Hey everyone! I’m working on a new library and I’m a bit confused about versioning. My library is currently at version 0.x. I’ve noticed that NPM treats the minor version differently for 0.x versions when using the caret for dependencies. It seems like I need to use the patch version for backwards compatible changes. Is this the right way to do it? I’m not sure if I should stick with this or change my approach. Any advice would be really helpful! Thanks in advance for your input.
You’re right about NPM treating 0.x versions differently. In my experience, it’s best to stick with this approach while your library is in its early stages. I’ve found that using the patch version for backwards compatible changes during the 0.x phase helps maintain stability for early adopters.
Once your library reaches a more stable state and a 1.0 release, you can transition to the conventional semver method. This change provides increased flexibility and clarity in version management. Clearly documenting your versioning strategy in your README can help avoid confusion, and tools like np or semantic-release have proven very useful in managing releases.
yeah, ur right about npm’s quirk with 0.x versions. it’s a bit confusing at first, but it makes sense for new libraries. stick with patch versions for backwards-compatible stuff until u hit 1.0. just remember to document ur approach clearly so users know what to expect. good luck with ur project!
I’ve dealt with this exact issue before. Sticking to the 0.x versioning approach is actually a good practice for new libraries. It signals to users that your API might still undergo significant changes. Using patch versions for backwards-compatible updates during this phase is sensible.
However, don’t rush to 1.0. Take your time to refine the API and gather feedback. Once you’re confident in the stability, make the jump to 1.0 and follow standard semver. This transition usually coincides with a feature-complete, well-tested state of your library.
Remember to communicate your versioning strategy clearly in your documentation. It’ll save both you and your users a lot of headaches down the line.