v12.1.0

Added

• auto-detect special node flags node --eval and node --print when call .parse() with no arguments (#2164)

Changed

• prefix require of Node.js core modules with node: (#2170)
• format source files with Prettier (#2180)
• switch from StandardJS to directly calling ESLint for linting (#2153)
• extend security support for previous major version of Commander (#2150)

Removed

• removed unimplemented Option.fullDescription from TypeScript definition (#2191)

v12.0.0

Added

• .addHelpOption() as another way of configuring built-in help option (#2006)
• .helpCommand() for configuring built-in help command (#2087)

Fixed

• Breaking: use non-zero exit code when spawned executable subcommand terminates due to a signal (#2023)
• Breaking: check passThroughOptions constraints when using .addCommand and throw if parent command does not have .enablePositionalOptions() enabled (#1937)

Changed

• Breaking: Commander 12 requires Node.js v18 or higher (#2027)
• Breaking: throw an error if add an option with a flag which is already in use (#2055)
• Breaking: throw an error if add a command with name or alias which is already in use (#2059)
• Breaking: throw error when calling .storeOptionsAsProperties() after setting an option value (#1928)
• replace non-standard JSDoc of @api private with documented @private (#1949)
• .addHelpCommand() now takes a Command (passing string or boolean still works as before but deprecated) (#2087)
• refactor internal implementation of built-in help option (#2006)
• refactor internal implementation of built-in help command (#2087)

Deprecated

• .addHelpCommand() passing string or boolean (use .helpCommand() or pass a Command) (#2087)

Removed

• Breaking: removed default export of a global Command instance from CommonJS (use the named program export instead) (#2017)

Migration Tips

global program

If you are using the deprecated default import of the global Command object, you need to switch to using a named import (or create a new Command).

// const program = require('commander');
const { program } = require('commander');

option and command clashes

A couple of configuration problems now throw an error, which will pick up issues in existing programs:

• adding an option which uses the same flag as a previous option
• adding a command which uses the same name or alias as a previous command

v12.0.0-1

Added

• .addHelpOption() as another way of configuring built-in help option (#2006)
• .helpCommand() for configuring built-in help command (#2087)

Changed

• .addHelpCommand() now takes a Command (passing string or boolean still works as before but deprecated) (#2087)
• refactor internal implementation of built-in help option (#2006)
• refactor internal implementation of built-in help command (#2087)

Deprecated

• .addHelpCommand() passing string or boolean (use .helpCommand() or pass a Command) (#2087)

v12.0.0-0 Prerelease

Fixed

• Breaking: use non-zero exit code when spawned executable subcommand terminates due to a signal (#2023)
• Breaking: check passThroughOptions constraints when using .addCommand and throw if parent command does not have .enablePositionalOptions() enabled (#1937)

Changed

• Breaking: Commander 12 requires Node.js v18 or higher (#2027)
• Breaking: throw an error if add an option with a flag which is already in use (#2055)
• Breaking: throw an error if add a command with name or alias which is already in use (#2059)
• Breaking: throw error when calling .storeOptionsAsProperties() after setting an option value (#1928)
• replace non-standard JSDoc of @api private with documented @private (#1949)

Removed

• Breaking: removed default export of a global Command instance from CommonJS (use the named program export instead) (#2017)

Migration Tips

global program

If you are using the deprecated default import of the global Command object, you need to switch to using a named import (or create a new Command).

// const program = require('commander');
const { program } = require('commander');

option and command clashes

A couple of configuration problems now throw an error, which will pick up issues in existing programs:

• adding an option which uses the same flag as a previous option
• adding a command which uses the same name or alias as a previous command

v11.1.0

Fixed

• TypeScript: update OptionValueSource to allow any string, to match supported use of custom sources (#1983)
• TypeScript: add that Command.version() can also be used as getter (#1982)
• TypeScript: add null return type to Commands.executableDir(), for when not configured (#1965)
• subcommands with an executable handler and only a short help flag are now handled correctly by the parent's help command (#1930)

Added

• registeredArguments property on Command with the array of defined Argument (like Command.options for Option) (#2010)
• TypeScript declarations for Option properties: envVar, presetArg (#2019)
• TypeScript declarations for Argument properties: argChoices, defaultValue, defaultValueDescription (#2019)
• example file which shows how to configure help to display any custom usage in the list of subcommands (#1896)

Changed

• (developer) refactor TypeScript configs for multiple use-cases, and enable checks in JavaScript files in supporting editors (#1969)

Deprecated

• Command._args was private anyway, but now available as registeredArguments (#2010)

v11.0.0

Fixed

• help command works when help option is disabled (#1864)

Changed

• leading and trailing spaces are now ignored by the .arguments() method (#1874)
• refine "types" exports for ESM to follow TypeScript guidelines (#1886)
• Breaking: Commander 11 requires Node.js v16 or higher

v10.0.1

Added

• improvements to documentation (#1858, #1859, #1860)

Fixed

• remove unused Option.optionFlags property from TypeScript definition (#1844)

Changed

• assume boolean option intended if caller passes string instead of hash to .implies() (#1854)

v10.0.0

Added

• wrap command description in help (#1804)

Changed

• Breaking: Commander 10 requires Node.js v14 or higher

v9.5.0

Added

• .getOptionValueSourceWithGlobals() (#1832)
• showGlobalOptions for .configureHelp{} and Help (#1828)

v9.4.1

Fixed

• .setOptionValue() now also clears option source (#1795)
• TypeScript: add implied to OptionValueSource for option values set by using .implies() (#1794)
• TypeScript : add undefined to return type of .getOptionValueSource() (#1794)

Changed

• additions to README