fs-extra is a popular Node.js package that extends the built-in fs module with powerful and convenient file system methods. Version 4.0.0 arrived a few months after version 3.0.1, bringing with it some subtle but potentially important changes for developers relying on this utility. Both versions share the same core purpose: simplifying file system operations like creating directories recursively (mkdir -p), copying files recursively (cp -r), and removing directories recursively (rm -rf). They also maintain the same dependencies for core functionality.
The key differences lie primarily in the development dependencies, indicating changes in the tooling and testing environment. Most notably, the semver and standard-markdown dev dependencies have been updated in 4.0.0. standard-markdown jumps from version 2.3.0 to 4.0.1, which likely reflects updates to the style and formatting conventions enforced during development. Package semver is added with version 5.3.0. These updates, while not directly impacting the core functionality, suggest improvements in code quality, consistency, and maintainability, particularly around markdown documentation. For developers, this translates to a more robust and reliable library with better-documented features. Upgrading to version 4.0.0 ensures you're benefiting from these improvements and aligning with the latest development practices within the fs-extra ecosystem. The releaseDate differs. Version 4.0.0 has 2017-07-14T17:48:43.694Z and version 3.0.1 has 2017-05-04T23:48:44.995Z.
The are not vulnerabilities for the version 4.0.0 of the package fs-extra