Community node installs now accept npm dist-tags
n8n now accepts npm dist-tags like beta, next, and latest when installing community nodes, resolving them to their underlying semver versions rather than rejecting them outright with a cryptic error.
When installing a community node using an npm dist-tag — for example n8n-nodes-imap@beta — n8n was rejecting the input with "Invalid version: beta" because its validation logic only recognized strict semver strings. Dist-tags like beta, next, and latest are standard npm version specifiers, but n8n's version check treated everything after the @ symbol as a semver string and threw an error.
The fix adds a helper that recognizes valid npm dist-tags alongside existing semver validation. When a dist-tag is used, n8n resolves it to the underlying semver version via npm before proceeding — keeping the stored version precise while supporting the more ergonomic install syntax. The upstream restriction on unsafe specifiers (git URLs, tarball URLs, semver ranges) remains in place.
This is a narrow but meaningful quality-of-life fix for anyone who manages n8n nodes using the same npm workflow they use elsewhere.
View Original GitHub DescriptionFact Check
Summary
Community node installation failed with Invalid version: beta when users specified npm dist-tags (e.g. n8n-nodes-imap@beta). The validation only accepted semver versions, but dist-tags like beta, next, and latest are valid npm version specifiers.
Unsafe specs (git URLs, tarball URLs, semver ranges) remain blocked by the upstream INVALID_OR_SUSPICIOUS_PACKAGE_NAME regex.
Related Linear tickets, Github issues, and Community forum posts
https://linear.app/n8n/issue/NODE-4653 fixes #27401
Review / Merge checklist
- I have seen this code, I have run this code, and I take responsibility for this code.
- PR title and summary are descriptive. (conventions)
- Docs updated or follow-up ticket created.
- Tests included.
- PR Labeled with
release/backport(if the PR is an urgent fix that needs to be backported)
Co-authored by Claude Opus 4.6