Test updating an append only field to see if we need to do actual checkouts for SharePoint 2010 javascript CSOM SPOILER: We don't!

update_append_only_field.js

var ctx = new SP.ClientContext("/");
var web = ctx.get_web();
var warList = web.get_lists().getById("8F7087E5-DFBE-4459-AFA5-0D44ACE783E0");
var item = warList.getItemById(1);
ctx.load(web);
ctx.load(warList);
ctx.load(item);
ctx.executeQueryAsync(function() {
  item.set_item('SiteColumn_ConsolidatorSummary', "what it is, what it is");
  item.update();
  ctx.load(item);
  ctx.executeQueryAsync(function() {
    console.log('SUCCESS!');
  },
  function() {
    console.log('error');
  });
},
function() {
  console.log('error');
});