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Angular Migration to 16

3.50/5 (2 votes)
17 May 2023CPOL4 min read 23K  
Angular migration to version 16
Angular migration to version 16 brings several benefits and new features. One of the most significant changes in version 16 is the developer preview of Angular CLI's new builders based on esbuild. This new architecture can significantly improve build times in many scenarios. Additionally, version 16 introduces a new provider called DestroyRef, which allows for registering destroy callbacks for a specific lifecycle scope. This feature is applicable to components, directives, pipes, embedded views, and instances of EnvironmentInjector. Overall, upgrading to version 16 can improve the performance and functionality of Angular applications.

A Comprehensive Guide on Upgrading Your Project

Angular, a popular front-end web development framework, is known for its frequent updates, providing developers with new features and improvements. With the release of Angular 16, it's essential to ensure your project is up-to-date and compatible with the latest version. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of migrating your Angular project from version 2 to 16 using the Angular CLI, TypeScript packages, NPM, and jQuery.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction to Angular Migration
  2. Preparing for the Migration
  3. Upgrading Angular CLI
  4. Handling TypeScript Packages
  5. Managing NPM Dependencies
  6. Integrating jQuery
  7. Versioning and Configuration
  8. Updating Environment Settings
  9. Running the Migration
  10. Post-Migration Steps
  11. History

Introduction to Angular Migration

Angular migration involves upgrading an Angular project from an older version to the latest version. This process is vital as it helps developers take advantage of new features, bug fixes, and performance improvements introduced in the latest Angular version. Migrating to Angular 16 from previous versions can be a challenging task, but with the help of the Angular CLI, TypeScript packages, NPM, and jQuery, you can smoothly upgrade your project.

Preparing for the Migration

Before starting the migration process, it's essential to backup your project and ensure that your current Angular application is functioning correctly. You should also familiarize yourself with the Angular update process, versioning, and package management using Angular CLI, TypeScript, NPM, and jQuery.

Backup Your Project

  • Create a copy of your project folder and store it in a safe location.
  • Commit your changes to a version control system like Git.

Test Your Application

  • Run your application and ensure that it is working correctly.
  • Fix any bugs or issues that you encounter.

Familiarize Yourself with the Update Process

  • Read the official Angular update guide and release notes for each version between your current version and Angular 16.
  • Understand the breaking changes, new features, and improvements introduced in each version.

Upgrading Angular CLI

Angular CLI is a command-line interface for Angular applications that simplifies the development process. To upgrade your Angular CLI to the latest version, follow these steps:

  1. Uninstall the existing global Angular CLI package:
    JavaScript
    npm uninstall -g @angular/cli
  2. Clear the NPM cache:
    JavaScript
    npm cache clean --force
  3. Install the latest global Angular CLI package:
    JavaScript
    npm install -g @angular/cli@latest
  4. Update your local project's Angular CLI:
    JavaScript
    ng update @angular/cli

Handling TypeScript Packages

TypeScript is the primary programming language used in Angular applications. To ensure compatibility with Angular 16, you'll need to update your TypeScript packages:

  1. Update the TypeScript package to the latest compatible version:
    JavaScript
    npm install typescript@latest --save-dev 
  2. Update the @types packages for TypeScript:
    JavaScript
    npm install @types/node@latest @types/jasmine@latest --save-dev
  3. Update the Angular-specific TypeScript packages:
    JavaScript
    npm install @angular-devkit/build-angular@latest 
    @angular/compiler-cli@latest @angular/language-service@latest --save-dev 

Managing NPM Dependencies

NPM (Node Package Manager) is essential for managing dependencies in Angular applications. To update your project's NPM dependencies, use the following commands:

JavaScript
npm install rxjs@latest rxjs-compat@latest --save
  1. Update the core Angular packages:
    JavaScript
    npm install @angular/animations@latest @angular/common@latest 
    @angular/compiler@latest 
    @angular/core@latest @angular/forms@latest @angular/http@latest 
    @angular/platform-browser@latest 
    @angular/platform-browser-dynamic@latest 
    @angular/platform-server@latest @angular/router@latest --save 
  2. Update the RxJS package:
  3. Update other essential dependencies:
    JavaScript
    npm install core-js@latest zone.js@latest --save

Integrating jQuery

jQuery is a popular JavaScript library that simplifies DOM manipulation and event handling. If your project uses jQuery, follow these steps to integrate it with your Angular 16 application:

  1. Install the jQuery package:
    JavaScript
    npm install jquery@latest --save
  2. Install the @types/jquery package for TypeScript:
    JavaScript
    npm install @types/jquery@latest --save-dev
  3. Update your angular.json file to include the jQuery script:
    JavaScript
    "scripts": [
      "node_modules/jquery/dist/jquery.min.js"
    ]

Versioning and Configuration

Angular versioning follows the Semantic Versioning (SemVer) model, which includes major, minor, and patch releases. To properly configure your Angular 16 application, follow these steps:

  1. Update your package.json file to specify the Angular 16 version:
    JavaScript
    "dependencies": {
      "@angular/core": "^16.0.0",
      ...
    },
    "devDependencies": {
      "@angular/cli": "^16.0.0",
      ...
    }
  2. Review the angular.json file and ensure it adheres to the latest Angular 16 configuration schema.

  3. Update your project's configuration files (e.g., tsconfig.json, tslint.json) to comply with Angular 16 standards.

Updating Environment Settings

Environment settings in Angular applications are crucial for managing different configurations. To update your environment settings for Angular 16, follow these steps:

  1. Review your src/environments/environment.ts and src/environments/environment.prod.ts files.

  2. Update any deprecated or changed configuration settings according to the Angular 16 documentation.

  3. Ensure your environment variables are correctly referenced throughout your application.

Running the Migration

After completing the above steps, you're ready to run the Angular migration process. Use the Angular CLI command ng update to perform the migration:

ng update @angular/core

This command will update your project to Angular 16 and apply any necessary code transformations.

Post-Migration Steps

Once the migration process is complete, it's essential to perform the following post-migration steps:

  1. Test your application to ensure it's functioning correctly with Angular 16.

  2. Fix any issues or bugs that may have arisen during the migration process.

  3. Review your project's dependencies and ensure that they are compatible with Angular 16.

  4. Update your project's documentation to reflect the changes made during the migration process.

By following this comprehensive guide, you can successfully migrate your Angular project from version 2 to 16 using Angular CLI, TypeScript packages, NPM, and jQuery. Make sure to keep track of future Angular updates and continue to refine your application to take advantage of new features and improvements.

History

  • 17th May, 2023: Initial version

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)