Deprecation of node.js 0.x and upgrade to a minimum usage of node.js 4.x in Apache Cordova
- Status: Completed
Right now, all the platforms and plugins require a minimum of node 0.10 to be installed. node 0.10 has been out of LTS [1] for a while now, and its maintenance period (security bug fixes) stops on Oct 2016. node 0.12 will be out of maintenance Jan 1st 2017.
I propose two distinct deprecation periods.
Starting Oct 1st 2016, we will deprecate our node 0.x support, and we will recommend users migrate to using a more recent version of node immediately (at least node 6.x). The node 0.x deprecation period will run for 3 months, and it will end on Jan 1st 2017.
Starting Jan 1st 2017, our support for node 0.x is over, and we will only support node 4.x and greater.
Staring April 1st 2017, we deprecate our node 4.x support, and we will recommend users migrate to using a more recent version of node immediately (at least node 6.x). The node 4.x deprecation period will run for 12 months and it will end on April 1st 2018.
Starting April 1st 2018, our support for node 4.x is over, and we will only support node 6.x and greater.
node 6.x will be on active LTS Oct 2016 (thus the default and recommended version to download on nodejs.org) and should be the version we recommend for users to upgrade to, during both deprecation periods.
What does node 6.x give us? 99% ES2015 (ES6) support [2], and 100% ES2016 (ES7) support [3].
Proposed Timeline
Oct 1st 2016 - deprecate use of node 0.x. Make sure all AppVeyor/Travis CI builds still test using node 0.x as well as node 4.x and greater. Add a requirements check that will print out a deprecation notice if they are using a node < 4, and telling them to upgrade to a minimum of 6.
Jan 1st 2017 - Stop node 0.x support. Make sure all AppVeyor/Travis CI builds only test for node 4.x and greater. Safe to use some ES6 features in Apache Cordova (built in Promises, let, const, arrow functions). Tools and platforms will have to bump a major version.
Apr 1st 2017 - deprecate use of node 4.x. Make sure all AppVeyor/Travis CI builds still test using node 4.x as well as node 6.x and greater. Add a requirements check that will print out a deprecation notice if they are using a node <= 4, and telling them to upgrade to a minimum of 6.
Apr 1st 2018 - Stop node 4.x support. Make sure all AppVeyor/Travis CI builds only test for node 6.x and greater. Safe to use ES6 and ES7 features in Apache Cordova. Tools and platforms will have to bump a major version.
