Not saving update to latest CLI version 8 makes repeat attempts error-prone

[filipesilva]

This issue impacts 9.0.0-rc.0 and happened while updating https://github.com/vmware/clarity.

In https://next.angular.io/guide/updating-to-version-9 the suggested update procedure is to follow these commands:

npm install --no-save @angular/cli@^8.3.15
ng update @angular/cli @angular/core --next

When the update procedure fails, a user will need to manually revert their repository to before the update (as described in #16020) and attempt to update again.

If the user forgets to run npm install --no-save @angular/cli@^8.3.15, they will end up an incorrect update.

It would be better to instruct users to save and commit their update to @angular/cli@^8.3.15 before proceeding in order to reduce mistakes in subsequent update attempts.

cc @StephenFluin @mgechev

[StephenFluin]

Is there any reason we aren't just asking people to ng update @angular/core@8 @angular/cli@8 prior to updating, rather than doing the no-save bump of the CLI?

[filipesilva]

Discussed it with @clydin, we could do that but there wouldn't be any real benefit over just doing npm install and committing the changes.

On the other hand, it'd take longer, and we don't really test ng update on minors. Everything should be ok, but it doesn't sound wise to try right now.

So I think npm install @angular/cli@^8.3.15 followed by committing the update to git is the best approach.

[clydin]

Fully supporting and testing ng update for all update scenarios is something that I think we should definitely be doing moving forward.

Also, if there is a strong preference for only referencing ng update in the instructions, it is a possibility. Thinking about it some more and I do agree there is a elegance to the suggestion.

[StephenFluin]

I prefer only referencing ng update as this command is more error-proof. Any time you go back to npm installs, you might miss a version or update (what if you were on 7 and you tried these instructions?), whereas ng update will work to keep the world in sync.

[vikerman]

Doc change. Needs to be tried out.