How n_api_node_api_version_matrix should be understood? #1014

Consult N-API documentation for more details: https://nodejs.org/dist/latest/docs/api/n-api.html#n_api_node_api_version_matrix

is unclear (or I am being stupid)

install of newer mapnik version is failing on my install (not really unexpected, I am trying to upgrade mapnik exactly because many dependencies are outdated and I am trying to figure correct order of dealing with bitrot)

So I found https://github.com/mapnik/node-mapnik?tab=readme-ov-file#requirements and I am trying to understand it

Consult N-API documentation for more details: https://nodejs.org/dist/latest/docs/api/n-api.html#n_api_node_api_version_matrix

is not really clear - is it supposed to be interpreted as "all currently supported node versions are compatible" or as "for given release node versions existing and supported at time of its release are compatible" or as "all currently supported node versions are compatible with latest version of node-mapnik, older may or may not work with various node versions"

XY Problem: I have an ancient mapnik and an ancient node, I want to upgrade both but upgrading both to latest versions will surely break other packages and I prefer to avoid replacing literally all dependencies at once.