Changing the value of `process.config`

[AugustinMauroy]

Description

Since changing the value of process.config is deprecated (DEP0150) and has reached End-of-Life status in Node.js v19.0.0, we should provide a codemod to address it.

• The codemod should identify attempts to modify process.config.
• The codemod should remove or comment out assignments to process.config properties.
• The codemod should add comments explaining that process.config is now immutable.
• The codemod should preserve read-only access to process.config.

Additional Information

Note that in Node.js v19.0.0, process.config has been made immutable. The property provides access to Node.js compile-time settings, but it was previously mutable and therefore subject to tampering. This could lead to unexpected behavior and security issues.

Developers can still read from process.config, but any attempts to modify its values will now throw an error. If you need to store configuration, use a separate configuration object or module instead.

Examples

Example 1: Direct assignment to process.config

Before:

process.config.target_defaults = { cflags: [] };

After:

// process.config is now immutable and cannot be modified
// Store custom configuration in a separate object instead
const customConfig = { target_defaults: { cflags: [] } };

Example 2: Modifying nested property

Before:

process.config.variables.node_prefix = "/custom/path";

After:

// process.config is now immutable and cannot be modified
// Use a separate configuration object for custom values
const myConfig = { variables: { node_prefix: "/custom/path" } };

Example 3: Adding new property

Before:

process.config.custom = "value";

After:

// process.config is now immutable and cannot be modified
// Create a separate configuration object
const appConfig = { custom: "value" };

Example 4: Reading process.config (valid, no change needed)

Before:

const nodeVersion = process.config.variables.node_version;
console.log("Node version:", nodeVersion);

After:

const nodeVersion = process.config.variables.node_version;
console.log("Node version:", nodeVersion);

Example 5: Conditional modification

Before:

if (someCondition) {
  process.config.variables.debug = true;
}

After:

// process.config is now immutable and cannot be modified
// Use a separate debug configuration object
const debugConfig = {};
if (someCondition) {
  debugConfig.debug = true;
}

Example 6: Using Object.assign

Before:

Object.assign(process.config, { custom: "settings" });

After:

// process.config is now immutable and cannot be modified
// Create a new configuration object that includes process.config values
const config = Object.assign({}, process.config, { custom: "settings" });

Example 7: Deleting property

Before:

delete process.config.variables.some_property;

After:

// process.config is now immutable - properties cannot be deleted
// If you need a modified copy, create a new object
const config = { ...process.config };
delete config.variables.some_property;

Example 8: Spread operator with modifications

Before:

const config = { ...process.config };
process.config.updated = true;

After:

// process.config is now immutable and cannot be modified
// Work with the copied object instead
const config = { ...process.config };
config.updated = true;

Refs

• DEP0150: Changing the value of process.config
• Make process.config immutable node#43627