Managing Angular CLI: Installation, Uninstallation, and Upgrades

The Angular Command Line Interface (CLI) is a powerful tool for building, testing, and deploying Angular applications. However, managing the Angular CLI can be challenging, especially when it comes to installation, uninstallation, and upgrades. In this tutorial, we will cover the essential steps for managing the Angular CLI.

Installing Angular CLI

To install the Angular CLI globally on your system, use the following command:

npm install -g @angular/cli

This command installs the latest version of the Angular CLI available in the npm registry.

Uninstalling Angular CLI

If you need to uninstall the Angular CLI, use the following command:

npm uninstall -g @angular/cli

After uninstalling, it’s a good practice to clean the npm cache using the following command:

npm cache verify

For older versions of npm (prior to version 5), you may need to use npm cache clean --force instead.

Upgrading Angular CLI

To upgrade the Angular CLI to the latest version, first uninstall the existing version:

npm uninstall -g @angular/cli

Then, install the latest version:

npm install -g @angular/cli@latest

You can verify the installed version using the following command:

ng version

Troubleshooting Tips

• If you encounter issues with the Angular CLI, try removing any existing ng versions and reinstalling.
• On Windows, make sure to run the commands in an administrator prompt. On Mac or Linux, use sudo if necessary.
• If you’re using a version of npm greater than 5, use npm cache verify instead of npm cache clean --force.
• In some cases, it may be necessary to remove environment variables related to Node.js and npm, as well as delete the node_modules folder in your user directory.

Best Practices

• Regularly update your Angular CLI version to take advantage of new features and bug fixes.
• Use a version manager like nvm (Node Version Manager) to manage multiple versions of Node.js and npm on your system.
• Keep your npm cache clean to avoid conflicts with different package versions.

By following these steps and tips, you can effectively manage the Angular CLI and ensure a smooth development experience for your Angular applications.