[BUG] Different maintainer list output by CLI with different flags

[robatwilliams]

Is there an existing issue for this?

• [X] I have searched the existing issues

This issue exists in the latest npm version

• [X] I am using the latest npm

Current Behavior

npm view ms - gives 8 maintainers under the "maintainers:" section, matching npmjs.com npm view ms --json - gives 55 maintainers under the "maintainers" key npm view ms maintainers - gives 55 maintainers under the "maintainers" key

Expected Behavior

The commands give the same maintainer list, which matches the Collaborators sidebar section on npmjs.com

Definition of maintainer: https://github.com/npm/www/issues/133#issuecomment-284906561

Steps To Reproduce

Run the above commands for presumably any package (I used ms as an example)

May be related to #2266 which was closed without investigation.

Environment

• npm: 10.7.0
• Node.js: 20.14.0
• OS Name: Windows 10
• System Model Name:
• npm config:

; copy and paste output from `npm config ls` here

[robatwilliams]

npm owner ls also gives the 8, so that's an alternative while this issue remains

[reggi]

Here's my explanation:

• ms package currently has 8 maintainers
• It was last published with a latest version over a year ago
• I believe at the time of publish it had 55 maintainers and has since been changed
• npm view ms lists the current maintainers for the package
• npm view ms maintainers lists the maintainers for the latest published package
• npm view ms operates on the packument level
• npm view ms [with any flags] is a query to the latest version's manifest

I think we can close this one out unless anyone has any objections, feel free to comment below / open a new issue and link back to this one.

[ljharb]

also npx publishers ms will list who published each version (altho, not who could have published at that time)