Enhance CI: Testing Multiple Node Versions For Deepnote

Nov 17, 2025 by Admin 56 views

Hey Deepnote community! Let's talk about leveling up our Continuous Integration (CI) process to ensure our projects play nice with different versions of Node.js. Following the updates from PR #151, it's crucial that we broaden our CI testing to include multiple Node versions, guaranteeing solid compatibility across the board. This article will walk you through the current scenario, the proposed solution, and why it’s essential for maintaining a robust and reliable development environment.

Current Situation: Node.js Version in CI

Currently, our CI setup is a bit limited when it comes to Node.js versions. Specifically, our CI only runs tests against Node v22, which is specified in the .nvmrc file. While this ensures consistency with a particular version, it doesn't give us a full picture of how our code behaves across different Node.js environments.

Why is this important, you ask? Well, our minimum Node version requirement is now 22.14.0, which means we expect developers to be using at least this version. However, we haven't specified a maximum version in our engines configuration. This implies that we claim support for all future Node.js versions. Without testing against these newer versions, we're essentially flying blind, hoping that everything will work seamlessly. This can lead to unexpected issues and broken functionality when newer Node.js releases introduce breaking changes.

The absence of comprehensive testing across multiple Node versions poses several risks. First, we might miss compatibility issues that only surface in newer versions of Node.js. Second, it creates uncertainty about whether our code will continue to work as expected as Node.js evolves. Third, it makes it harder to identify and address potential problems early in the development cycle. In short, relying solely on a single Node version for CI testing can lead to a false sense of security and increase the likelihood of encountering unexpected bugs in production.

To mitigate these risks, it's essential that we adopt a more proactive approach to CI testing. By expanding our testing matrix to include multiple Node versions, we can gain greater confidence in the compatibility and reliability of our code. This will not only improve the overall quality of our projects but also reduce the risk of introducing breaking changes that impact our users. So, let's dive into the proposed solution and see how we can make our CI setup more robust and resilient.

Proposed Solution: Expanding CI Testing

Okay, so how do we fix this? The solution is to update our .github/workflows/ci.yml file to use a matrix strategy. This strategy will test against:

The pinned version from .nvmrc (for deterministic local/CI behavior). This ensures that what we test in CI matches what we expect developers to use locally.
Every major Node version above the minimum requirement. This helps us catch any compatibility issues that may arise in newer Node versions.

Let's break this down a bit further. The .nvmrc file specifies the exact Node version that our project is intended to use. By including this version in our CI matrix, we ensure that our tests are always run against a known and consistent environment. This is crucial for maintaining deterministic behavior and preventing unexpected surprises.

In addition to the pinned version, we also want to test against every major Node version above the minimum requirement. This means that if our minimum required version is Node 22, we should also test against Node 23, Node 24, and so on. Why is this important? Because each major Node version may introduce breaking changes or new features that could impact our code. By testing against these different versions, we can identify and address any compatibility issues early in the development cycle.

Here's what this approach accomplishes:

Deterministic Behavior: Guarantees that our CI environment matches our local development environment, reducing the risk of discrepancies.
Compatibility Verification: Ensures that our code works correctly across all supported major Node versions, minimizing the likelihood of compatibility issues.
Early Detection of Breaking Changes: Helps us identify and address breaking changes in newer Node releases before they impact our users.

By implementing this solution, we can significantly improve the robustness and reliability of our CI process. This will not only give us greater confidence in the quality of our code but also reduce the risk of introducing unexpected bugs or compatibility issues. So, let's roll up our sleeves and get started on updating our CI configuration!

Diving Deeper into the Benefits

Expanding our CI testing to cover multiple Node versions might seem like a small change, but the benefits it brings are significant. Let's explore these advantages in more detail:

Ensuring Deterministic Behavior

One of the primary goals of any CI system is to provide a consistent and predictable testing environment. By including the pinned version from .nvmrc in our CI matrix, we ensure that our tests are always run against the exact same Node version that we expect developers to use locally. This eliminates the risk of discrepancies between local and CI environments, which can lead to frustrating debugging sessions and unexpected bugs.

Imagine a scenario where a developer is working on a feature using Node 22.14.0, as specified in the .nvmrc file. They run their tests locally, and everything passes. However, when they push their code to the CI system, the tests fail because the CI environment is using a different Node version. This can be incredibly confusing and time-consuming to debug. By including the pinned version in our CI matrix, we can avoid this situation altogether.

Verifying Compatibility Across Supported Versions

As mentioned earlier, our code should ideally work correctly across all supported major Node versions. By testing against each of these versions in our CI system, we can gain greater confidence in the compatibility and reliability of our code. This is particularly important when we're dealing with complex projects that rely on a variety of dependencies.

Each major Node version may introduce new features, bug fixes, and performance improvements. However, it may also introduce breaking changes that could impact our code. By testing against each major version, we can identify and address any compatibility issues early in the development cycle. This allows us to proactively fix any problems before they impact our users.

Detecting Breaking Changes Early

One of the most significant benefits of testing against multiple Node versions is the ability to detect breaking changes in newer Node releases early on. When a new Node version introduces a breaking change, it can cause our code to behave unexpectedly or even crash. By running our tests against the new version in our CI system, we can quickly identify any issues and take corrective action.

This early detection is crucial for minimizing the impact of breaking changes on our users. Instead of waiting for users to report problems, we can proactively fix them before they even have a chance to occur. This not only improves the user experience but also reduces the amount of time and effort we spend on debugging and fixing issues.

Practical Steps for Implementation

Now that we understand the importance of expanding our CI testing, let's discuss the practical steps for implementing this solution. Here's a step-by-step guide to updating your .github/workflows/ci.yml file:

Identify the Pinned Node Version: Open the .nvmrc file in your project and identify the pinned Node version. This is the version that you'll use for deterministic local/CI behavior.
Determine the Minimum Required Node Version: Check your project's documentation or package.json file to determine the minimum required Node version. This is the lowest version that your code is guaranteed to support.
Identify the Major Node Versions to Test: Based on the minimum required Node version, identify all the major Node versions that you want to test against. This should include the pinned version from .nvmrc as well as any newer major versions.
Update the CI Configuration File: Open the .github/workflows/ci.yml file in your project and update the strategy section to include a matrix that specifies the Node versions to test against. Here's an example:

jobs:
  test:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    strategy:
      matrix:
        node-version: [22.14.0, 23.x, 24.x]
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
      - name: Use Node.js ${{ matrix.node-version }}
        uses: actions/setup-node@v3
        with:
          node-version: ${{ matrix.node-version }}
      - run: npm install
      - run: npm test

In this example, we're testing against Node 22.14.0 (the pinned version), as well as the latest versions of Node 23 and Node 24. You should adjust the node-version array to include the specific versions that you want to test against.

Commit and Push Your Changes: Once you've updated the CI configuration file, commit your changes and push them to your Git repository. This will trigger a new CI build that tests against all the specified Node versions.
Monitor the CI Results: Keep an eye on the CI results to ensure that all tests are passing for each Node version. If you encounter any failures, investigate the cause and take corrective action.

By following these steps, you can easily expand your CI testing to cover multiple Node versions and ensure the compatibility and reliability of your code.

Related Resources

For more information on the topics discussed in this article, check out the following resources:

PR #151: https://github.com/deepnote/deepnote/pull/151
Current CI config: https://github.com/deepnote/deepnote/blob/main/.github/workflows/ci.yml#L33

By leveraging these resources, you can gain a deeper understanding of the changes we're making to our CI process and how they will benefit our projects.

Conclusion: Embracing a More Robust CI

In conclusion, expanding our CI testing to cover multiple Node versions is a critical step in ensuring the compatibility and reliability of our code. By testing against the pinned version from .nvmrc as well as every major Node version above the minimum requirement, we can detect breaking changes early, verify compatibility across supported versions, and ensure deterministic behavior in our CI environment.

So, let's work together to implement this solution and make our CI process more robust and resilient. By doing so, we can improve the quality of our code, reduce the risk of introducing unexpected bugs, and ultimately deliver a better experience for our users. Happy coding, everyone! And remember, a well-tested codebase is a happy codebase! This enhancement is not just a recommendation; it's a strategic move towards creating a more reliable and future-proof development ecosystem at Deepnote. Let's make it happen!