diff --git a/arduino-core/src/cc/arduino/contributions/VersionHelper.java b/arduino-core/src/cc/arduino/contributions/VersionHelper.java
index caf98c8f1..bead8d46e 100644
--- a/arduino-core/src/cc/arduino/contributions/VersionHelper.java
+++ b/arduino-core/src/cc/arduino/contributions/VersionHelper.java
@@ -65,4 +65,7 @@ public class VersionHelper {
     }
   }
 
+  public static int compare(String a, String b) {
+    return valueOf(a).get().compareTo(valueOf(b).get());
+  }
 }
diff --git a/arduino-core/src/cc/arduino/contributions/libraries/ContributedLibrary.java b/arduino-core/src/cc/arduino/contributions/libraries/ContributedLibrary.java
index 485d6183b..6c42ddcfb 100644
--- a/arduino-core/src/cc/arduino/contributions/libraries/ContributedLibrary.java
+++ b/arduino-core/src/cc/arduino/contributions/libraries/ContributedLibrary.java
@@ -32,12 +32,13 @@ package cc.arduino.contributions.libraries;
 import cc.arduino.contributions.DownloadableContribution;
 import processing.app.I18n;
 import processing.app.packages.UserLibrary;
+import static processing.app.I18n.tr;
 
 import java.util.Comparator;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Optional;
 
-import static processing.app.I18n.tr;
+import cc.arduino.contributions.VersionHelper;
 
 public abstract class ContributedLibrary extends DownloadableContribution {
 
@@ -181,6 +182,10 @@ public abstract class ContributedLibrary extends DownloadableContribution {
     return versionEquals && nameEquals;
   }
 
+  public boolean isBefore(ContributedLibrary other) {
+    return VersionHelper.compare(getVersion(), other.getVersion()) < 0;
+  }
+
   @Override
   public int hashCode() {
     String hashingData = "CONTRIBUTEDLIB" + getName() + getVersion();