fix: improve auto-update to happen before you execute a command (#1371)

.changeset/polite-jokes-flash.md

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+---
+"task-master-ai": patch
+---
+
+Improved auto-update experience: 
+
+- updates now happen before your CLI command runs and automatically restart to execute your command with the new version.
+- No more manual restarts needed!

apps/cli/src/index.ts

@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@ export {
 	checkForUpdate,
 	performAutoUpdate,
 	displayUpgradeNotification,
-	compareVersions
+	compareVersions,
+	restartWithNewVersion
 } from './utils/auto-update.js';
 
 export { runInteractiveSetup } from './commands/models/index.js';

apps/cli/src/utils/auto-update.ts

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import https from 'https';
 import chalk from 'chalk';
 import ora from 'ora';
 import boxen from 'boxen';
+import process from 'process';
 
 export interface UpdateInfo {
 	currentVersion: string;
@@ -345,9 +346,6 @@ export async function performAutoUpdate(
 						`Successfully updated to version ${chalk.bold(latestVersion)}`
 					)
 				);
-				console.log(
-					chalk.dim('Please restart your command to use the new version.')
-				);
 				resolve(true);
 			} else {
 				spinner.fail(chalk.red('Auto-update failed'));
@@ -375,3 +373,33 @@ export async function performAutoUpdate(
 		});
 	});
 }
+
+/**
+ * Restart the CLI with the newly installed version
+ * @param argv - Original command-line arguments (process.argv)
+ */
+export function restartWithNewVersion(argv: string[]): void {
+	const args = argv.slice(2); // Remove 'node' and script path
+
+	console.log(chalk.dim('Restarting with updated version...\n'));
+
+	// Spawn the updated task-master command
+	const child = spawn('task-master', args, {
+		stdio: 'inherit', // Inherit stdin/stdout/stderr so it looks seamless
+		detached: false,
+		shell: process.platform === 'win32' // Windows compatibility
+	});
+
+	child.on('exit', (code) => {
+		process.exit(code || 0);
+	});
+
+	child.on('error', (error) => {
+		console.error(
+			chalk.red('Failed to restart with new version:'),
+			error.message
+		);
+		console.log(chalk.yellow('Please run your command again manually.'));
+		process.exit(1);
+	});
+}

scripts/modules/commands.js

@@ -8,10 +8,7 @@ import path from 'path';
 import chalk from 'chalk';
 import boxen from 'boxen';
 import fs from 'fs';
-import https from 'https';
-import http from 'http';
 import inquirer from 'inquirer';
-import search from '@inquirer/search';
 
 import { log, readJSON } from './utils.js';
 // Import command registry and utilities from @tm/cli
@@ -20,6 +17,7 @@ import {
 	checkForUpdate,
 	performAutoUpdate,
 	displayUpgradeNotification,
+	restartWithNewVersion,
 	displayError,
 	runInteractiveSetup
 } from '@tm/cli';
@@ -4447,18 +4445,10 @@ async function runCLI(argv = process.argv) {
 			process.exit(0);
 		}
 
-		// Start the update check in the background - don't await yet
+		// Check for updates BEFORE executing the command
 		const currentVersion = getTaskMasterVersion();
-		const updateCheckPromise = checkForUpdate(currentVersion);
+		const updateInfo = await checkForUpdate(currentVersion);
 
-		// Setup and parse
-		// NOTE: getConfig() might be called during setupCLI->registerCommands if commands need config
-		// This means the ConfigurationError might be thrown here if configuration file is missing.
-		const programInstance = setupCLI();
-		await programInstance.parseAsync(argv);
-
-		// After command execution, check if an update is available
-		const updateInfo = await updateCheckPromise;
 		if (updateInfo.needsUpdate) {
 			// Display the upgrade notification first
 			displayUpgradeNotification(
@@ -4467,14 +4457,22 @@ async function runCLI(argv = process.argv) {
 				updateInfo.highlights
 			);
 
-			// Then automatically perform the update
+			// Automatically perform the update
 			const updateSuccess = await performAutoUpdate(updateInfo.latestVersion);
 			if (updateSuccess) {
-				// Exit gracefully after successful update
-				process.exit(0);
+				// Restart with the new version - this will execute the user's command
+				restartWithNewVersion(argv);
+				return; // Never reached, but for clarity
 			}
+			// If update fails, continue with current version
 		}
 
+		// Setup and parse
+		// NOTE: getConfig() might be called during setupCLI->registerCommands if commands need config
+		// This means the ConfigurationError might be thrown here if configuration file is missing.
+		const programInstance = setupCLI();
+		await programInstance.parseAsync(argv);
+
 		// Check if migration has occurred and show FYI notice once
 		try {
 			// Use initTaskMaster with no required fields - will only fail if no project root