Using caret range and package-lock.json to acquire the most recent non-disruptive versions

I understand the purpose of package-lock.json, but I'm unsure about how the caret range works after adding this file.

Let's say I have a package called my-module and I want to automatically receive all new non-breaking versions without manually specifying them. When I install the latest version, my package.json file shows:

"my-module": "^4.1.1"

However, every time I update my-module, both the version in package.json and in package-lock.json change to reflect this fixed version.

When a new version like 4.1.2 of my-module becomes available, running npm i will not update it because the version is locked in the package-lock.json.

Question

How can I ensure that npm i always downloads the latest non-breaking version of my-module without constantly creating a new package-lock.json file? Does the use of a caret range invalidate its purpose?

javascriptnpmpackage-lock.json

Answer №1

We brainstormed the concept of utilizing the preinstall feature within the package.json file.

To implement this, simply add the following line under the scripts section in your package.json file: "preinstall": "npm update".

By using npm update, only the packages impacted by the caret range syntax will be updated, allowing for the inclusion of both package-lock.json and the most recent updates.

Answer №2

Although I generally prefer not to simply copy and paste sections of documentation, I believe it is necessary to do so in order to explain why your request goes against the intended purpose of package-lock.json:

  1. package-lock.json is automatically generated whenever npm makes changes to either the node_modules tree or the package.json file.

  2. It details the exact tree that was created, ensuring that future installations can replicate the same tree structure, regardless of any updates to dependencies along the way.

When package.json is used with npm i, the outcome is a consistent node_modules directory in line with the dependencies listed in the package.json file.

This process is not always consistent each time it is run, even with the same package.json file. There are legitimate reasons behind this design choice, such as:

  • If a newer version of a directly specified semver-range package has been released since the last installation, npm will use the new version instead.

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