Update npm distributed with node 16 to >=8.3.0

[everett1992]

What is the problem this feature will solve?

npm <8.3.0 includes a bug in it's http client that causes errors when installing from some private registries npm/cli#3884. The bugfix is included in 8.3.0 but node 16 bundles npm 8.1.2.

I haven't found the policy or schedule for updating npm but I hope it's possible to update node 16 to latest npm. My workplace only uses LTS releases so our options are node 14 with deprecated npm 6 or node 16 with bugged npm that doesn't work with our private registry.

What is the feature you are proposing to solve the problem?

Update npm bundled with node 16.

What alternatives have you considered?

Don't use npm bundled with node.

[richardlau]

We would expect the next Node.js 16 release (cc @danielleadams ) to include #41503.

[everett1992]

👍 I cut this issue because I couldn't find the documentation on when npm is updated, and I saw there were node release after 8.3.0 was released that didn't update npm. I see that they were security released.