As of 2026-01-24, the stable release of Claude Code is 2.1.7, but if you’ve been following the bleeding edge, versions 2.1.15 and 2.1.16 bring some significant changes. Here’s what you need to know.

The npm Deprecation Notice

Version 2.1.15 added a deprecation notification for npm installations.

If you’ve been using Claude Code via npm or homebrew, Anthropic will soon start nudging you toward a new installation method. You’ll want to run claude install or check out the official getting started docs for the recommended approach.

This isn’t a breaking change yet, but it’s a clear they are moving away from npm for releases going forward.

Built-in Task Management

Version 2.1.16 introduces something I’m genuinely excited about: a new task management system with dependency tracking.

If you’ve been using tools like beads for lightweight issue tracking within your coding sessions, this built-in system offers a similar workflow without the setup.

You can define tasks, track their status, and—here’s the key part—specify dependencies between them. Task B won’t start until Task A completes.

This is particularly useful for repositories where you don’t have beads configured or you’re working on something quick where setting up external tooling feels like overkill.

Your sub-agents can now have proper task management without anything extra.

Should You Update?

If you’re on 2.1.7 stable and everything’s working, there’s no rush. But if you’re comfortable with newer releases, the task management in 2.1.16 is worth trying, especially if you work with complex multi-step workflows or use sub-agents frequently.

The npm deprecation is something to keep on your radar regardless. Plan your migration before it becomes mandatory.