Dependency Updater Skill

Executes automated dependency updates safely with breaking change detection, rollback capability, and intelligent update batching.

Purpose

Enable safe, automated dependency updates for:

• Security patch application
• Version upgrades
• Breaking change management
• Update batching and sequencing
• Rollback coordination

Capabilities

1. Safe Update Execution

• Execute updates with validation
• Run tests after updates
• Verify build success
• Check runtime compatibility

2. Breaking Change Detection

• Analyze changelogs for breaking changes
• Detect API modifications
• Identify behavioral changes
• Flag deprecation impacts

3. Rollback Capability

• Create pre-update snapshots
• Enable quick rollback
• Preserve lockfile history
• Document rollback procedures

4. Update Batching

• Group compatible updates
• Prioritize security updates
• Sequence breaking changes
• Minimize update iterations

5. Lock File Management

• Update lockfiles consistently
• Handle peer dependencies
• Resolve version conflicts
• Maintain reproducibility

6. Changelog Parsing

• Extract version changes
• Identify migration guides
• Document upgrade steps
• Link to release notes

Tool Integrations

| Tool | Purpose | Integration Method | |------|---------|-------------------| | Dependabot | GitHub automation | API | | Renovate | Multi-platform updates | CLI / Config | | npm-check-updates | npm updates | CLI | | pyup | Python updates | CLI | | bundler-audit | Ruby updates | CLI | | go get -u | Go updates | CLI |

Output Schema

json
{
  "updateId": "string",
  "timestamp": "ISO8601",
  "updates": [
    {
      "package": "string",
      "from": "string",
      "to": "string",
      "type": "major|minor|patch|security",
      "breakingChanges": "boolean",
      "status": "applied|failed|skipped",
      "rollbackAvailable": "boolean"
    }
  ],
  "validation": {
    "testsPass": "boolean",
    "buildSuccess": "boolean",
    "runtimeChecks": "boolean"
  },
  "rollback": {
    "snapshotId": "string",
    "lockfileBackup": "string"
  }
}

Integration with Migration Processes

• dependency-analysis-updates: Update execution
• framework-upgrade: Coordinated upgrades

Related Skills

• dependency-scanner: Pre-update analysis
• vulnerability-scanner: Security prioritization

Related Agents

• dependency-modernization-agent: Update orchestration
• framework-upgrade-specialist: Framework updates