Changes/NodeJS6x

Node.js 6.x

Summary

Fedora 25 will be updated to Node.js 6.x, the latest LTS release of the platform built on Chrome's JavaScript runtime for easily building fast, scalable network applications.

Owner

• Name: Stephen Gallagher
• Email: sgallagh@redhat.com
• Release notes owner:

Current status

• Targeted release: Fedora 25
• Last updated: 2016-07-21
• Tracker bug:

Detailed Description

Node.js has seen many changes between v4.x and v6.x. [There is a listing of changes documented on the wiki for [5.x and 6.x Note that this release includes API updates that may require dependency updates.

Upstream maintains an exhaustive list of interesting changes here.

These are just some of the changes you can find in this release of v5.x, and it's thanks to the hard work of the community and the members of team curating Node.js.

Node.js 6.x will be under active development until October 2016, at which time it will enter its long-term stable release, which will be maintained actively through April 2018 (after the expected release of Fedora 27) and for security issues for another year after that.

Benefit to Fedora

Developers of Node.js applications who use Fedora and community members who package Node.js software for Fedora benefits from the new features and stability improvements in this release. Furthermore, it promotes Fedora's "First" Foundation, by being one of the first distributions to ship this new LTS release.

Scope

• Proposal owners:
  • Update nodejs
  • Rebuild all binary modules, apply patches as necessary

• Other developers:
  • Other Node.js packagers' attention may be required if the update causes issues for their packages.

• Release engineering: N/A

• Policies and guidelines:
  • No expected changes

• Trademark approval: N/A (not needed for this Change)

Upgrade/compatibility impact

Node.js 6.x breaks compatibility in a limited number of cases, which may affect third-party software. (See the Detailed Description above.) Due to the fact that 6.x is will be a long-term stable release by upstream, we expect these to be of minimal impact and third-parties to adapt to support it.

How To Test

Run your favorite Node.js applications and make sure they still work.

User Experience

There are no changes for end users of applications that use Node.js. There are limited changes for programmers, as stated in the Detailed Description above.

Dependencies

N/A (not a System Wide Change)

Contingency Plan

• Contingency mechanism: Bump epoch and revert to nodejs 4.x LTS (which will continue to be supported for security updates only through April 2018). Note: this contingency mechanism will be considered an absolute last resort, as downgrading to 4.x may require considerably more effort (including a mass-rebuild) than would be worthwhile.
• Contingency deadline: Beta Freeze
• Blocks release? N/A (not a System Wide Change), Yes/No
• Blocks product? N/A

Documentation

• Upstream release announcements
• API changes in 5.x
• API changes in 6.x

Release Notes

Fedora 25 features Node.js 6, the latest long-term stable version of the platform built on Chrome's JavaScript runtime for easily building fast, scalable network applications. Developers may notice several API changes.