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azlin update

Update all development tools and AI CLI packages on azlin VMs.

Description

The azlin update command updates programming languages, build tools, and AI CLI assistants installed during VM provisioning. Keep development environments current with latest versions, security patches, and features.

Default timeout: 300 seconds per tool

Usage

azlin update VM_NAME [OPTIONS]

Arguments

  • VM_NAME - VM to update (name, session, or IP)

Options

Option Description
--timeout SECONDS Command timeout (default: 300)
--tools TEXT Specific tools to update (comma-separated)
--skip-ai Skip AI CLI tools (GitHub Copilot, OpenAI Codex, Claude Code)
--resource-group, --rg TEXT Azure resource group
-h, --help Show help message

Examples

Update All Tools (Default)

azlin update my-dev-vm

Output: 

Updating development tools on 'my-dev-vm'...

Connecting to VM...
✓ Connected

Updating Node.js packages...
  npm: 10.2.3 -> 10.2.4
  ✓ Updated

Updating AI CLI tools...
  @github/copilot: 1.5.0 -> 1.6.0
  @openai/codex: 2.1.0 -> 2.1.2
  @anthropic-ai/claude-code: 3.2.0 -> 3.2.1
  ✓ Updated

Updating Python packages...
  pip: 23.3.1 -> 23.3.2
  uv: 0.1.5 -> 0.1.6
  ✓ Updated

Updating Rust toolchain...
  rustc: 1.74.0 -> 1.74.1
  cargo: 1.74.0 -> 1.74.1
  ✓ Updated

Updating Go toolchain...
  go: 1.21.4 -> 1.21.5
  ✓ Updated

Updating Docker...
  docker: 24.0.7 -> 24.0.8
  ✓ Updated

Updating GitHub CLI...
  gh: 2.40.0 -> 2.40.1
  ✓ Updated

Updating Azure CLI...
  az: 2.54.0 -> 2.55.0
  ✓ Updated

✓ Update complete!
  Tools updated: 8
  Time: 4m 32s

Update Specific Tools

# Update only Python and Node.js
azlin update my-vm --tools python,node

Skip AI Tools

# Update everything except AI CLI tools
azlin update my-vm --skip-ai

Update with Custom Timeout

# Allow more time for slow connections
azlin update my-vm --timeout 600

Update by Session Name

azlin update my-project

What Gets Updated

Programming Languages & Runtimes

  • Node.js: npm packages, global npm tools
  • Python: pip, uv, astral-uv
  • Rust: rustc, cargo via rustup
  • Go: go toolchain
  • .NET: dotnet SDK and runtime

AI CLI Tools

  • GitHub Copilot CLI: @github/copilot
  • OpenAI Codex CLI: @openai/codex
  • Claude Code CLI: @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Development Tools

  • Docker: docker engine and CLI
  • GitHub CLI: gh command
  • Azure CLI: az command
  • Git: git version control

NOT Updated

These require azlin os-update: - Ubuntu system packages - Linux kernel - System libraries

Common Workflows

Monthly Tool Updates

# Update all development VMs
for vm in $(azlin list --tag team=engineering --format json | jq -r '.[].name'); do
  echo "Updating $vm..."
  azlin update $vm --timeout 600
done

Synchronized Team Updates

# Ensure all team members have same tool versions
azlin update alice-dev
azlin update bob-dev
azlin update carol-dev

# Verify versions
azlin connect alice-dev
node --version && python3 --version && rustc --version

Pre-Project Updates

# Update tools before starting new project
azlin update my-vm

# Then start work
azlin connect my-vm
cd ~/projects/new-project

Selective Updates

# Update only languages used in project
azlin update backend-vm --tools python,rust,docker
azlin update frontend-vm --tools node,docker

Update Strategies

All-at-Once (Default)

# Update everything
azlin update my-vm

Pros: Simple, complete Cons: Takes longer (2-5 minutes)

Tool-Specific

# Update only what's needed
azlin update my-vm --tools node,python

Pros: Faster, focused Cons: Other tools may become outdated

Skip AI Tools

# Skip AI CLI to save time
azlin update my-vm --skip-ai

Pros: Faster (save 30-60s) Cons: AI tools may be outdated

Performance

Tools Updated Update Time
All (8 tools) 2-5 minutes
Core (no AI) 1-3 minutes
Specific (2-3 tools) 30-90 seconds
AI tools only 30-60 seconds

Times vary by network speed and available updates

Best Practices

Update Schedule

  • Active development VMs: Weekly
  • Staging VMs: Bi-weekly
  • Production VMs: Monthly (with testing)

Version Synchronization

Keep team VMs in sync:

# Create update script
cat > ~/sync-team-tools.sh << 'EOF'
#!/bin/bash
for vm in alice-dev bob-dev carol-dev; do
  echo "Updating $vm..."
  azlin update $vm --timeout 600
done
echo "All team VMs updated!"
EOF

chmod +x ~/sync-team-tools.sh
./sync-team-tools.sh

Test After Updates

# Update
azlin update my-vm

# Test
azlin connect my-vm
node --version
python3 --version
rustc --version
docker --version

Troubleshooting

Update Timeout

Problem: Update times out.

Solution: 

# Increase timeout
azlin update my-vm --timeout 900

# Or update manually
azlin connect my-vm
# Update tools individually

Tool Update Fails

Problem: Specific tool fails to update.

Solution: 

# SSH and investigate
azlin connect my-vm

# Check tool-specific update
npm update -g  # Node.js
rustup update  # Rust
pip install --upgrade pip  # Python

AI CLI Tools Fail

Problem: AI CLI tools won't update.

Solution: 

# Skip AI tools for now
azlin update my-vm --skip-ai

# Update AI tools manually
azlin connect my-vm
npm update -g @github/copilot @openai/codex @anthropic-ai/claude-code

Version Conflicts

Problem: Tool versions incompatible.

Solution: 

# Update OS packages first
azlin os-update my-vm

# Then update tools
azlin update my-vm

Version Verification

After updates, verify versions:

azlin connect my-vm

# Check key versions
echo "Node.js: $(node --version)"
echo "Python: $(python3 --version)"
echo "Rust: $(rustc --version)"
echo "Go: $(go version)"
echo "Docker: $(docker --version)"
echo "GitHub CLI: $(gh --version)"
echo "Azure CLI: $(az --version | head -1)"

# Check AI CLIs
npm list -g @github/copilot @openai/codex @anthropic-ai/claude-code

See Also