How to update an npm dependency from a github repo with a new tag?

I have a node js project that uses some github repos as dependencies. For example, the package.json contains:

"dependencies": {
   "some-lib": "github:some-org/some-lib#v1.0.0"
}

The #v1.0.0 is pointing to a specific tag (a release), and I want to switch to another release, e.g., v2.0.0.

If I update the package.json line to...

"dependencies": {
   "some-lib": "github:some-org/some-lib#v2.0.0"
}

...and then run npm i, lo and behold nothing happens (which I expected). So I delete package-lock.json and do npm i and the library still does not get updated. I was under the impression that npm install used the package-lock file first, then package.json second.

Finally I do rm node_modules, delete package-lock.json and do npm i; the package is updated. What is a better way to do this? FWIW - I'm also maintaining the github repo that I'm using, so can make changes there.

Based on the npm package.json docs you can try adding semver to the dependency URL.

That might give npm more information so it updates the module when you change the dependency version number in your package.json.

"dependencies": {
   "some-lib": "github:some-org/some-lib#semver:v2.0.0"
}

https://github.com/npm/npm/issues/1727

It may be that you need to rm -rf node_modules/your-module as well as dropping the package lock, then try npm install to resolve this