This change ensures that both the global version and the project version Node.js version requirements are met before the CLI executes a command. Previously an older global version of the CLI would allow a newer project version to execute even if the project version had more strict Node.js version requirements. The Node.js version is now checked twice. Once in an ES5 safe script to ensure that ancient Node.js versions are not in use. And secondly in the CLI entry code that is executed after global/project bootstrapping.
Version 10.13.0 was the first version of 10.x that was considered LTS. This also provides an improved performance baseline as well as access to newer Node.js APIs and Javascript language features which the Angular CLI will now be able to leverage.
Node.js 8 is now in maintenance LTS status and will be EOL in December 2019. Node.js 10 is now the active LTS version with Node.js 12 due for arrival in April 2019. Node.js 10+ provides an improved performance baseline as well as access to newer Node.js APIs and Javascript language features which the Angular CLI will now be able to leverage.
