What's New in Astro 4.7

Astro 4.7 has landed, and it brings a host of exciting features and improvements aimed at enhancing the development experience for users. From significant upgrades to the Dev Toolbar API to a streamlined update checker and more flexibility in TypeScript presets, this release is packed with tools to supercharge your projects. Let’s dive into what’s new:

Enhanced Dev Toolbar API

Astro 4.7 focuses on empowering developers with a suite of improvements to the Dev Toolbar API. Building and maintaining toolbar apps is now easier than ever, thanks to:

• defineToolbarApp() Helper: Simplifying the process of defining toolbar apps, mirroring familiar patterns like defineConfig() and defineMiddleware().
• New Helpers: Introducing app and server helpers to facilitate seamless communication between the toolbar and the server.
• Starter Project: Kickstart your toolbar app development with a brand-new starter project, enabling you to hit the ground running.
• Step-by-Step Guide: A comprehensive recipe guides you through building your toolbar app from scratch, including integration with JSX frameworks like React or Preact.
• Revamped Documentation: Explore the updated documentation of the Dev Toolbar App API, featuring refreshed examples showcasing the latest methods.

These enhancements are designed to empower developers to craft robust and efficient toolbar apps with ease.

Update Checker

With Astro 4.7, staying up-to-date is effortless. The update checker now automatically scans for updates whenever you run the dev server. If a new version is available, you’ll receive a notification in the terminal and the dev toolbar. To prevent unnecessary notifications, Astro checks for updates once every 10 days and only alerts you if you’re several versions behind. You can customize this feature to suit your preferences by disabling it through the command line or environment variables.

allowJs: true for TypeScript Presets

Responding to user feedback, Astro has made adjustments to the TypeScript preset, specifically the strictest preset. Previously, allowJs was set to false, prohibiting the use of .js files. In Astro 4.7, this restriction has been lifted, allowing developers to incorporate .js files into their projects seamlessly. While this change should not cause disruptions, users who wish to maintain the previous behavior can manually set allowJs: false in their tsconfig.json file.

Bug Fixes and Smaller Improvements

As always, Astro 4.7 includes a myriad of bug fixes and minor enhancements aimed at refining the overall development experience. While not highlighted in this post, these updates contribute to a smoother workflow and improved stability.

To explore the complete list of changes, refer to the release notes.

With Astro 4.7, developers are equipped with powerful tools and streamlined processes, empowering them to build exceptional web experiences. Upgrade today and unlock the full potential of your projects!