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Document Aspire CLI npm install method#1142

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adamint merged 4 commits into
release/13.4from
docs/npm-cli-install-13-4
Jun 1, 2026
Merged

Document Aspire CLI npm install method#1142
adamint merged 4 commits into
release/13.4from
docs/npm-cli-install-13-4

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@adamint adamint commented May 31, 2026

Documents the npm distribution of the Aspire CLI added in microsoft/aspire#17297. Targeting release/13.4 since the npm packages ship as part of the 13.4 release.

The PR adds @microsoft/aspire-cli (a pointer package plus RID-specific packages) and makes aspire update --self npm-aware, so the docs need to cover the new install path and the update behavior.

Changes

  • get-started/install-cli.mdx — new "Install with npm" section (npm install -g @microsoft/aspire-cli), Node.js prerequisite, cross-platform note, and the npm self-update behavior. Updated the frontmatter SEO title/description, which still referenced a ".NET tool" method the page no longer documents.
  • reference/cli/commands/aspire-update.mdx — documents how aspire update --self adapts to the install source (npm vs dotnet tool vs direct binary). The npm output text matches what the CLI actually prints (npm install -g @microsoft/aspire-cli@latest).
  • whats-new/aspire-13-4.mdx — notes npm as an install option in the upgrade section and a CLI bullet.

Notes

  • I scoped the install-cli wording to "Starting with Aspire 13.4" since the npm package isn't on the registry yet — it publishes through the 13.4 release pipeline.
  • I used the exact update string from NpmInstallDetection.GetNpmUpdateCommand (@latest), not the looser npm update -g wording in the source PR description.

Validation

  • Built the site / rendered all three pages on the dev server (HTTP 200), confirmed the npm content and heading anchors resolve. The only build failure was the unrelated Lunaria /i18n page, which needs full git history (shallow clone).

Document npm distribution of the Aspire CLI (@microsoft/aspire-cli),
added in microsoft/aspire#17297:

- Add an "Install with npm" section to the install guide.
- Document install-aware `aspire update --self` behavior, including
  the npm update guidance the CLI prints.
- Note the npm install option in the 13.4 what's new page.

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
Copilot AI review requested due to automatic review settings May 31, 2026 21:57
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Pull request overview

This PR documents the new npm-based Aspire CLI distribution for Aspire 13.4 and clarifies how CLI self-updates behave based on installation source.

Changes:

  • Adds npm installation guidance to the CLI install page.
  • Documents npm-aware aspire update --self behavior.
  • Updates Aspire 13.4 release notes to mention the npm install option and update command behavior.

Reviewed changes

Copilot reviewed 3 out of 3 changed files in this pull request and generated no comments.

File Description
src/frontend/src/content/docs/get-started/install-cli.mdx Adds npm installation instructions and npm self-update note.
src/frontend/src/content/docs/reference/cli/commands/aspire-update.mdx Explains install-source-specific CLI update behavior.
src/frontend/src/content/docs/whats-new/aspire-13-4.mdx Adds npm CLI install/update notes to the 13.4 release documentation.

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Clarify that `aspire update --self` prints the package-manager command
for npm and .NET tool installs instead of replacing a managed binary.

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
Comment thread src/frontend/src/content/docs/get-started/install-cli.mdx Outdated
```

- When the CLI was installed as a **.NET tool**, the command prints the `dotnet tool update` command to run.
- Otherwise, `aspire update --self` downloads and installs the latest CLI binary directly.
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It feels weird to make it the third and unnamed option. I would relegate the dotnet tool one at the end, and give this one a name "install script" or "binary install"

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
@adamint adamint merged commit ee16663 into release/13.4 Jun 1, 2026
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@adamint adamint deleted the docs/npm-cli-install-13-4 branch June 1, 2026 04:15
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3 participants