[RRFC] New --ci flag for npm outdated command

Motivation ("The Why")

Using NPM, we can check for outdated packages:

khalyomede@ubuntu:~/programming/test npm outdated

Package             Current  Wanted  Latest  Location                         Depended by
workbox-core          6.5.3   6.5.3   6.5.4  node_modules/workbox-core        node
workbox-routing       6.5.3   6.5.3   6.5.4  node_modules/workbox-routing     node
workbox-strategies    6.5.3   6.5.3   6.5.4  node_modules/workbox-strategies  node

khalyomede@ubuntu:~/programming/test echo $?
0

I also have a CI that is running everytime I push a commit on the main branch, and will check for missing updates to pull. Unfortunately, no flags exists to make this command to return a non zero code when it finds outdated packages.

Example

I suggest to have a new --ci flag (inspired by npm ci command), to make the outdated check to return a non-zero code when some packages have been found for greater versions.

khalyomede@ubuntu:~/programming/test npm outdated --ci

Package             Current  Wanted  Latest  Location                         Depended by
workbox-core          6.5.3   6.5.3   6.5.4  node_modules/workbox-core        node
workbox-routing       6.5.3   6.5.3   6.5.4  node_modules/workbox-routing     node
workbox-strategies    6.5.3   6.5.3   6.5.4  node_modules/workbox-strategies  node

khalyomede@ubuntu:~/programming/test echo $?
1

How

Current Behaviour

No flags exist to return a non-zero code.

Desired Behaviour

An flag is available to return a non-zero code.

References

Split from

https://github.com/npm/cli/issues/5208

Existing arts

Composer (PHP) is providing a flag for it behind the --strict flag:

khalyomede@ubuntu:~/programming/test-php composer outdated --direct 
Info from https://repo.packagist.org: #StandWithUkraine
Color legend:
- patch or minor release available - update recommended
- major release available - update possible
aws/aws-sdk-php 3.231.15 3.231.17 AWS SDK for PHP - Use Amazon Web Services in your PHP project
laravel/sanctum v2.15.1  v3.0.0   Laravel Sanctum provides a featherweight authentication system for SPAs and simple APIs.

khalyomede@ubuntu:~/programming/test-php echo $?
0

khalyomede@ubuntu:~/programming/test-php composer outdated --direct --strict
Info from https://repo.packagist.org: #StandWithUkraine
Color legend:
- patch or minor release available - update recommended
- major release available - update possible
aws/aws-sdk-php 3.231.15 3.231.17 AWS SDK for PHP - Use Amazon Web Services in your PHP project
laravel/sanctum v2.15.1  v3.0.0   Laravel Sanctum provides a featherweight authentication system for SPAs and simple APIs.

khalyomede@ubuntu:~/programming/test-php echo $?
1

Start with npm's outdated command and its current exit-code behavior. The issue provides no file or test names, so locating the command implementation and test coverage is part of the initial work; done means defining and validating --ci behavior for outdated packages, including zero and non-zero exits.