The code that is developed and the code that is used in production are not the same. In production, you are required to construct packages with a high speed of execution, handle dependencies, automate activities, etc.
Build tools make it feasible to transform code in development into code that can be used in production. This article compiles a list of the top build tools available for frontend development, which you can utilize.
Table of Contents
1. Package Manager
Node.js’s built-in package manager is called Node Package Maid. When you install Node.js on your computer, the npm package manager will also be installed automatically, and you will be able to access it through the command line interface. With npm, you can use a single command to install any package that is compatible with Node.js.
In the npm registry, which can be accessed by the search box at the top of the npm webpage, you will find all of the currently available Node.js packages. All you have to do is type the name of the package you are looking for into the search bar, and you will be taken to the page for the package. It will include all the information you require regarding the package, including its installation process and all the dependencies it requires.
2. Grunt
Grunt is a frontend task runner that enables you to automate various repetitive operations, including minification and testing. Task runners are not the same as package managers in that you cannot use them to manage dependencies. It is one of the key differences between the two. If you wish to carry out the same activity with each build process, you will only require them.
3. Gulp
Another automated task runner known as Gulp is considered to be Grunt’s most formidable rival. Gulp may be used to automate recurrent frontend chores. Some examples of these jobs include CSS preparation, image optimization, etc. It is also a Node.js package that can be installed using either the npm or Yarn package managers, depending on your preference. You can configure the dependencies associated with your tasks by defining them in the package.json file and in the Gulpfile.
4. Browserify
There is a module loader for Node.js called Browserify. This loader allows you to bundle your frontend dependencies and load them as a single JavaScript file in the end user’s browser. The need() method in Node.js was created specifically for loading modules. The package managers like npm and Yarn use it to load modules on the server. The need() method is brought to the client via Browserify, which can significantly increase overall performance.
5. Yarn
Yarn is an alternative to the node package manager (npm) that may be used to manage frontend packages. Before you can use Yarn on your system, you should install Node.js. After that, all you have to do to use it to manage the requirements for your front end is follow the instructions in the installation guide.
Even while npm is an excellent tool, you can discover that the package-building process can take a considerable amount of time when using it.
Conclusion
You can easily convert your code for development into code ready for production with the assistance of front-end build tools. This code will function flawlessly on any device. We have compiled a list of the most widely used build tools available for use in web development projects, such as package managers, task runners, and module loaders/bundlers. We believe that these tools may help you.
