Strapi Release: 3.0.0-alpha.5.5

TL;DR

Strapi v3.0.0-alpha.5.5 focuses on dependency management improvements and bug fixes. The update removes strapi-mongoose as a core dependency, improves plugin installation, and fixes several critical path and dependency issues. This release enhances the development experience by streamlining project setup and plugin management while maintaining compatibility with Node v8 and npm >= 5.3.0.

Highlight of the Release

• Removed strapi-mongoose as a core dependency to make it project-specific
• Fixed plugin installation paths for more reliable setup
• Added automatic installation of latest available plugin versions
• Improved symlinks process for new projects
• Added --no-save option in strapi install command

Migration Guide

Migrating to v3.0.0-alpha.5.5

1. Update Strapi Core:

   npm install [email protected]
   

2. Add strapi-mongoose Explicitly: If your project relies on MongoDB, you'll need to explicitly add strapi-mongoose as a dependency:

   npm install strapi-mongoose
   

3. Check Plugin Compatibility: Ensure any custom plugins are compatible with the updated plugin installation process.

4. Verify Node and npm Versions: Confirm you're using Node v8 and npm >= 5.3.0 as required by this release.

Upgrade Recommendations

This release is recommended for all developers using Strapi alpha versions, especially those who have encountered issues with plugin installation or dependency management.

Priority: Medium

Timing: Update at your earliest convenience, particularly if you're starting new projects or experiencing plugin installation issues.

Preparation:

• Ensure you're using Node v8 and npm >= 5.3.0
• Back up your project before upgrading
• Be prepared to explicitly install strapi-mongoose if your project requires it

Bug Fixes

Missing Dependencies Added

Several missing dependencies have been identified and added to ensure proper functionality of Strapi components, particularly in the content-manager.

Path Fixes for Plugin Installation

Critical path issues that prevented proper plugin installation have been resolved, ensuring that plugins can be correctly installed and integrated into Strapi projects.

Plugin Version Management

Fixed an issue with plugin versioning to ensure that the latest available version of a plugin is installed when requested, rather than potentially outdated versions.

New Features

Load Hook Available in App Dependencies

The release introduces a load hook that's now available in the app dependencies, providing more flexibility in how dependencies are managed and loaded within Strapi applications.

New --no-save Option in Strapi Install Command

A new --no-save flag has been added to the strapi install command, giving developers more control over dependency management when installing plugins or modules.

Security Updates

No specific security fixes were included in this release.

Performance Improvements

Improved Symlinks Process

The symlinks process for new projects has been enhanced, resulting in a more efficient and reliable project setup experience. This improvement streamlines the initialization phase of new Strapi projects.

Optimized Dependency Structure

By removing strapi-mongoose as a core dependency and making it project-specific, the core package is now lighter and more focused. This change helps reduce unnecessary dependencies when using alternative database solutions.

Impact Summary

This release focuses on improving the developer experience by fixing critical issues with dependencies and plugin installation. The removal of strapi-mongoose as a core dependency represents a shift toward a more modular architecture where database connectors are added only when needed.

The fixes to plugin installation paths and version management address pain points that developers were experiencing when trying to extend their Strapi applications. These improvements make the platform more reliable and easier to work with.

The enhanced symlinks process for new projects streamlines the initial setup, reducing friction for developers starting with Strapi. Combined with the new --no-save option in the install command, developers now have more flexibility and control over their project's dependency management.

Overall, while this is an alpha release with relatively modest changes (305 changes across 32 files), it represents important groundwork for a more stable and developer-friendly Strapi ecosystem.

Full Release Notes