Introduction to npm-check-updates

The npm-check-updates (ncu) tool is a must-have for developers who want to keep their npm dependencies up-to-date. It upgrades your package.json dependencies to the latest versions, even those that satisfy the specified version ranges. In this guide, we will explore the powerful functionality of ncu with dozens of useful API examples.

Installation

npm install -g npm-check-updates

Basic Usage

To see which of your dependencies are out-of-date:

ncu

To upgrade your package.json with the latest versions:

ncu -u

API Examples

Here are some of the key APIs you can use with npm-check-updates.

Checking Global Packages

ncu -g

Filtering Packages

Run ncu on specific packages only:

ncu react

Ignoring Packages

Ignore specific packages when checking for updates:

ncu -x lodash,react

Target Newest Versions

Upgrade to the highest versions, even those beyond the latest to include pre-releases:

ncu --target newest

Interactive Mode

Use the interactive mode to select which updates to apply:

ncu -i

Using Custom Package File

Check upgrades for a package file other than package.json:

ncu --packageFile ./my-project/package.json

JSON Output

Output the upgrade information in JSON format:

ncu -j

Creating a More Advanced Example

Here is an example of a Node.js application with integrated npm-check-updates for automatic dependency management:

 const { exec } = require('child_process');
const updateDependencies = () => {
 console.log('Checking for updates...');
 exec('ncu -u', (err, stdout, stderr) => {
   if (err) {
     console.error(`Error: ${err}`);
     return;
   }
   console.log(`Dependency updates:\n${stdout}`);
   if(stderr) {
     console.error(`Stderr: ${stderr}`);
   } else {
     exec('npm install', (err, stdout, stderr) => {
       if (err) {
         console.error(`Error: ${err}`);
         return;
       }
       console.log(`NPM Install Output:\n${stdout}`);
       if (stderr) {
         console.error(`Stderr: ${stderr}`);
       }
     });
   }
 });
};
updateDependencies(); 

This simple script checks for updates, applies them to package.json, and installs the updated dependencies.

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