Version Details and Security Vulnerabilities

Webpack Manifest Plugin versions 5.0.0 and 4.1.1 share the primary function of generating asset manifests for Webpack projects, aiding in efficient asset management and deployment. Both rely on tapable and webpack-sources as core dependencies. However, key differences in their development dependencies and peer dependencies highlight distinct supported environments and newer tooling integrations.

Version 5.0.0 upgrades the required webpack version from 4.44.2 to ^5.47.0 in peerDependencies, signifying compatibility solely with Webpack 5. This is a crucial update for developers using the latest Webpack features and optimizations. This version includes upgrades to @types/webpack from 4.41.26 to ^5.28.0. Developers migrating to v5 should note this Webpack 5 focus. The removal of css-loader and extract-text-webpack-plugin suggests evolution in the plugin's internal asset handling or reliance on Webpack 5's built-in capabilities. Both versions share many of the same devDependencies, providing an insight into similar testing and code quality tools such as ava, prettier, typescript, eslint-config-shellscape, @commitlint/* and others.

For developers evaluating which version to use, the decision hinges primarily on their Webpack version. If sticking with Webpack 4, version 4.1.1 is the correct choice. Those using Webpack 5 should choose version 5.0.0 to leverage full compatibility and access potential performance improvements and features aligned with the newer Webpack ecosystem. Always review the plugin's official documentation and migration guides when upgrading to ensure a smooth transition and understanding of any breaking changes or configuration adjustments needed.