I’ve been struggling with updating my development packages in NPM. When I run the standard update command, it only seems to handle the regular dependencies section of my package.json file. The devDependencies section gets completely ignored.
I know I can install all the dev packages fresh by running the install command with a dot parameter, but the same approach doesn’t work when trying to update them to newer versions.
Is there a specific flag or different command I should be using to update only the development dependencies? I want to keep my dev tools current without affecting the main project dependencies.
Same issue here - npm ci --only=dev works but delete node_modules first. Annoying but forces a clean install of just dev dependencies. Or try npm install --only=dev to refresh everything without nuking the folder.
You’re finding that the standard npm update command only updates your project’s dependencies, leaving your devDependencies untouched. You want to update your development tools (like linters, test frameworks, or build tools) without affecting your main application dependencies. Manually running npm install . updates everything, but this isn’t ideal for selectively updating only development dependencies to the latest versions.
Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):
npm update (without additional flags) prioritizes updating packages listed in the dependencies section of your package.json file. These are the core packages required for your application to run. devDependencies, on the other hand, are only needed for development tasks (testing, building, linting, etc.). npm keeps these separate to ensure that changes to your development workflow don’t inadvertently affect your production code. While you can force an update of everything using npm install ., it’s not precise and risks introducing unintended changes to your production dependencies. A more controlled approach is needed to manage your devDependencies independently.
Step-by-Step Guide:
The most efficient way to update only your development dependencies is to leverage npm’s built-in capabilities. This approach avoids manual intervention and reduces the risk of errors.
Check for Outdated Packages: Before updating, identify which devDependencies need updating. Run this command in your project’s root directory:
npm outdated --dev
This will show you a list of outdated packages, their current versions, and the latest available versions. This allows for targeted updates rather than blindly updating everything.
Update Dev Dependencies: Once you’ve identified the packages to update, use the following command to update them to their latest compatible versions, adhering to the version ranges specified in your package.json:
npm update --dev
This command will update your devDependencies to the newest versions allowed by your package.json’s semver ranges. This helps to minimize the risk of breaking changes.
(Optional) Upgrade to the Absolute Latest Versions: If you want to upgrade to the very latest versions, even if they’re outside the ranges specified in your package.json, you’ll need to specify the packages individually. This is generally less safe but can be useful when you know exactly what you’re doing and are ready to address potential breaking changes. For example, to upgrade eslint to the absolute latest version:
npm install --save-dev eslint@latest
Repeat this step for each devDependency you want to upgrade to the absolute latest version.
Verify the Updates: After running the update commands, double-check that your package.json and package-lock.json (or npm-shrinkwrap.json) files reflect the changes. Ensure that your development tools are running the expected versions. Run your build processes and tests to catch any potential conflicts early.
Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:
Semver Incompatibilities: Updating packages to the latest versions might introduce breaking changes due to semantic versioning (semver) issues. Always test thoroughly after updating.
Conflicting Dependencies: Ensure that your updated devDependencies do not conflict with each other or your dependencies. A thorough test suite is crucial here.
Incorrect Package Names: Double-check that you have typed the package names correctly in all commands. Typos can lead to unintended consequences.
Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!
Just dealt with this on a Node.js project when my linting tools got outdated. Use npm update --save-dev - it’ll update your devDependencies to the latest versions within your package.json ranges. Want to see what’s outdated first? Run npm outdated --dev. Shows you what’s available without changing anything. Here’s what tripped me up - if you need versions beyond your current ranges, you’ll have to reinstall with npm install package-name@latest --save-dev. The update command won’t jump major versions on its own. I update devDependencies way more often than production deps since they don’t mess with your app’s runtime.
You’ll want npm update --dev or npm upgrade --save-dev depending on what you’re trying to do.
To update existing devDependencies to their latest compatible versions (following semver ranges in package.json): npm update --dev
To upgrade to the absolute latest versions and update package.json with new version numbers: npm install --save-dev package-name@latest
Honestly though, updating packages manually gets old fast. I automated this whole thing because doing it by hand was eating up way too much time.
I built a workflow that checks for outdated packages, runs tests after updates, and creates pull requests automatically. Takes about 5 minutes to set up and saves hours every month.
The automation handles regular dependencies and dev dependencies separately, so you can update dev tools without touching production packages. It also rolls back automatically if tests fail after an update.
You’re trying to update your development dependencies (devDependencies) in your Node.js project using npm update, but it’s only updating your production dependencies (dependencies). You want to update your development tools (like linters, test frameworks, or build tools) without affecting your main application dependencies.
Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):
npm update (without additional flags) prioritizes updating packages listed in the dependencies section of your package.json file. These are the core packages required for your application to run. devDependencies, on the other hand, are only needed for development tasks (testing, building, linting, etc.). npm keeps these separate to ensure that changes to your development workflow don’t inadvertently affect your production code.
Step-by-Step Guide:
Check for Outdated Packages: Before updating, identify which devDependencies need updating. Run this command in your project’s root directory:
npm outdated --dev
This will show you a list of outdated packages, their current versions, and the latest available versions. This allows for targeted updates rather than blindly updating everything.
Update Dev Dependencies: Use the following command to update your devDependencies to their latest compatible versions, adhering to the version ranges specified in your package.json:
npm update --only=dev
This command will update your devDependencies to the newest versions allowed by your package.json’s semver ranges. This helps minimize the risk of breaking changes. This is preferable to npm update --dev as it explicitly states only dev dependencies should be updated.
(Optional) Upgrade to the Absolute Latest Versions: If you want to upgrade to the very latest versions, even if they’re outside the ranges specified in your package.json, you’ll need to specify the packages individually. This is generally less safe but can be useful when you know exactly what you’re doing and are ready to address potential breaking changes. For example, to upgrade eslint to the absolute latest version:
npm install --save-dev eslint@latest
Repeat this step for each devDependency you want to upgrade to the absolute latest version.
Verify the Updates: After running the update commands, double-check that your package.json and package-lock.json (or npm-shrinkwrap.json) files reflect the changes. Ensure that your development tools are running the expected versions. Run your build processes and tests to catch any potential conflicts early.
Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:
Semver Incompatibilities: Updating packages to the latest versions might introduce breaking changes due to semantic versioning (semver) issues. Always test thoroughly after updating.
Conflicting Dependencies: Ensure that your updated devDependencies do not conflict with each other or your dependencies. A thorough test suite is crucial here.
Incorrect Package Names: Double-check that you have typed the package names correctly in all commands. Typos can lead to unintended consequences.
Caching Issues: Sometimes npm’s cache can cause problems. Try running npm cache clean --force before retrying the update.
Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!
Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):
Step-by-Step Guide:
Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:
Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!