Node.js Deprecation Issues: Debugging Syntax Errors and Staying Up to Date
Node.js updates bring exciting new features, but they also introduce breaking changes and deprecated functionalities. One moment, your code is running smoothly, and the next—boom! You’re hit with a cryptic error message. Recently, I encountered this: SyntaxError: Unexpected identifier 'assert' at compileSourceTextModule... At first, I thought it was a simple syntax mistake. But after some troubleshooting, I realized the issue wasn’t my code—it was my Node.js version. A colleague’s app worked fine, but mine didn’t. The difference? I was running Node.js 22.7.0, while they were on 20.10.0. The quickest fix? Downgrade Node.js to match their version. And just like that, the issue was resolved. This raised an important question: How do you identify if an issue is due to a Node.js deprecation? What are the most common syntax errors caused by version mismatches? How can you proactively track changes and avoid these surprises? Let’s break it down.
Node.js updates bring exciting new features, but they also introduce breaking changes and deprecated functionalities. One moment, your code is running smoothly, and the next—boom! You’re hit with a cryptic error message.
Recently, I encountered this:
SyntaxError: Unexpected identifier 'assert' at compileSourceTextModule...
At first, I thought it was a simple syntax mistake. But after some troubleshooting, I realized the issue wasn’t my code—it was my Node.js version. A colleague’s app worked fine, but mine didn’t. The difference? I was running Node.js 22.7.0, while they were on 20.10.0.
The quickest fix? Downgrade Node.js to match their version. And just like that, the issue was resolved.
This raised an important question:
- How do you identify if an issue is due to a Node.js deprecation?
- What are the most common syntax errors caused by version mismatches?
- How can you proactively track changes and avoid these surprises?
Let’s break it down.
