Commander.js

Developer ToolsMIT

The command-line interface framework for Node.js.

Latest v15.0.0 · by TJ HolowaychukWritten in JavaScriptWebsitenpm · commanderRSS

Changelog grade

B

Capped at B until new features wait for a minor release

86 of 100 · 5 releases graded · See the breakdown

Release activity

Release activity — 8 releases across 4 days in the last year. Each cell is one day; darker means more releases that day. Older weeks are hidden at this screen width.
JulAugSepOct
SundayNo releases on Jun 28, 2026No releases on Jul 5, 2026No releases on Jul 12, 2026No releases on Jul 19, 2026No releases on Jul 26, 2026No releases on Aug 2, 2026No releases on Aug 9, 2026No releases on Aug 16, 2026No releases on Aug 23, 2026No releases on Aug 30, 2026No releases on Sep 6, 2026No releases on Sep 13, 2026No releases on Sep 20, 2026No releases on Sep 27, 2026No releases on Oct 4, 2026No releases on Oct 11, 2026
MondayNo releases on Jun 29, 2026No releases on Jul 6, 2026No releases on Jul 13, 2026No releases on Jul 20, 2026No releases on Jul 27, 2026No releases on Aug 3, 2026No releases on Aug 10, 2026No releases on Aug 17, 2026No releases on Aug 24, 2026No releases on Aug 31, 2026No releases on Sep 7, 2026No releases on Sep 14, 2026No releases on Sep 21, 2026No releases on Sep 28, 2026No releases on Oct 5, 2026No releases on Oct 12, 2026
TuesdayNo releases on Jun 30, 2026No releases on Jul 7, 2026No releases on Jul 14, 2026No releases on Jul 21, 2026No releases on Jul 28, 2026No releases on Aug 4, 2026No releases on Aug 11, 2026No releases on Aug 18, 2026No releases on Aug 25, 2026No releases on Sep 1, 2026No releases on Sep 8, 2026No releases on Sep 15, 2026No releases on Sep 22, 2026No releases on Sep 29, 2026No releases on Oct 6, 2026No releases on Oct 13, 2026
WednesdayNo releases on Jul 1, 2026No releases on Jul 8, 2026No releases on Jul 15, 2026No releases on Jul 22, 2026No releases on Jul 29, 2026No releases on Aug 5, 2026No releases on Aug 12, 2026No releases on Aug 19, 2026No releases on Aug 26, 2026No releases on Sep 2, 2026No releases on Sep 9, 2026No releases on Sep 16, 2026No releases on Sep 23, 2026No releases on Sep 30, 2026No releases on Oct 7, 2026No releases on Oct 14, 2026
ThursdayNo releases on Jul 2, 2026No releases on Jul 9, 2026No releases on Jul 16, 2026No releases on Jul 23, 2026No releases on Jul 30, 2026No releases on Aug 6, 2026No releases on Aug 13, 2026No releases on Aug 20, 2026No releases on Aug 27, 2026No releases on Sep 3, 2026No releases on Sep 10, 2026No releases on Sep 17, 2026No releases on Sep 24, 2026No releases on Oct 1, 2026No releases on Oct 8, 2026No releases on Oct 15, 2026
FridayNo releases on Jul 3, 2026No releases on Jul 10, 2026No releases on Jul 17, 2026No releases on Jul 24, 2026No releases on Jul 31, 2026No releases on Aug 7, 2026No releases on Aug 14, 2026No releases on Aug 21, 2026No releases on Aug 28, 2026No releases on Sep 4, 2026No releases on Sep 11, 2026No releases on Sep 18, 2026No releases on Sep 25, 2026No releases on Oct 2, 2026No releases on Oct 9, 2026No releases on Oct 16, 2026
SaturdayNo releases on Jul 4, 2026No releases on Jul 11, 2026No releases on Jul 18, 2026No releases on Jul 25, 2026No releases on Aug 1, 2026No releases on Aug 8, 2026No releases on Aug 15, 2026No releases on Aug 22, 2026No releases on Aug 29, 2026No releases on Sep 5, 2026No releases on Sep 12, 2026No releases on Sep 19, 2026No releases on Sep 26, 2026No releases on Oct 3, 2026No releases on Oct 10, 2026

8 releases in the last year, busiest day 2

Changelog

What changed from 14 to 15

v15.0.0

Latest
Added 1
  • Show excess command-arguments in error message
Changed 3
  • Migrate Commander implementation from CommonJS to ESM
  • Commander 15 requires Node.js v22.12.0 or higher
  • Switch tests from Jest to node:test test runner
Fixed 1
  • Only lone --no-* option sets default option value to true, default not implicitly set when define both positive and negative option in either order
Removed 1
  • Remove deprecated export of commander/esm.mjs

From Commander.js

Commander 15 is ESM only. This is expected to be seamless for ESM consumers, but some CommonJS consumers may hit issues with tooling requiring configuration for ESM-only dependencies. See Migration Tips below.

The release of Commander 15 moves Commander 14 into maintenance. Commander 14 will get security updates for 12 months (to May 2027). For more info see Release Policy.

Added
  • show excess command-arguments in error message (#2384)
Fixed
  • Breaking: only lone --no-* option sets default option value to true, default not implicitly set when define both positive and negative option in either order (#2405)
  • update example to use compatible character for MINGW64 (#2475)
Changed
  • Breaking: migrated Commander implementation from CommonJS to ESM (#2464)
  • Breaking: Commander 15 requires Node.js v22.12.0 or higher (for require(esm)).
  • dev: switch tests from Jest to node:test test runner (#2463)
Deleted
  • Breaking: removed deprecated export of commander/esm.mjs (#2464)
Migration Tips

Commander 15 is ESM only, but this does not mean you need to migrate to ESM to use it. Importing ESM from CommonJS is supported by Node.js, and Bun, and Deno. Hopefully it Just Works for you! However, you may be using a different runtime or some other part of your setup that may not yet natively support importing ESM from CommonJS, such as your testing framework or bundler.

If you have problems using Commander 15 in your environment, one option is stay on Commander 14 for now. Commander 14 will get security updates until May 2027 and things will hopefully improve for your setup in the meantime.

View originalPermalink
How v15.0.0 went

15.0.0

Added 1
  • Show excess command-arguments in error message
Changed 2
  • Migrate Commander implementation from CommonJS to ESM
  • Commander 15 requires Node.js v22.12.0 or higher
Fixed 1
  • Only lone `--no-*` option sets default option value to `true`, default not implicitly set when defining both positive and negative option in either order
Removed 1
  • Remove deprecated export of `commander/esm.mjs`
View originalRead the notes
How 15.0.0 went

v15.0.0-0

Pre-release
Added 1
  • Show excess command-arguments in error message
Changed 2
  • Migrated Commander implementation from CommonJS to ESM
  • Commander 15 requires Node.js v22.12.0 or higher
Fixed 1
  • Only lone --no-* option sets default option value to true, default not implicitly set when define both positive and negative option in either order
Removed 1
  • Removed deprecated export of commander/esm.mjs
View originalRead the notes
How v15.0.0-0 went

v14.0.3

Added 1
  • Release Policy document
Changed 3
  • Old major versions now supported for 12 months instead of just previous major version, to give predictable end-of-life date
  • Clarify typing for deprecated callback parameter to .outputHelp()
  • Simple readability improvements to README
View originalRead the notes
How v14.0.3 went

14.0.3

Added 1
  • Release Policy document
Changed 2
  • old major versions now supported for 12 months instead of just previous major version, to give predictable end-of-life date
  • clarify typing for deprecated callback parameter to .outputHelp()
View originalRead the notes
How 14.0.3 went

v14.0.2

Changed 2
  • improve negative number auto-detection test
  • update dev dependencies
View originalRead the notes
How v14.0.2 went

14.0.2

Changed 2
  • improve negative number auto-detection test
  • update development dependencies
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How 14.0.2 went

v14.0.1

Changed 6
  • improve code readability by using optional chaining
  • use more idiomatic code with object spread instead of Object.assign()
  • improve code readability using string.endsWith() instead of string.slice()
  • refactor .parseOptions() to process args array in-place
  • change private variadic support routines from ._concatValue() to ._collectValue()
  • update (dev) dependencies
Fixed 1
  • broken markdown link in README
View originalRead the notes
How v14.0.1 went

14.0.1

Changed 6
  • improve code readability by using optional chaining
  • use more idiomatic code with object spread instead of Object.assign()
  • improve code readability using string.endsWith() instead of string.slice()
  • refactor .parseOptions() to process args array in-place
  • change private variadic support routines from ._concatValue() to ._collectValue() (change code from array.concat() to array.push())
  • update (dev) dependencies
Fixed 1
  • broken markdown link in README
View originalRead the notes
How 14.0.1 went

v14.0.0

Added 3
  • support for groups of options and commands in the help using low-level .helpGroup() on Option and Command, and higher-level .optionsGroup() and .commandsGroup() which can be used in chaining way to specify group title for following options/commands
  • support for unescaped negative numbers as option-arguments and command-arguments
  • TypeScript: add parseArg property to Argument class
Changed 1
  • Commander 14 requires Node.js v20 or higher
Fixed 2
  • remove bogus leading space in help when option has default value but not a description
  • .configureOutput() now makes copy of settings instead of modifying in-place, fixing side-effects
View originalRead the notes
How v14.0.0 went

14.0.0

Added 3
  • Support for groups of options and commands in the help using low-level .helpGroup() on Option and Command, and higher-level .optionsGroup() and .commandsGroup() which can be used in chaining way to specify group title for following options/commands
  • Support for unescaped negative numbers as option-arguments and command-arguments
  • TypeScript: add parseArg property to Argument class
Changed 2
  • Commander 14 requires Node.js v20 or higher
  • Internal refactor of Help class adding .formatItemList() and .groupItems() methods
Fixed 2
  • Remove bogus leading space in help when option has default value but not a description
  • .configureOutput() now makes copy of settings instead of modifying in-place, fixing side-effects
View originalRead the notes
How 14.0.0 went

v13.1.0

Added 1
  • support a pair of long option flags to allow a memorable shortened flag, like `.option('--ws, --workspace')`
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How v13.1.0 went

13.1.0

Added 1
  • support a pair of long option flags to allow a memorable shortened flag, like `.option('--ws, --workspace')`
View originalRead the notes
How 13.1.0 went

v13.0.0

Added 6
  • support multiple calls to `.parse()` with default settings
  • add `.saveStateBeforeParse()` and `.restoreStateBeforeParse()` for use by subclasses
  • style routines like `styleTitle()` to add color to help using `.configureHelp()` or Help subclass
  • color related support in `.configureOutput()` for `getOutHasColors()`, `getErrHasColors()`, and `stripColor()`
  • Help property for `minWidthToWrap`
  • Help methods for `displayWidth()`, `boxWrap()`, `preformatted()` et al
Changed 4
  • excess command-arguments cause an error by default
  • throw during Option construction for unsupported option flags, like multiple characters after single `-`
  • throw on multiple calls to `.parse()` if `storeOptionsAsProperties: true`
  • TypeScript: include implicit `this` in parameters for action handler callback
Removed 1
  • `Help.wrap()` refactored into `formatItem()` and `boxWrap()`
View originalRead the notes
How v13.0.0 went

13.0.0

Added 6
  • Support multiple calls to .parse() with default settings
  • Add .saveStateBeforeParse() and .restoreStateBeforeParse() for use by subclasses
  • Add style routines like styleTitle() to add color to help using .configureHelp() or Help subclass
  • Add color related support in .configureOutput() for getOutHasColors(), getErrHasColors(), and stripColor()
  • Add Help property for minWidthToWrap
  • Add Help methods for displayWidth(), boxWrap(), preformatted() et al
Changed 4
  • Excess command-arguments cause an error by default
  • Throw during Option construction for unsupported option flags, like multiple characters after single -
  • Throw on multiple calls to .parse() if storeOptionsAsProperties: true
  • Include implicit this in parameters for action handler callback in TypeScript
Removed 1
  • Refactored Help.wrap() into formatItem() and boxWrap()
View originalRead the notes
How 13.0.0 went

v13.0.0-0

Pre-release
Added 4
  • Add style routines like styleTitle() to add color to help using .configureHelp() or Help subclass
  • Add color related support in .configureOutput() for getOutHasColors(), getErrHasColors(), and stripColor()
  • Add Help property for minWidthToWrap
  • Add Help methods for displayWidth(), boxWrap(), preformatted() et al
Changed 3
  • Excess command-arguments now cause an error by default (allowExcessArguments is now false by default)
  • Throw during Option construction for unsupported option flags, like multiple characters after single -
  • Include implicit this in parameters for action handler callback in TypeScript
Removed 1
  • Refactor Help.wrap() into formatItem() and boxWrap()
View originalRead the notes
How v13.0.0-0 went

v12.1.0

Added 1
  • Auto-detect special node flags `node --eval` and `node --print` when call `.parse()` with no arguments
Changed 4
  • Prefix require of Node.js core modules with `node:`
  • Format source files with Prettier
  • Switch from StandardJS to directly calling ESLint for linting
  • Extend security support for previous major version of Commander
Removed 1
  • Remove unimplemented Option.fullDescription from TypeScript definition
View originalRead the notes
How v12.1.0 went

12.1.0

Added 1
  • Auto-detect special node flags node --eval and node --print when calling .parse() with no arguments
Changed 4
  • Prefix require of Node.js core modules with node:
  • Format source files with Prettier
  • Switch from StandardJS to directly calling ESLint for linting
  • Extend security support for previous major version of Commander
Removed 1
  • Remove unimplemented Option.fullDescription from TypeScript definition
View originalRead the notes
How 12.1.0 went

12.0.0

Added 2
  • Add .addHelpOption() as another way of configuring built-in help option
  • Add .helpCommand() for configuring built-in help command
Changed 8
  • Commander 12 requires Node.js v18 or higher
  • Throw an error if adding an option with a flag which is already in use
  • Throw an error if adding a command with name or alias which is already in use
  • Throw error when calling .storeOptionsAsProperties() after setting an option value
  • Replace non-standard JSDoc of @api private with documented @private
  • .addHelpCommand() now takes a Command (passing string or boolean still works as before but deprecated)
  • Refactor internal implementation of built-in help option
  • Refactor internal implementation of built-in help command
Fixed 2
  • Use non-zero exit code when spawned executable subcommand terminates due to a signal
  • Check passThroughOptions constraints when using .addCommand and throw if parent command does not have .enablePositionalOptions() enabled
Removed 1
  • Remove default export of a global Command instance from CommonJS (use the named program export instead)
Deprecated 1
  • .addHelpCommand() passing string or boolean (use .helpCommand() or pass a Command)
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How 12.0.0 went

11.1.0

Added 4
  • Add registeredArguments property on Command with the array of defined Argument, like Command.options for Option
  • Add TypeScript declarations for Option properties: envVar, presetArg
  • Add TypeScript declarations for Argument properties: argChoices, defaultValue, defaultValueDescription
  • Add example file showing how to configure help to display any custom usage in the list of subcommands
Changed 1
  • Refactor TypeScript configs for multiple use-cases, and enable checks in JavaScript files in supporting editors
Fixed 4
  • Update TypeScript OptionValueSource to allow any string, to match supported use of custom sources
  • Add TypeScript type that Command.version() can also be used as getter
  • Add null return type to Commands.executableDir() TypeScript declaration, for when not configured
  • Fix subcommands with an executable handler and only a short help flag to be handled correctly by the parent's help command
Deprecated 1
  • Command._args is now available as registeredArguments
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How 11.1.0 went

11.0.0

Changed 3
  • leading and trailing spaces are now ignored by the .arguments() method
  • refine types exports for ESM to follow TypeScript guidelines
  • Commander 11 requires Node.js v16 or higher
Fixed 1
  • help command works when help option is disabled
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How 11.0.0 went

Changelog grade

How grades work
B

86 of 100 · 5 releases graded, Oct 25, 2025 to May 29, 2026

  • Capped at B until new features wait for a minor release (v14.0.3, 14.0.3)
CriterionScoreWeightWhere it fell short
Notes say what changed100%30
Version numbers40%20Partial SemVer credit: features shipped in patch releases (v14.0.3, 14.0.3)
Changes grouped by type100%20
Where the notes live88%20v15.0.0, v14.0.3
A page per release100%10

Read from: changelog file (2), release feed (3).

Grades cover the last 90 days of stable releases, or the latest 5 if there were fewer, going back up to a year. They update daily. Publishing release notes as a Declarative Changelog, with changes grouped by type, is the path to an A+.

Commander.js changelog grade badge
[![Commander.js changelog grade on whatsnew.fyi](https://whatsnew.fyi/product/commander/grade.svg)](https://whatsnew.fyi/product/commander#changelog-grade)

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