Say Goodbye to Angular v16 🚀

As developers, we are accustomed to moving forward with the times, and for Angular users, it’s that time again. Angular version 16 is set to retire, with official discontinuation slated for November 08, 2024. This means that Angular v16 will no longer receive any Active Support, security patches, or bug fixes beyond this date.

If you’re still using Angular v16, now is the perfect time to plan your upgrade to the latest version of Angular. This article will walk you through why upgrading is essential, what’s new in Angular’s latest versions, and how to upgrade your app to stay current.

Image taken from Google

Why Angular v16 Is Retiring

Every major framework goes through a lifecycle, and Angular is no exception. Each version receives active support, followed by a period of long-term support, and finally reaches retirement. Angular v16 has reached its end, and as of November 08, 2024, there will be no more support or updates for this version. Staying on an unsupported version means missing out on performance enhancements, new features, and essential security patches, which can expose your app to potential vulnerabilities.

Benefits of Upgrading Beyond v16

Angular’s recent versions have brought exciting features and improvements:

• Performance Enhancements: Each release optimizes Angular for faster load times and more efficient change detection.
• Enhanced Developer Experience: Improved debugging, type-checking, and error messages make development faster and smoother.
• Streamlined Dependency Injection: Better injection mechanisms provide greater flexibility.
• Future-Proofing Your App: Upgrading ensures compatibility with new tools, libraries, and Angular ecosystem enhancements.

Steps to Upgrade from Angular v16

Upgrading Angular is easier than ever with Angular CLI’s built-in update commands. Follow these steps to ensure a smooth transition.

Step 1: Check Your Current Version

Before you begin, confirm your app’s Angular version to understand what you’re upgrading from. Open a terminal in your project’s directory and run:

ng version

Step 2: Review the Angular Update Guide

Angular provides an official Update Guide to assist with each version transition. Select your current version (v16) and the target version (latest) to get specific steps and information about breaking changes.

Step 3: Upgrade Angular CLI and Core Packages

With your terminal still open, upgrade Angular CLI and core Angular packages to the latest version:

ng update @angular/core@latest @angular/cli@latest

This command installs the latest version of Angular, along with any code modifications and migrations needed to adapt to the latest standards.

Step 4: Upgrade Additional Angular Libraries

If you’re using other Angular libraries, such as Angular Material, make sure to update them too:

ng update @angular/material@latest

Step 5: Run and Test Your Application

Once the updates are complete, start your app to test for any warnings or errors that might have arisen from breaking changes. Run:

ng serve

Review the console for any issues and fix them. Refer to the Angular Update Guide if you encounter any problems.

Step 6: Refactor Code (If Needed)

Angular updates may involve deprecated code, so check for any deprecations or warnings and refactor as necessary. Use Angular’s improved type-checking and error messages to make adjustments smoothly.

Step 7: Commit and Push

Once you’ve confirmed everything works as expected, commit your changes and push them to your repository.

git add .
git commit -m "Upgrade to Angular latest version from v16"
git push

Final Thoughts: Embrace the New Angular

Upgrading may require effort, but it brings the latest Angular improvements into your application, keeping it robust, fast, and secure. Don’t wait until Angular v16 is fully deprecated — start your upgrade journey now to ensure that your application continues to offer the best performance, security, and developer experience for your team.

Say goodbye to Angular v16, and welcome the future of Angular!

With this guide, you’ll be ready to take your app to the next level and experience the benefits of the latest Angular framework. Happy coding! 🎉