[12.0.0] (2024-02-03)

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

[12.0.0-1] (2024-01-20)

(Released in 12.0.0)

[12.0.0-0] (2023-11-11)

(Released in 12.0.0)

[11.1.0] (2023-10-13)

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])

[11.0.0] (2023-06-16)

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

[10.0.1] (2023-04-15)

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])

[10.0.0] (2023-01-13)

Added

• wrap command description in help ([#1804])

Changed

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

[9.5.0] (2023-01-07)

Added

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

[9.4.1] (2022-09-30)

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

[9.4.0] (2022-07-15)

Added

• preSubcommand hook called before direct subcommands ([#1763])

Fixed

• export InvalidOptionArgumentError in esm ([#1756])

Changed

• update dependencies ([#1767])