What's the difference between npm-check-updates and npm update?

What's the difference between npm-check-updates and npm update?

npm-check-updates is a tool that updates your package.json dependencies to the latest versions, while npm update updates the installed packages in your node_modules folder to the latest versions according to the version ranges specified in package.json.

Can you give me an example of how to use npm-check-updates?

Sure! First, install it globally using npm install -g npm-check-updates. Then, run ncu in your project directory to see which packages can be updated.

What happens if I run npm update without npm-check-updates?

If you run npm update, it will update the packages in your node_modules folder to the latest versions that match the version ranges in your package.json, but it won't change the version numbers in package.json.

Is it safe to use npm-check-updates in a production environment?

It's generally safe, but it's recommended to test updates in a staging environment first to ensure compatibility before deploying to production.