webpack is a bundler for modules. The main purpose is to bundle javascript files for usage in browser.
TL;DR
- bundles CommonJs, AMD and/or Labeled Modules modules. (even combined)
- can create a single bundle or a bunch of chunks loaded on demand, to reduce initial loading time.
- dependencies are resolved while compiling, this makes the runtime very small
- loader can preprocess files while compiling, i. e. coffee-script to javascript
Check the documentation if you want to know more...
Take a look at the examples folder.
- loaders are chainable
- loaders run in node.js and can do a bunch of stuff
- option to name your file with a hash of the content
- watch mode
- SourceUrl and SourceMap support
- plugin system, extend webpack or build a complete different compiler
- i. e. component, rewire and more...
- interfaces
- CLI with arguments
- CLI with config file, arguments are still possible
- usable as library from node.js
- usable as grunt plugin
- browser replacements
- comes with browser replacements for some node.js modules
- Hot Module Replacement
- install updates without full page refresh
- see also
- webpack-dev-middleware
- webpack-dev-server
- enhanced-resolve and
- enhanced-require
var commonjs = require("./commonjs");
require: "./labeled";
define(["amd-module", "./file"], function(amdModule, file) {
require(["big-module/big/file"], function(big) {
// AMD require acts as split point
// and "big-module/big/file" is only downloaded when requested
var stuff = require("../my/stuff");
// dependencies automatically goes in chunk too
});
});
require("coffee!./cup.coffee");
// The loader syntax allows to proprocess files
// for common stuff you can bind RegExps to loaders
// if you also add ".coffee" to the default extensions
// you can write:
require("./cup");
function loadTemplate(name) {
return require("./templates/" + name ".jade");
// dynamic requires are supported
// while compiling we figure out what can be requested
// here everything in "./templates" that matches /^.*\.jade$/
// (can also be in subdirectories)
}
require("imports?_=underscore!../loaders/my-ejs-loader!./template.html");
// you can chain loaders
// you can configure loaders with query parameters
// and loaders resolve similar to modules
// ...you can combine everything
function loadTemplateAsync(name, callback) {
require(["bundle?lazy!./templates/" + name + ".jade"], function(templateBundle) {
templateBundle(callback);
});
}You can run the unit tests with npm test.
You can run the browser tests:
cd test/browsertests
node build
and open tests.html in browser.
You are welcome to contribute by writing issues or pull requests. It would be nice if you open source your own loaders or webmodules. :)
You are also welcome to correct any spelling mistakes or any language issues, because my english is not perfect...
If you want to discus something or just need help, here is a gitter.im room.
Copyright (c) 2012-2013 Tobias Koppers
MIT (http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.php)
