Why you should use package-lock.json

The article explains the significance and usage of package-lock.json in conjunction with the NPM CLI to manage dependencies in JavaScript projects. Introduced in NPM version 5, package-lock.json ensures that all developers working on the same project have an identical dependency tree, which mitigates issues that arise from semantic versioning ambiguities. Unlike the deprecated shrinkwrap, package-lock.json is not published to NPM, making it ideal for unpublished projects. Committing it to version control systems allows teams to replicate previous dependency states accurately. The article advises using npm ci for installing dependencies without altering package-lock.json, while npm install and npm update modify both package.json and package-lock.json based on dependency changes. It underscores the importance of regularly updating dependencies to prevent technical debt and recommends using tools like dependabot for consistent updates.