Looking for a pattern that combines Browserify and Angular?

Currently, I am embarking on a project using angular and browserify for the first time. I am seeking advice on how to properly utilize the require function with browserify.

There are multiple ways to import files, but so far, I have experimented with the following method:

In my Angular App structure:

app
  _follow
     - followController.js
     - followDirective.js
     - followService.js
     - require.js
- app.js

For each folder containing plugin files, I create a separate require.js file where I list all the files within that folder. For example:

var mnm = require('angular').module('mnm');

mnm.factory('FollowService', ['Restangular',require('./followService')]);
mnm.controller('FollowController',['$scope','FollowService',require('./followController')])
mnm.directive('mnmFollowers', ['FollowService',require('./followDirective')]);

Then, I require all the require.js files in a single file named app.js, which is used to generate the final bundle.js.

Question:

Is this method of requiring files considered a good structure, or will it pose issues during testing? Your insights into achieving a sound structure with angular and browserify are greatly appreciated.

Answer №1

When it comes to using AngularJS and browserify together, the compatibility isn't ideal. Unlike React with browserify, which seems to work well in comparison, AngularJS requires a different approach.

What I've found effective is structuring each file as an AngularJS module (since each file is already a CommonJS module) and having these files export their respective AngularJS module names.

For example, your project directory might look like this:

app/
  app.js
  follow/
    controllers.js
    directives.js
    services.js
    index.js

The `app.js` file would contain something similar to this:

var angular = require('angular');
var app = angular.module('mnm', [
  require('./follow')
]);
// more code here
angular.bootstrap(document.body, ['mnm']);

The `follow/index.js` file would look something like this:

var angular = require('angular');
var app = angular.module('mnm.follow', [
  require('./controllers'),
  require('./directives'),
  require('./services')
]);
module.exports = app.name;

And so on for `follow/controllers.js` and other files within the structure of your application.

This approach helps keep dependencies explicit and maintains a one-to-one mapping between CommonJS module paths and AngularJS module names, thus reducing any unexpected issues.

One potential downside of another approach lies in separating dependencies from the functions that need them, resulting in having to modify multiple files if a function's dependencies change. This could be considered a code smell.

For testability purposes, either method should suffice as Angular's module system allows importing two modules defining the same name to override each other.


In retrospect, some individuals have proposed alternative methods over the years, which I'll address below along with their trade-offs:

  1. Utilize one global AngularJS module for the entire application and employ requires for side-effects rather than sub-modules exporting anything but manipulating the global angular object.

    While common, this approach somewhat goes against the idea of modularization. Nevertheless, given AngularJS' intrinsic use of globals, focusing on side-effect based modules may seem pragmatic amidst architectural challenges.

  2. Concatenate your AngularJS app code prior to passing it to Browserify.

    This direct solution combines AngularJS and Browserify effectively from a starting point where simply concatenating app files prevails in AngularJS projects. While valid, this doesn't necessarily enhance app structure post-implementation of Browserify.

  3. Similar to 1 but with each `index.js` defining its own AngularJS sub-module.

    Following Brian Ogden's boilerplate approach, this method inherits the drawbacks of the first option while creating a semblance of hierarchy within AngularJS modules corresponding to directory structures. However, managing two sets of namespaces without consistency enforcement makes refactoring cumbersome and less desirable.

If deciding today, I'd opt for the second option considering it relinquishes any attempt to unify AngularJS and Browserify, allowing each to function independently. Additionally, integrating Browserify into an existing AngularJS build system merely entails adding an extra step.

For new projects not tied to an AngularJS codebase, it's advisable to explore alternatives such as Angular2 with native support for a proper module system or transitioning to React or Ember to bypass this particular issue altogether.

Answer №2

After struggling with browserify and Angular integration, I realized that the process was getting chaotic. The idea of creating a named service/controller and then requiring it from a different location didn't sit right with me.

angular.module('myApp').controller('charts', require('./charts'));

The separation of controller name/definition in one file and the function itself in another just added to the confusion. Additionally, dealing with multiple index.js files became overwhelming when working with numerous open files in an IDE.

To simplify this process, I developed a gulp plugin called gulp-require-angular. This plugin enables you to write Angular code using standard Angular syntax. It automatically requires js files containing angular modules and their dependencies into a generated entry file, which can be used as your browserify entry point.

You still have the flexibility to use require() within your codebase to import external libraries like lodash into services/filters/directives whenever necessary.

For those interested, I have updated the latest Angular seed repository to incorporate gulp-require-angular.

Answer №3

My approach is similar to that of pluma in using a hybrid method. Here's how I create ng-modules:

var name = 'app.core'

angular.module(name, [])
 .service('srvc', ['$rootScope', '$http', require( './path/to/srvc' ))
 .service('srvc2', ['$rootScope', '$http', require( './path/to/srvc2' ))
 .config...
 .etc

module.exports = name

The difference lies in my avoidance of defining individual ng-modules as dependencies for the main ng-module. Instead of declaring a Service as an ng-module and then listing it as a dependency of the app.core ng-module, I keep it flat:

//srvc.js - see below
module.exports = function( $rootScope, $http )
{
  var api = {};
  api.getAppData = function(){ ... }
  api.doSomething = function(){ ... }
  return api;
}

I respectfully disagree with the notion of code-smell in this scenario. While it may involve an extra step, it provides excellent configurability for testing against mock-services. For example, I often use this for testing services without an existing server-API ready:

angular.module(name, [])
//  .service('srvc', ['$rootScope', '$http', require( './path/to/srvc' ))
  .service('srvc', ['$rootScope', '$http', require( './path/to/mockSrvc' ))

This setup ensures that any controller or object dependent on srvc remains unaware of which version it is receiving. Although there may be complexities when services depend on other services, I believe that such design flaws should be avoided. I prefer using ng's event system for communication between services to minimize their coupling.

Answer №4

Although Alan Plum's answer may not be entirely accurate when discussing CommonJS modules and Browserify with Angular, it is important to note that Browserify can indeed work well with Angular, contrary to his claims comparing it to React.

By utilizing Browserify and a CommonJS module pattern, developers can effectively organize code by features instead of types, avoid polluting the global scope with variables, and easily share Angular Modules across different applications. This also eliminates the need to manually include <script> tags in HTML files, as Browserify automatically manages dependencies.

A notable flaw in Alan Plum's response lies in the lack of emphasis on using required index.js files within each folder to define dependencies for Angular modules, controllers, services, configurations, routes, etc. There is no requirement for individual requires within the Angular.module instantiation or module.exports statements as implied in Alan Plum's explanation.

For a more comprehensive approach to organizing Angular modules with Browserify, consider exploring this alternative module pattern: https://github.com/Sweetog/yet-another-angular-boilerplate

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