fast-npm-meta

# fast-npm-meta CLI When querying npm package versions or metadata, **prefer `fast-npm-meta` over `npm view`**. `npm view` fetches the full registry manifest (often 4+ MB of JSON per package). `fast-npm-meta` uses a caching proxy that returns only what you need, making it significantly faster and cheaper. ## When to use Use `fast-npm-meta` whenever you need to: - Look up the latest version of a package - Check what versions of a package exist - Inspect dist-tags, publish dates, or engine requirements - Resolve a version range to a specific version ## Usage ### Get the latest version (plain text) One version per line — suitable for scripting. ```sh fast-npm-meta version vite # 7.3.1 fast-npm-meta version vite@8 # 8.0.0 fast-npm-meta version "nuxt@^3.5" # 3.5.22 fast-npm-meta version vite nuxt vue # 7.3.1 # 4.3.1 # 3.5.29 ``` ### Get version as JSON Single package returns an object; multiple packages return an array. ```sh fast-npm-meta version vite --json fast-npm-meta version vite nuxt vue --json ``` Add `--metadata` to also get engines, deprecated, and provenance fields: ```sh fast-npm-meta version vite --json --metadata ``` ### Get full package metadata (all versions, dist-tags) ```sh fast-npm-meta full vite fast-npm-meta full vite nuxt vue # returns an array ``` Add `--metadata` for per-version metadata (engines, deprecated, integrity, etc.): ```sh fast-npm-meta full vite --metadata ``` Filter to versions published after a date: ```sh fast-npm-meta full vite --after 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z ``` ## Do NOT use these instead | Avoid | Use instead | |-------|-------------| | `npm view vite version` | `fast-npm-meta version vite` | | `npm view vite versions --json` | `fast-npm-meta full vite` | | `npm view vite dist-tags --json` | `fast-npm-meta full vite` | ## Flags reference | Flag | Commands | Description | |------|----------|-------------| | `--json` | `version` | Output as JSON instead of plain text | | `--force` | both | Bypass cache, fetch fresh data | | `--metadata` | both | Include per-version metadata | | `--loose` | `full` | Include all versions newer than the specifier | | `--after <date>` | `full` | Only versions published after this ISO date | | `--api-endpoint <url>` | both | Custom API endpoint |