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Because the client-side apps or web browsers also run JavaScript similar to that of the server side.
What Are Node.js Bundler and Build Tools?
A web or mobile app built with Node.js will contain multipleJavaScript files, dependencies, and libraries.
you oughta compile these files when you initiate the final program in the web internet tool.
This compilation could slow down the entire app.
Therefore, Node.js and JavaScript developers have built specialized tools that help you to automate the entire development process.
It can also produce a dependency graph as it goes back and forth with the first code file.
In addition, module bundlers facilitate functions like hot module replacement and code splitting to improve app performance.
Build tools assist JavaScript developers with task automation.
For example, these tools can install code-based components automatically.
Not to mention you have already invested too much time and money.
To avoid that, you need specialized tools.
How Does Node.js Bundler or Build Tools Help Developers?
Thus, you’re free to use it for any small-scale and large-scale JS project.
Brunch supports various JavaScript coding such as AMD, CommonJS, Custom wrapper, etc.
It provides a local server and a online window-based code management system for development purposes.
Its CLI is also pretty easy to understand and has only three commands.
Snowpack
If you are looking for faster web app development,Snowpackis the latest option.
Snowpack follows the unbundled development process, which is faster than the usual module bundlers.
In Snowpack, you build each file once, and the tool caches all the files forever.
Additionally, Snowpack introduces instant updates of in-web client web apps by utilizing Hot-Module Replacement (HMR).
Parcel
Parcelis again a new module bundler for Node.js projects with many promising features.
For example, it facilitates lighting-fast bundling through a multicore design architecture.
It can utilize your workstations hardware for the fast bundling of modules.
Some notable features of this JavaScript build tool are:
Parcel also offers performance optimization of production-based apps.
Its optimization processes include tree-shaking, image optimization, minification, compression, content hashing, and code splitting.
It is a cross-platform CLI tool built on the Node.js runtime environment.
This program comes with a sourced copy of the gyp-next project of GitHub.
The Chromium team also used the same gyp-next to support the native addons development of Node.js.
Node-gyp supports various target versions of Node.js, like Node.js 17, 16, 15, 14, etc.
you might effortlessly install node-gyp using npm, and the tool supports Unix, macOS, and Windows computers.
gulp
gulpis another popular JavaScript build tool that mainly automates Node.js development workflows.
Its coding interface lets you write focused and individual tasks to reduce repetition while increasing accuracy.
Later on, you’re able to compose the individual functionalities into one large tool.
gulp also offers many community plugins to automate various tasks of your Node.js app development project.
Rollup
If you are searching for an easy-to-understand and get-started-with tool for Node.js, definitely tryRollup.
The bundler does not use idiosyncratic solutions for code modules like asynchronous module definition (AMD) or CommonJS.
Rollup lets you seamlessly and freely combine individual functions, assets, and dependencies from various libraries.
Therefore, your team can reduce the development time and take the app to market faster than your competitors.
esbuild
esbuildis yet another JavaScript bundler and code minification tool that is extremely fast.
The esbuild project developers had written the program in Go, and hence it is faster than its competitors.
esbuild helps you to package TypeScript or JavaScript codes efficiently for web-based distribution.
The bundler is still in the experiment phase and undergoing rapid development.
The latest version of esbuild is v0.14.27, and soon a new version will replace it.
It offers lightning-fast JavScript module bundling without the need to file caching.
The tool also supports the latest JavaScript revision ES6 and the legacy modules like CommonJS.
The developer claims that this Node.js module bundler is two times faster than its competitors like Parcel.
In addition, it offers a safe environment forNode.js applicationssince the tool has been built using Rust.
Rust is well known for safe concurrency and memory safety since it uses a borrow checker for reference validation.
Its faster module bundling can also be attributed to the multicore compilation technology.
webpack
One of the most popular and widely used static Node.js module bundlers iswebpack.
It follows a basic workflow for module bundlingthe dependency graph method.
In simple words, it analyzes your inputs like code files, libraries, dependencies, and assets.
Then it creates a dependency relationship graph.
This graph facilitates the mapping of every module the software requires.
you’re able to also customize the input configs to generate different outcomes.
Webpack is outstanding, but learning it is a time-consuming process.
The config file it produces is somewhat complex and becomes more ambiguous because of its hard syntaxes.
Nx
Nxis an extensible, smart, and fast-build system for Node.js projects.
Its design philosophy is similar to that of the Visual Studio Code.
The VS Code text editor lets you become highly productive without using extensions.
Like VS Code, Nx is simple, minimalistic, and generic.
Nx also gives you access to various plugins for your Node.js projects.
However, plugins are optional.
For productive development, Nx offers interactive visualizations, VS Code plugins, and GitHub integration.
When you edit a code, Nx analyzes the whole workspace and rebuilds the module that changed.
It does not retest or rebuild every module on every commit.
pkg
Want to convert your Node.js project into an executable?
It is meant for container-based applications and not for serverless environments.
Hence, you have the option to use it for free.
This is whereVitecomes into play, addressing these limitations.
This approach enriches the development process and injects tremendous enthusiasm among developers.
Highlights:
Bundler
TheBundleris an integral part of the JavaScript world.
When there are many files and dependencies, loading them with different requests can cause problems.
Thats where bundlers come in.
They take the applications code and make it into smaller bundles.
These bundles can be loaded with just one request, which is better than many.
Bundlers also handle things like changing the code; theyre an excellent place to set up these changes.
Single-page or multi-page web apps built with Node.js look better than standalone software.
The user interface and data execution of such apps also are of the best quality.
Also, know thebest hosting platform for Node.js applicationsfor your next JavaScript-based app development projects.
