagent
+        .post(opts.url)
+        .proxy(opts.proxy)
+        .set(opts.headers)
+        .query(opts.qs)
+        .disableTLSCerts()
+        .ok((res) => OK_STATUS_CODES.includes(res.status));
+      return res;
+    }
+
+    const res = await superagent.post(opts.url).proxy(opts.proxy).set(opts.headers).query(opts.qs).ok((res) => OK_STATUS_CODES.includes(res.status));
+    return res;
   },
 
   async createReadStream(opts) {
diff --git a/src/search.js b/src/search.js
index c6fb9e7a..c4ea798d 100644
--- a/src/search.js
+++ b/src/search.js
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ Search for packages/themes.\
       return options.boolean('themes').describe('themes', 'Search only themes').alias('t', 'themes');
     }
 
-    searchPackages(query, opts) {
+    async searchPackages(query, opts) {
       const qs =
         {q: query};
 
@@ -44,23 +44,23 @@ Search for packages/themes.\
         json: true
       };
 
-      return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
-        request.get(requestSettings, function(error, response, body) {
-          body ??= {};
-          if (error != null) {
-            return void reject(error);
-          }
-          if (response.statusCode === 200) {
-            let packages = body.filter(pack => (pack.releases != null ? pack.releases.latest : undefined) != null);
-            packages = packages.map(({readme, metadata, downloads, stargazers_count}) => _.extend({}, metadata, {readme, downloads, stargazers_count}));
-            packages = packages.filter(({name, version}) => !isDeprecatedPackage(name, version));
-            return void resolve(packages);
-          }
-
-          const message = request.getErrorMessage(body, error);
-          reject(`Searching packages failed: ${message}`);
-        });
-      });
+      const response = await request.get(requestSettings);
+      const body = response.body ?? {};
+
+      if (response.statusCode === 200) {
+        let packages = body.filter(pack => pack?.releases?.latest != null);
+        packages = packages.map(({readme, metadata, downloads, stargazers_count}) => ({
+          ...metadata,
+          readme,
+          downloads,
+          stargazers_count
+        }));
+        packages = packages.filter(({name, version}) => !isDeprecatedPackage(name, version));
+        return packages;
+      }
+
+      const message = request.getErrorMessage(body, null);
+      throw `Searching packages failed: ${message}`;
     }
 
     async run(options) {
diff --git a/src/star.js b/src/star.js
index 11fd437b..e5f7251b 100644
--- a/src/star.js
+++ b/src/star.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 
 const path = require('path');
 
-const _ = require('underscore-plus');
 const async = require('async');
 const CSON = require('season');
 const yargs = require('yargs');
@@ -32,7 +31,7 @@ Run \`ppm stars\` to see all your starred packages.\
       return options.boolean('installed').describe('installed', 'Star all packages in ~/.pulsar/packages');
     }
 
-    starPackage(packageName, param) {
+    async starPackage(packageName, param) {
       param ??= {};
       const {ignoreUnpublishedPackages, token} = param;
       if (process.platform === 'darwin') { process.stdout.write('\u2B50  '); }
@@ -45,27 +44,19 @@ Run \`ppm stars\` to see all your starred packages.\
         }
       };
 
-      return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
-        request.post(requestSettings, (error, response, body) => {
-          body ??= {};
-          if (error != null) {
-            this.logFailure();
-            return void reject(error);
-          }
-          if ((response.statusCode === 404) && ignoreUnpublishedPackages) {
-            process.stdout.write('skipped (not published)\n'.yellow);
-            return void reject();
-          }
-          if (response.statusCode !== 200) {
-            this.logFailure();
-            const message = request.getErrorMessage(body, error);
-            return void reject(`Starring package failed: ${message}`);
-          }
-
-          this.logSuccess();
-          resolve();
-        });
-      });
+      const response = await request.post(requestSettings).catch(error => { this.logFailure(); throw error; });
+      const body = response.body ?? {};
+      if ((response.statusCode === 404) && ignoreUnpublishedPackages) {
+        process.stdout.write('skipped (not published)\n'.yellow);
+        return Promise.reject();
+      }
+      if (response.statusCode !== 200) {
+        this.logFailure();
+        const message = request.getErrorMessage(body, error);
+        throw `Starring package failed: ${message}`;
+      }
+
+      this.logSuccess();
     }
 
     getInstalledPackageNames() {
@@ -85,7 +76,7 @@ Run \`ppm stars\` to see all your starred packages.\
         }
       }
 
-      return _.uniq(installedPackages);
+      return Array.from(new Set(installedPackages)); // Unique only array
     }
 
     async run(options) {
diff --git a/src/stars.js b/src/stars.js
index eb0f7bd6..b1619108 100644
--- a/src/stars.js
+++ b/src/stars.js
@@ -47,24 +47,23 @@ List or install starred Atom packages and themes.\
       return this.requestStarredPackages(requestSettings);
     }
 
-    requestStarredPackages(requestSettings) {
-      return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
-        request.get(requestSettings, (error, response, body) => {
-          body ??= [];
-          if (error != null) {
-            return void reject(error);
-          }
-          if (response.statusCode === 200) {
-            let packages = body.filter(pack => pack?.releases?.latest != null);
-            packages = packages.map(({readme, metadata, downloads, stargazers_count}) => _.extend({}, metadata, {readme, downloads, stargazers_count}));
-            packages = _.sortBy(packages, 'name');
-            return void resolve(packages);
-          }
-
-          const message = request.getErrorMessage(body, error);
-          reject(`Requesting packages failed: ${message}`);
-        });
-      });
+    async requestStarredPackages(requestSettings) {
+        const response = await request.get(requestSettings);
+        const body = response.body ?? [];
+        if (response.statusCode === 200) {
+          let packages = body.filter(pack => pack?.releases?.latest != null);
+          packages = packages.map(({readme, metadata, downloads, stargazers_count}) => ({
+            ...metadata,
+            readme,
+            downloads,
+            stargazers_count
+          }));
+          packages.sort((left, right) => left.name.localeCompare(right.name));
+          return packages;
+        }
+
+        const message = request.getErrorMessage(body, null);
+        throw `Requesting packages failed: ${message}`;
     }
 
     async installPackages(packages) {
diff --git a/src/text-mate-theme.js b/src/text-mate-theme.js
index e38e96ae..62b0d542 100644
--- a/src/text-mate-theme.js
+++ b/src/text-mate-theme.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 
-const _ = require('underscore-plus');
 const plist = require('plist');
 const {ScopeSelector, ready} = require('second-mate');
 
@@ -180,9 +179,9 @@ atom-text-editor.is-focused .line.cursor-line`,
 
     if (fontStyle) {
       const fontStyles = fontStyle.split(/\s+/);
-      if (_.contains(fontStyles, 'bold')) { properties['font-weight'] = 'bold'; }
-      if (_.contains(fontStyles, 'italic')) { properties['font-style'] = 'italic'; }
-      if (_.contains(fontStyles, 'underline')) { properties['text-decoration'] = 'underline'; }
+      if (fontStyles.includes('bold')) { properties['font-weight'] = 'bold'; }
+      if (fontStyles.includes('italic')) { properties['font-style'] = 'italic'; }
+      if (fontStyles.includes('underline')) { properties['text-decoration'] = 'underline'; }
     }
 
     if (foreground) { properties['color'] = this.translateColor(foreground); }
diff --git a/src/theme-converter.js b/src/theme-converter.js
index 33e508c1..097686b8 100644
--- a/src/theme-converter.js
+++ b/src/theme-converter.js
@@ -17,21 +17,13 @@ class ThemeConverter {
     const {protocol} = url.parse(this.sourcePath);
     if ((protocol === 'http:') || (protocol === 'https:')) {
       const requestOptions = {url: this.sourcePath};
-      return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
-        request.get(requestOptions, (error, response, body) => {
-          if (error != null) {
-            if (error?.code === 'ENOTFOUND') {
-              error = `Could not resolve URL: ${this.sourcePath}`;
-            }
-            return void reject(error);
-          }
-          if (response.statusCode !== 200) {
-            return void reject(`Request to ${this.sourcePath} failed (${response.headers.status})`);
-          }
-          
-          resolve(body);
-        });
-      });
+      const response = await request.get(requestOptions).catch(error => Promise.reject(error?.code === 'ENOTFOUND' ? `Could not resolve URL: ${this.sourcePath}` : error));
+      const body = response.body;
+      if (response.statusCode !== 200) {
+        throw `Request to ${this.sourcePath} failed (${response.headers.status})`;
+      }
+        
+      return body;
     }
 
     const sourcePath = path.resolve(this.sourcePath);
diff --git a/src/tree.js b/src/tree.js
index 5fbee28d..ff79910b 100644
--- a/src/tree.js
+++ b/src/tree.js
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
 
-const _ = require('underscore-plus');
-
-module.exports = (items, options, callback) => {
+module.exports = (items, options, callback) => { //TODO clean up signature and usage
   options ??= {};
-  if (_.isFunction(options)) {
+  if (options instanceof Function) {
     callback = options;
     options = {};
   }
diff --git a/src/unpublish.js b/src/unpublish.js
index c5eb73e4..2b3210a5 100644
--- a/src/unpublish.js
+++ b/src/unpublish.js
@@ -49,23 +49,15 @@ name is specified.\
 
         if (packageVersion) { options.url += `/versions/${packageVersion}`; }
 
-        return new Promise((resolve, reject) =>{
-          request.del(options, (error, response, body) => {
-            body ??= {};
-            if (error != null) {
-              this.logFailure();
-              return void reject(error);
-            }
-            if (response.statusCode !== 204) {
-              this.logFailure();
-              const message = body.message ?? body.error ?? body;
-              return void reject(`Unpublishing failed: ${message}`);
-            }
-
-            this.logSuccess();
-            resolve();
-          });
-        });
+        const response = await request.del(options).catch(error => { this.logFailure(); throw error; }); //it's not clear why we are calling logFailure in two layers (here and in the usual try-catch around it)
+        const body = response.body ?? {};
+        if (response.statusCode !== 204) {
+          this.logFailure();
+          const message = body.message ?? body.error ?? body;
+          throw `Unpublishing failed: ${message}`;
+        }
+
+        this.logSuccess();
       } catch (error) {
           this.logFailure();
           throw error;
diff --git a/src/unstar.js b/src/unstar.js
index 60e75981..aef7c344 100644
--- a/src/unstar.js
+++ b/src/unstar.js
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ Run \`ppm stars\` to see all your starred packages.\
       return options.alias('h', 'help').describe('help', 'Print this usage message');
     }
 
-    starPackage(packageName, token) {
+    async starPackage(packageName, token) {
       if (process.platform === 'darwin') { process.stdout.write('\uD83D\uDC5F \u2B50  '); }
       process.stdout.write(`Unstarring ${packageName} `);
       const requestSettings = {
@@ -35,23 +35,15 @@ Run \`ppm stars\` to see all your starred packages.\
           authorization: token
         }
       };
-      return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
-        request.del(requestSettings, (error, response, body) => {
-          body ??= {};
-          if (error != null) {
-            this.logFailure();
-            return void reject(error);
-          }
-          if (response.statusCode !== 204) {
-            this.logFailure();
-            const message = request.getErrorMessage(body, error);
-            return void reject(`Unstarring package failed: ${message}`);
-          }
+      const response = await request.del(requestSettings).catch(error => { this.logFailure(); throw error; });
+      const body = response.body ?? {};
+      if (response.statusCode !== 204) {
+        this.logFailure();
+        const message = request.getErrorMessage(body, null);
+        throw `Unstarring package failed: ${message}`;
+      }
 
-          this.logSuccess();
-          resolve();
-        });
-      });
+      this.logSuccess();
     }
 
     async run(options) {
diff --git a/src/upgrade.js b/src/upgrade.js
index 2532d6a2..62ff7443 100644
--- a/src/upgrade.js
+++ b/src/upgrade.js
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 
 const path = require('path');
 
-const _ = require('underscore-plus');
 const async = require('async');
 const yargs = require('yargs');
 const read = require('read');
@@ -94,49 +93,43 @@ available updates.\
       return fs.existsSync(repoGitFolderPath);
     }
 
-    getLatestVersion(pack) {
+    async getLatestVersion(pack) {
       const requestSettings = {
         url: `${config.getAtomPackagesUrl()}/${pack.name}`,
         json: true
       };
-      return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
-        request.get(requestSettings, (error, response, body) => {
-          body ??= {};
-          if (error != null) {
-            return void reject(`Request for package information failed: ${error.message}`);
-          }
-          if (response.statusCode === 404) {
-            return void resolve();
-          }
-          if (response.statusCode !== 200) {
-            const message = body.message ?? body.error ?? body;
-            return void reject(`Request for package information failed: ${message}`);
-          }
+      const response = await request.get(requestSettings).catch(error => Promise.reject(`Request for package information failed: ${error.message}`));
+      const body = response.body ?? {};
+      if (response.statusCode === 404) {
+        return;
+      }
+      if (response.statusCode !== 200) {
+        const message = body.message ?? body.error ?? body;
+        throw `Request for package information failed: ${message}`;
+      }
 
-          const atomVersion = this.installedAtomVersion;
-          let latestVersion = pack.version;
-          const object = body?.versions ?? {};
-          for (let version in object) {
-            const metadata = object[version];
-            if (!semver.valid(version)) { continue; }
-            if (!metadata) { continue; }
+      const atomVersion = this.installedAtomVersion;
+      let latestVersion = pack.version;
+      const object = body?.versions ?? {};
+      for (let version in object) {
+        const metadata = object[version];
+        if (!semver.valid(version)) { continue; }
+        if (!metadata) { continue; }
 
-            const engine = metadata.engines?.pulsar || metadata.engines?.atom || '*';
-            if (!semver.validRange(engine)) { continue; }
-            if (!semver.satisfies(atomVersion, engine)) { continue; }
+        const engine = metadata.engines?.pulsar || metadata.engines?.atom || '*';
+        if (!semver.validRange(engine)) { continue; }
+        if (!semver.satisfies(atomVersion, engine)) { continue; }
 
-            if (!semver.gt(version, latestVersion)) { continue; }
+        if (!semver.gt(version, latestVersion)) { continue; }
 
-            latestVersion = version;
-          }
+        latestVersion = version;
+      }
 
-          if ((latestVersion === pack.version) || !this.hasRepo(pack)) {
-            return void resolve();
-          }
+      if ((latestVersion === pack.version) || !this.hasRepo(pack)) {
+        return;
+      }
 
-          resolve(latestVersion);
-        });
-      });
+      return latestVersion;
     }
 
     async getLatestSha(pack) {
@@ -177,7 +170,7 @@ available updates.\
       };
 
       let updates = await async.mapLimit(packages, 10, getLatestVersionOrSha);
-      updates = _.filter(updates, update => (update.latestVersion != null) || (update.sha != null));
+      updates = updates.filter(update => (update.latestVersion != null) || (update.sha != null));
       updates.sort((updateA, updateB) => updateA.pack.name.localeCompare(updateB.pack.name));
       return updates;
     }
diff --git a/src/view.js b/src/view.js
index ec99bb07..e169d095 100644
--- a/src/view.js
+++ b/src/view.js
@@ -68,30 +68,29 @@ View information about a package/theme.\
       }
     }
 
-    getPackage(packageName, options) {
+    async getPackage(packageName, options) {
       const requestSettings = {
         url: `${config.getAtomPackagesUrl()}/${packageName}`,
         json: true
       };
-      return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
-        request.get(requestSettings, (error, response, body) => {
-          body ??= {};
-          if (error != null) {
-            return void reject(error);
-          }
-          if (response.statusCode !== 200) {
-            const message = body.message ?? body.error ?? body;
-            return void reject(`Requesting package failed: ${message}`);
-          }
+        
+      const response = await request.get(requestSettings);
+      const body = response.body ?? {};
+      if (response.statusCode !== 200) {
+        const message = body.message ?? body.error ?? body;
+        throw `Requesting package failed: ${message}`;
+      }
 
-          this.getLatestCompatibleVersion(body, options).then(version => {
-            const {name, readme, downloads, stargazers_count} = body;
-            const metadata = body.versions?.[version] ?? {name};
-            const pack = _.extend({}, metadata, {readme, downloads, stargazers_count});
-            resolve(pack);
-          });
-        });
-      });
+      const version = await this.getLatestCompatibleVersion(body, options);
+      const {name, readme, downloads, stargazers_count} = body;
+      const metadata = body.versions?.[version] ?? {name};
+      const pack = {
+        ...metadata,
+        readme,
+        downloads,
+        stargazers_count
+      };
+      return pack;
     }
 
     async run(options) {