Manage major dependency version upgrades with compatibility analysis, staged rollout, and comprehensive testing. Use when upgrading framework versions, updating major dependencies, or managing breaking changes in libraries.
# 1. Identify current versions
npm list --depth=0
# 2. Check for breaking changes
# Read CHANGELOG.md and MIGRATION.md
# 3. Create upgrade plan
echo "Upgrade order:
1. TypeScript
2. React
3. React Router
4. Testing libraries
5. Build tools" > UPGRADE_PLAN.md
Phase 2: Incremental Updates
# Don't upgrade everything at once!
# Step 1: Update TypeScript
npm install typescript@latest
# Test
npm run test
npm run build
# Step 2: Update React (one major version at a time)
npm install react@17 react-dom@17
# Test again
npm run test
# Step 3: Continue with other packages
npm install react-router-dom@6
# And so on...
Phase 3: Validation
// tests/compatibility.test.js
describe('Dependency Compatibility', () => {
it('should have compatible React versions', () => {
const reactVersion = require('react/package.json').version;
const reactDomVersion = require('react-dom/package.json').version;
expect(reactVersion).toBe(reactDomVersion);
});
it('should not have peer dependency warnings', () => {
// Run npm ls and check for warnings
});
});
Breaking Change Handling
Identifying Breaking Changes
# Use changelog parsers
npx changelog-parser react 16.0.0 17.0.0
# Or manually check
curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/facebook/react/main/CHANGELOG.md
Upgrade Incrementally: One major version at a time
Test Thoroughly: Unit, integration, E2E tests
Check Peer Dependencies: Resolve conflicts early
Use Lock Files: Ensure reproducible installs
Automate Updates: Use Renovate or Dependabot
Monitor: Watch for runtime errors post-upgrade
Document: Keep upgrade notes
Upgrade Checklist
Pre-Upgrade:
- [ ] Review current dependency versions
- [ ] Read changelogs for breaking changes
- [ ] Create feature branch
- [ ] Backup current state (git tag)
- [ ] Run full test suite (baseline)
During Upgrade:
- [ ] Upgrade one dependency at a time
- [ ] Update peer dependencies
- [ ] Fix TypeScript errors
- [ ] Update tests if needed
- [ ] Run test suite after each upgrade
- [ ] Check bundle size impact
Post-Upgrade:
- [ ] Full regression testing
- [ ] Performance testing
- [ ] Update documentation
- [ ] Deploy to staging
- [ ] Monitor for errors
- [ ] Deploy to production
Common Pitfalls
Upgrading all dependencies at once
Not testing after each upgrade
Ignoring peer dependency warnings
Forgetting to update lock file
Not reading breaking change notes
Skipping major versions
Not having rollback plan
Limitations
Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.