Updating Angular CLI to the Latest Version: A Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

The Angular CLI (Command Line Interface) is a powerful tool that helps developers manage and automate tasks related to Angular projects, such as creating applications, generating components, and building for production. Keeping your Angular CLI up-to-date ensures you have access to the latest features, improvements, and security updates. This tutorial will guide you through updating Angular CLI on your system.

Prerequisites

Before proceeding with the update, ensure that you have Node.js and npm (Node Package Manager) installed on your machine. You can verify their installation by running:

node -v
npm -v

If these commands do not return version numbers, install them from Node.js official website.

Step-by-Step Guide to Update Angular CLI

1. Check Current Version

   Begin by checking the current version of Angular CLI installed globally on your system:

   ng --version
   

2. Uninstall Global Angular CLI

   To ensure a clean update, uninstall the existing global installation of Angular CLI:

   npm uninstall -g @angular/cli
   

3. Clear NPM Cache (if necessary)

   Sometimes, cached data might interfere with installations. Clear your npm cache to avoid issues:

   npm cache verify  # Recommended for npm v5 and later
   

   For older versions of npm, you can use:

   npm cache clean --force
   

4. Install Latest Global Angular CLI

   Install the latest version of Angular CLI globally:

   npm install -g @angular/cli@latest
   

5. Update Local Project (if applicable)

   If you have a local project using an older version, navigate to your project directory and update Angular CLI locally:

   cd path/to/your/project
   rm -rf node_modules
   npm uninstall --save-dev @angular/cli
   npm install --save-dev @angular/cli@latest
   npm install
   

6. Update Project Configuration (for older versions)

   If you are migrating from an Angular CLI version below 7, you may need to update your project configuration:

   • Convert angular-cli.json to angular.json by running:

     ng update @angular/cli --from=1.x --migrate-only
     

7. Verify the Update

   After updating, verify the installation by checking the version again:

   ng version  # For Angular CLI 6 and later
   

8. Update Core Packages (optional)

   If you are also looking to update core Angular packages or RxJS, use the following command:

   ng update @angular/cli @angular/core
   ng update rxjs
   

   This will ensure compatibility with the latest CLI version.

Best Practices and Tips

• Back Up Your Project: Before performing any updates, especially major ones, back up your project to prevent data loss.

• Read Migration Guides: If you’re updating from a significantly older version, review Angular’s migration guides for breaking changes or additional steps needed for compatibility.

• Test Thoroughly: After updating, run tests and check your application thoroughly in different environments to ensure everything works as expected.

Conclusion

Keeping the Angular CLI updated is crucial for leveraging the latest features and improvements in Angular development. By following this guide, you can seamlessly upgrade your Angular CLI installation globally or within specific projects. Stay informed about new releases by regularly checking the Angular update guide and official Angular CLI documentation.