PackageVersions is a Composer addon that retrieves installed packages' version numbers efficiently.
The tool solves the problem of accessing package version information at runtime without the overhead of parsing composer.lock or vendor metadata repeatedly. It works by generating a static map of installed packages and their versions during Composer installation, which the application can then query directly without file I/O or parsing overhead.
Developers should choose this tool when their application needs to report or use version information for installed dependencies and performance matters. It suits projects that frequently access version data or run in environments where file system access is constrained. The approach is particularly valuable for applications that would otherwise need to repeatedly read and parse Composer's lock file or vendor directory metadata.
The project shows consistent maintenance with regular updates addressing compatibility and bug fixes. Development activity demonstrates responsiveness to issues and pull requests. The codebase maintains focus on its narrow, specific purpose without feature creep.
