Trawl is a VS Code extension that surfaces outdated npm dependencies the same way the editor surfaces type errors: inline underlines, Problems panel, and file decorations. No “Check for updates” button and no separate panel — it runs in the background whenever you have a <code>package.json</code> open.
What you get:
<ul>
<li>Diagnostics: Outdated deps as native diagnostics (major → Error, minor → Warning, patch → Info, prerelease → Hint)</li>
<li>Hover: Hover any dep for current range, max satisfying version, latest, publish date, and npm links</li>
<li>Completion: Version autocomplete from the registry (latest first, dist-tags, recent versions)</li>
<li>Quick fixes: Update to latest (preserving range prefix), pin exact version, or open on npm</li>
<li>Monorepos: All <code>package.json</code> files in the workspace, with caching and request deduplication</li>
</ul>
If you’re tired of remembering to run <code>npm outdated</code> (or opening a separate tool), Trawl keeps the info where you’re already working.
Get it: <a href="https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=VoidWorks.trawl" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">VS Code Marketplace</a>

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Solo Developer

Trawl is a VS Code extension that integrates npm dependency update checking directly into the editor as native diagnostics. Outdated packages appear as inline underlines (major as errors, minor as warnings, patch as info), with hover details showing current version, latest version, and publish date. It also provides version autocomplete from the npm registry, quick fixes to update or pin versions, and supports monorepos by scanning all package.json files in the workspace with caching and request deduplication.

VS Code NPM Dependency Manager