[post] jack features

resources/blog/posts/2025/2025-05-19-introducing-rector-jack-raise-your-dependencies-safely.md

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+---
+id: 79
+title: "Introducing Rector Jack: Raise Your Dependencies Safely"
+perex: |
+    Hey PHP folks! 👋 We're thrilled to share **Jack**, a new experimental CLI tool to help you lift your Composer dependencies one version at a time – safely and steadily. If you've ever dreaded the "oh no, our dependencies are *years* old" moment, Jack's here to make upgrades less painful.
+
+    We've tested it internally for a couple months, published silently to **pass 3500 downloads in 20 days**, it's time to share it with the world.
+
+    It fits both legacy projects to reach higher faster, and modern projects not to fall behind.
+---
+
+<br>
+
+## What's Jack All About?
+
+<img src="https://github.com/rectorphp/jack/raw/main/docs/jack.jpg" class="img-thumbnail" style="max-width: 20em">
+
+In the real world, a jack lifts your car to fix issues underneath. In the Composer world, **Jack** lifts your dependency versions, so you can keep your project cruising smoothly. It's built to tackle the chaos of outdated packages with a simple, automated approach.
+
+Why use Jack? Because manual upgrades are a headache. Big version jumps often bring errors, compatibility woes, and wasted time. Jack steps in to:
+
+- Catch outdated dependencies in CI.
+- Gradually open up package versions for safe updates.
+- Prioritize low-risk changes (like dev dependencies).
+
+It's **open-source** and built with community feedback in mind. We're developing this in the open, so your input shapes Jack's future!
+
+<br>
+
+## How Does It Work?
+
+Jack is lightweight, works on **PHP 7.2+**, and slots into any legacy project. Install it with:
+
+```bash
+composer require rector/jack --dev
+```
+
+<br>
+
+From there, you've got three killer commands:
+
+<br>
+
+### 1. Catch Too Many Outdated Dependencies in CI
+
+Run `vendor/bin/jack breakpoint` to spot major outdated packages. If you've got more than 5, your CI will fail, keeping upgrades on your radar.
+
+Tweak the limit with `--limit 3` or focus on dev packages with `--dev`.
+
+<br>
+
+### 2. Open Up Next Versions
+
+Unsure where to start with upgrades? Let Jack nudge your `composer.json` to the next version (e.g., `symfony/console: 5.1.*` → `5.1.*|5.2.*`).
+
+Just run:
+
+```bash
+vendor/bin/jack open-versions
+```
+
+It will open your current constraints in `composer.json` to the nearest next version. Then, `composer update` does the heavy lifting.
+
+Want to play it safe?
+
+* Use `--dev` to start with dev packages first,
+* `--limit` to handle different number of packages
+* or `--dry-run` for a preview.
+
+<br>
+
+### 3. Sync `composer.json` with Already Installed Versions
+
+Got a modern project but an outdated `composer.json`? Jack raises your dependency versions to match what's installed:
+
+```bash
+vendor/bin/jack raise-to-installed
+```
+
+No more signaling old versions you don't even use!
+
+<br>
+
+## Try Jack and Share Your Thoughts
+
+Jack is experimental, so we're counting on you to kick the tires. Try it out, report bugs, or suggest features on [GitHub](https://github.com/rectorphp/jack). Want to see it in action? Check the [README](https://github.com/rectorphp/jack#readme) for more examples.
+
+<br>
+
+We're excited to turn boring dependency upgrades to more fun game.
+
+<br>
+
+Happy coding! 🚀
+