Qwen Code Updater

An auto-updater wrapper for Qwen Code that automatically checks for updates before execution, ensuring you're always running the latest version.

Features

• 🚀 Automatic Updates: Checks for and installs Qwen Code updates before execution
• ⚡ Smart Caching: Avoids redundant update checks with intelligent cooldown periods
• 🔧 Zero Configuration: Works out of the box with sensible defaults
• 📝 Detailed Logging: Comprehensive logging for debugging and monitoring
• 🔄 Rollback Support: Version history tracking for potential rollbacks
• 🛡️ Error Handling: Graceful fallback to current version if updates fail
• 🎯 Drop-in Replacement: Use qwen command exactly as before

Installation

Install globally using npm:

npm install -g qwen-code-updater

This will install the updater and make the qwen command available globally.

Prerequisites

This package is a wrapper around the official Qwen Code CLI. You need to install it separately:

npm install -g @qwen-code/qwen-code@latest

Usage

The installer automatically sets up an alias so you can use qwen exactly as before, but with automatic updates:

# The updater will automatically check for updates, then run your command
qwen your-command-here

# Skip update check for this run (useful for automation)
qwen --skip-update your-command-here

Examples

# Start a new chat session (will check for updates first)
qwen

# Run with specific options
qwen --model qwen-plus "Write a hello world function"

# Skip update check for this execution
qwen --skip-update --help

Direct Usage (Alternative)

You can also call the updater directly:

qwen-code-updater your-command-here

How It Works

1. Update Check: Before executing your command, the wrapper checks if a newer version of Qwen Code is available
2. Smart Updates: If an update is found, it's automatically downloaded and installed
3. Seamless Execution: Your original command is then executed with the updated version
4. Intelligent Caching: Update checks are cached for 1 hour to avoid delays

Configuration

The updater creates a configuration directory at ~/.qwen-code-updater/ containing:

• config.json: Settings and preferences
• updater.log: Detailed execution logs

Environment Variables

• QWEN_UPDATER_DEBUG=true: Enable debug logging for troubleshooting

Logging

Logs are automatically written to ~/.qwen-code-updater/updater.log. Enable debug mode for more detailed logging:

export QWEN_UPDATER_DEBUG=true
qwen your-command

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Command not found: qwen

# Ensure the package is installed globally
npm install -g qwen-code-updater

# Check if npm global bin is in your PATH
npm config get prefix

Update check fails

• The wrapper will proceed with your current Qwen Code version
• Check your internet connection
• Enable debug logging to see detailed error information

Qwen Code not found

# Install the official Qwen Code CLI
npm install -g @qwen-code/qwen-code@latest

Debug Mode

Enable detailed logging:

export QWEN_UPDATER_DEBUG=true
qwen --version

Check the log file:

tail -f ~/.qwen-code-updater/updater.log

Development

Local Testing

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/0xRaghu/qwen-code-updater.git
cd qwen-code-updater

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Link for local testing
npm link

# Test the command
qwen --version

Package Structure

qwen-code-updater/
├── bin/
│   └── qwen-code-updater.js    # Main CLI entry point
├── lib/
│   ├── config.js               # Configuration management
│   ├── logger.js               # Logging utilities
│   ├── shell-detector.js       # Shell detection and PATH management
│   └── updater.js              # Update checking and installation logic
├── scripts/
│   ├── install.js              # Post-install setup
│   ├── uninstall.js           # Pre-uninstall cleanup
│   └── cleanup.js             # General cleanup utilities
├── package.json
├── README.md
└── LICENSE

Version Management

The updater maintains a version history for potential rollback scenarios. This information is stored in the configuration file and can be used for debugging or manual rollbacks if needed.

Security

• All updates are fetched from the official npm registry
• Package integrity is verified before installation
• No sensitive data is logged or transmitted

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.

1. Fork the repository
2. Create your feature branch (git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature)
3. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add some amazing feature')
4. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/amazing-feature)
5. Open a Pull Request

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Related Projects

• claude-code-updater - Auto-updater for Claude Code
• gemini-cli-updater - Auto-updater for Gemini CLI

Acknowledgments

• Thanks to the Qwen team for creating Qwen Code
• Inspired by similar auto-updater patterns in the developer tools ecosystem

Note: This is an unofficial wrapper around Qwen Code. For official support, please refer to the Qwen Code documentation.