Output filename different than input

[markgoodyear]

Would it be possible to specify a different output file than the source file? For example, my project requires specifying a main.css file, along with a minified version, main.min.css.

gulp.task('minifycss', function() {
    gulp.src('./dist/assets/css/main.css')
        .pipe(minifycss())
        .pipe(gulp.dest('./dist/assets/css/main.min.css'));
});

Obviously the above doesn't work — it just creates a folder called main.min.css then puts the output file inside, but something like the above would be great.

Cheers,
Mark

[yocontra]

This seems like a good case for gulp-rename. gulp.dest is specifically for folders - we used to have a .file output but that was removed

Proposed:

gulp.task('minifycss', function() {
    gulp.src('./dist/assets/css/main.css')
        .pipe(minifycss())
        .pipe(rename('main.min.css'))
        .pipe(gulp.dest('./dist/assets/css/'));
});

This also gives me an idea for a gulp-extrename plugin that changes the extension of any file passed through

[hparra]

A rename function would be in the piping spirit, but it should be more powerful than the proposed. It should offer all the globbing business addressed by #6 and #7.

I added a filename function to gulp-cli. I'm not crazy about that pattern. Would prefer some sort of smart string.

[yocontra]

@hparra Would you mind renaming that to gulp-spawn? I was planning on using gulp-cli to split out that section of code soon

For the rename plugin you could have a few different ways. String for simple rename, object like {extension: '.min.css'} to just change an extension, or a function that takes in the existing name and returns the new name. I can't think of any cases that wouldn't be covered by those.

Other plugins could use this rename plugin to rename files, change file extensions, etc. by piping their existing output through it

[hparra]

@contra Yeah. That's exactly the way it should work - takes hash of helpful params like "extension", "prefix", "suffix", or a function to roll your own deal, e.g. regex, etc.

RE: gulp-cli. I unpublished it. You should probably go ahead and sit on entry.

[yocontra]

@hparra I got chastised by isaacs for camping a plugin before while I was working on the code. I'll just hope nobody is a dick and takes it.

[yocontra]

Also @hparra feel free to make gulp-rename yourself if you want! The idea is pretty straightforward and there is already code for renaming extensions and whatnot in gulp-util

[markgoodyear]

@contra @hparra I like the idea of rename, sounds just what I'm after. Changing the extension also works too, might actually be a better solution for specifying .min.css, saves from re-specifying the main file name.

[yocontra]

Putting out a bounty of $5 to anyone who wants to make gulp-rename

[hparra]

Sorry, I was going to do this since I already did that filename business, but I got side-tracked just building the yeoman generator.

Proposal: it accepts a string for explicit rename, or a hash with options for common operations (prefix, suffix, extension) relative to the original filename, or a custom function.

[yocontra]

@hparra Exactly what I had in mind

[hparra]

@contra Me too. Will get to it later tonight.

[yocontra]

#37

[hparra]

@markgoodyear Released as gulp-rename.

@contra I guess you can close this!

[markgoodyear]

@hparra Tested, and works great. I use the same method for minifying JS, so the .pipe(rename({suffix: '.min'})) is perfect for both cases — no need to worry about re-specifying file name/type. Good work! 👍

[yocontra]

Nice! @hparra DM me your gmail so I can send you a wallet payment

[jurchiks]

This really should be built-in functionality... It is extremely common to output files in the format name.min.ext.

[phated]

No, it should not, use gulp-rename.