To check if any module in a project is 'old': npm outdated ' outdated ' will check every module defined in file package.json and see if there is a newer version in the NPM registry. For example, say xml2js 0.2.6 (located in folder [node_modules] 3 in the current project) is outdated, because a newer version exists (0.2.7). You would see: xml2js@0.2.7 node_modules/xml2js current=0.2.6 To update all dependencies, if you are confident this is desirable: npm update Or, to update a single dependency, such as xml2js : npm update xml2js To update package.json version numbers, append the --save flag: npm update --save

Context: We need to integrate the Karma test runner into TeamCity , and for that, I'd like to give systems engineers a small script (PowerShell or whatever) that would: pick up the desired version number from some configuration file (I guess I can put it as a comment right in the karma.conf.js file) check if the defined version of Karma runner installed in npm's global repository if it's not, or the installed version is older than desired: pick up and install the right version run it: