What is the process for integrating a Browserify library module into a project as a standard file?

Question

What is the process for integrating a Browserify library module into a project as a standard file?

I have successfully developed a JavaScript library module with browserify --standalone, passing all tests using npm test. Now, I am working on creating a demo application that will utilize this library module in a browser setting. When I run npm update, the library module gets installed under node_modules/library/blah.js. Currently, my workaround is serving the library to the browser directly from that location, which functions correctly. However, I aim to find a command that can copy (and potentially rename) the file from there into a top-level folder. By doing so, the library module would become an ordinary JS file for the demo app. How can I achieve this task in the simplest way possible?

update: My motivation behind copying and renaming the library file is to ensure its compatibility with other technologies that require zipping up all JavaScript files for web server deployment purposes.

javascript npm browserify

Answer 1

Answer №1

Another question worth mentioning is How to integrate npm with ASP.NET Core, inquiring about incorporating JavaScript installed via npm install into a web application that expects browser-based JavaScript to reside in the wwwroot folder. While I personally do not use ASP.NET, this question highlights the common need for users to transfer library files from the node_modules folder created by npm installation to a location accessible by the web browser.

The accepted answer on that thread recommends utilizing gulp for file management. It emphasizes that gulp is the preferred "task runner of choice for VS (visual studio)". There are various other task runners available as well, allowing users to select one that suits their preferences. After reviewing multiple gulp examples, I stumbled upon this gist which, in my opinion, provides clear and practical insights.

This led me to include the following lines in my package.json, ensuring that gulp runs whenever npm install is executed:

  "scripts": {
    "prepare": "gulp minify"
  },

I then crafted a simpler version of the aforementioned gist named gulpfile.js, designed to copy the library file to the main folder and update its extension to indicate the source library:

"use strict";

var _      = require('lodash'),
    gulp   = require('gulp'),
    uglify = require('gulp-uglify'),
    rename = require('gulp-rename');

var js = [
    './node_modules/thinbus-srp/browser.js'
];

gulp.task('copy-min-js', function () {
    _.forEach(js, function (file, _) {
        gulp.src(file)
            .pipe(uglify())
            .pipe(rename({ extname: '.thinbus.js' }))
            .pipe(gulp.dest('.'))
    });
});

gulp.task('minify', ['copy-min-js']);

Hence, every time I update the library through npm install, the latest version of the library file is copied and renamed in the main folder for easy access by the browser.

Answer 2

Another question worth mentioning is How to integrate npm with ASP.NET Core, inquiring about incorporating JavaScript installed via npm install into a web application that expects browser-based JavaScript to reside in the wwwroot folder. While I personally do not use ASP.NET, this question highlights the common need for users to transfer library files from the node_modules folder created by npm installation to a location accessible by the web browser.

The accepted answer on that thread recommends utilizing gulp for file management. It emphasizes that gulp is the preferred "task runner of choice for VS (visual studio)". There are various other task runners available as well, allowing users to select one that suits their preferences. After reviewing multiple gulp examples, I stumbled upon this gist which, in my opinion, provides clear and practical insights.

This led me to include the following lines in my package.json, ensuring that gulp runs whenever npm install is executed:

  "scripts": {
    "prepare": "gulp minify"
  },

I then crafted a simpler version of the aforementioned gist named gulpfile.js, designed to copy the library file to the main folder and update its extension to indicate the source library:

"use strict";

var _      = require('lodash'),
    gulp   = require('gulp'),
    uglify = require('gulp-uglify'),
    rename = require('gulp-rename');

var js = [
    './node_modules/thinbus-srp/browser.js'
];

gulp.task('copy-min-js', function () {
    _.forEach(js, function (file, _) {
        gulp.src(file)
            .pipe(uglify())
            .pipe(rename({ extname: '.thinbus.js' }))
            .pipe(gulp.dest('.'))
    });
});

gulp.task('minify', ['copy-min-js']);

Hence, every time I update the library through npm install, the latest version of the library file is copied and renamed in the main folder for easy access by the browser.

What is the process for integrating a Browserify library module into a project as a standard file?

Answer №1

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