How do I update devDependencies in NPM?

Question

npm update seems to just update the packages in dependencies, but what about devDependencies.

Right now you can install

Answer 1

This problem does no longer excise with the current version of NPM (1.3.11).

Update works fine with: npm update

Answer 2

If you are using outdated npm version it might be the problem. So before any other commands execute:

sudo npm install npm -g

or (if above doesn't work):

sudo npm update npm -g

Then relaunch the console (in order for changes to take effect). Now you can check your new npm --version and if it is up to date execute:

npm update

or (if you prefer):

npm update --save-dev

Answer 3

One (slow) way to do force the update, is to remove the node_modules directory, and then do npm install again.

This was a known bug of the npm update command, which has been fixed on the development branch of npm, see here: https://github.com/isaacs/npm/pull/3863

It should land on the latest stable version of npm pretty soon.

Answer 4

To update package.json in addition to the local modules, run

npm update --save-dev

Alternatively, the same command to save time

npm update -D

You can view the full detail of update, or any command for that matter through

npm help <cmd>

Answer 5

What worked for me is installing individual dev dependencies like this

npm install react-test-renderer@15.6.1 --save --only=dev

Answer 6

Install npm-check-updates (https://www.npmjs.org/package/npm-check-updates), then jump into your project folder and run:

npm-check-updates

And to update and save changes to your package.json file:

npm-check-updates -u