Easy-to-integrate JavaScript Module Bundlers
A module bundler is a tool that takes pieces of JavaScript and their dependencies and bundles them into a single file, usually for use in the browser. Module bundlers help in managing the code base and optimizing development as well as the build process. A Module bundler helps you manage the dependency relationship of your code; it will load modules in dependency order for you.
Here we will look at some of the module bundlers you can choose to integrate with your JavaScript projects.
1. Webpack
Webpack is a static module bundler for the latest JavaScript applications. It works by building a dependency graph to map every module the project needs. In this way, it creates one or more handy bundles. It comes with many features that can be used to optimize our development and build processes.
Developers: Tobias Koppers, Sean Larkin, Johannes Ewald, Juho Vepsäläinen, Kees Kluskens, and Webpack contributors
Pros:
Improved long-term caching mechanism allows you to build your project within a few seconds.
It generates output based on configurations. You can also define split points to create separate bundles within the project code itself.
Hot module replacement allows you to modify your project while running and saves you precious time by avoiding complete application reloads.
Its flexibility gives you control over how to treat different assets encountered.
Webpack handles the dependencies automatically and includes them in the final bundle based on the dependency graph it generates.
There is a high learning curve, but Webpack’s advantages make this worth it.
Top companies using this:
Statistics:
GitHub stars: 59k
Release date: 10 March 2012
2. Browserify
Browserify is another exciting module bundler that has had a long rivalry with Webpack. It is simple, powerful, and easy to install. Its advantages are due to the ability to extend the Node ecosystem. Browserify is not just a module bundler. It brings all the power of Node.js to your browser. It is flexible as it can be extended via plugins. Browserify allows requiring files, similarly to Node.js.
Developed By: Browserling team
Pros:
It minimizes many pre-processing tasks with a transformative system.
It doesn't require its CLI tools to manage dependencies, allowing easy integration with NPM scripts.
CSS and SCSS support can be added with the scssify transform.
It solves the problems of asynchronous loading.
It is easy to learn.
Works excellent with gulp.js.
Top companies using this:
Statistics:
GitHub stars: 13.8k
Release Date: 10 October 2020 (17.0.0 stable release)
3. FuseBox
FuseBox is a highly customizable front-end development tool and comes with frequent updates. It is simple to configure and has powerful features. Compared to other module bundlers, FuseBox configurations are straightforward, which allows you to develop applications in no time. You can also easily use plugins with FuseBox to take care of anything that FuseBox’s core doesn’t handle.
Pros:
It uses a TypeScript compiler by default along with a robust cache system.
Ability to replace Babel.
Hot module replacement.
Automatic CSS splitting and optimization.
It supports an integrated task runner for its extensive set of plugins.
It has a built-in task runner, and the project automatically updates to reflect your changes.
EMS dynamic imports are also supported.
Top companies using this:
Statistics:
GitHub stars: 4.1k
4. Rollup
Rollup is a module bundler for JavaScript which compiles small pieces of code into something larger and more complex, such as a library or application. It uses the new standardized format for code modules included in the ES6 revision of JavaScript instead of previous idiosyncratic solutions such as CommonJS and AMD. ES modules let you freely and seamlessly combine the most beneficial individual functions from your favorite libraries.
Pros:
Helps application optimizations.
Supports tree-shaking and scope-hoisting.
It can optimize ES modules for faster native loading in the latest browsers.
It can “roll” and compress data into a single summary document for easy access.
Top companies using this:
Statistics:
GitHub stars: 20.4k
5. Parcel
The Parcel is another new yet promising module bundler for JavaScript projects. Parcel uses worker processes to enable multicore compilation and has a filesystem cache for fast rebuilds even after a restart. With its simple, out-of-the-box operability, it improves performance and minimizes hassles during configuration.
Pros:
Hot module replacement means Parcel automatically updates modules in the browser as you make changes during development; no configuration is needed.
Bundles all the assets, including JS, CSS, HTML, files, images, and more.
With Babel, PostCSS, and PostHTML, code is automatically transformed.
Parcel prints syntax highlighted code frames when it encounters errors to help you pinpoint the problem.
Using the dynamic import() syntax, Parcel splits your output bundles to only load what is needed on the initial load.
Top companies using this:
Statistics:
GitHub stars: 38.7k
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