Reduce the size of Scripts/CSS for production mode using node.js

I currently have a node-based web app where the (client) JavaScript and CSS files are not minified for easier debugging purposes.

As I prepare to launch into production, I am looking at minifying these scripts. It would be convenient to have a command like:

node app.js -production

How can I serve the minified versions of my scripts without needing to modify the script tags in my HTML files? Is there a way to automatically switch between using combined minified scripts in production and individual unminified ones during development?

Is this achievable or am I overcomplicating things?

Answer №1

If you're looking for a convenient solution, consider checking out Piler. This Node.js module simplifies the process by delivering all specified JavaScript and CSS files as usual in debug mode, but combines and compresses them in production mode.

One of the standout features of Piler is its ability to update CSS changes in real-time using Socket.io, known as "CSS Live Updated". This feature adds an extra level of convenience to your development workflow.

The beauty of Piler lies in how it handles rendering elements. By using placeholders for script and link elements in your template, Piler dynamically renders these at runtime - whether it's a single element in debug mode or a compressed version in production mode.

This eliminates the need to manually create concatenated and minified versions of your assets or rely on external build tools. With Piler, everything is handled seamlessly at runtime, while still providing access to full versions for debugging purposes.

Answer №2

If you're looking to optimize how your static files are served, consider utilizing two different directories.

Check out this example using Express:

if (process.env.ENVIRONMENT === "production") {
  app.use(express.static(__dirname + '/min'));
} else {
  app.use(express.static(__dirname + '/normal'));
}

To start the node application with the production environment, run:

ENVIRONMENT=production node server.js

Alternatively, instead of duplicating all files, you can leverage the fact that the express static router stops at the first file it finds. Here's an example:

if (process.env.MODE === "production") {
  app.use(express.static(__dirname + '/min'));  // Serve minified version if available
}
app.use(express.static(__dirname + '/normal'));  // Fall back to regular files

Note that using the same filename for both versions may lead to issues with browser caching.

Answer №3

Sharing my final solution with everyone here.

Utilizing JSHTML for Express (check it out)

A unique route is implemented in my main node file:

app.get('/**:type(html)', function (req, res, next) {
var renderingUrl = req.url.substring(1, req.url.lastIndexOf("."));
//TODO: Better solution needed
    try{
        var assetUrl = req.url.substring(req.url.lastIndexOf("/") + 1, req.url.lastIndexOf("."));
        var assets = config.getResourceBundle(assetUrl);
        assets.production = config.getEnviroment() === "production";
        res.locals(assets);
        res.render(renderingUrl);
    }catch(e){
        res.redirect("/");
    }
});

Assets are retrieved from config.getResourceBundle as shown above. It's a simple function:

exports.getResourceBundle = function(identifier){
    switch(enviroment){
        case "development":
            return devConfig.getResourceBundle(identifier);
        case "production":
            return prodConfig.getResourceBundle(identifier);
        default:
            return devConfig.getResourceBundle(identifier);
    }
}

An example of an asset collection can be seen below:

exports.getResourceBundle = function (identifier) {
    return resourceBundle[identifier];
};


resourceBundle = {
    index:{
        cssFiles:[
            "resources/dev/css/login.css",
            "resources/dev/css/logonDlg.css",
            "resources/dev/css/footer.css"
        ],
        jsFiles:[
            "resources/dev/js/lib/jquery/jquery.183.js",
            "resources/dev/js/utilities.js",
            "resources/dev/js/lib/crypto.3.1.2.js"
        ]
    },
    register:{
        cssFiles:[
            "resources/dev/css/login.css",
            "resources/dev/css/modalDialog.css",
            "resources/dev/css/footer.css"
        ],
        jsFiles:[
            "resources/dev/js/lib/jquery/jquery.183.js",
            "resources/dev/js/utilities.js",
            "resources/dev/js/lib/crypto.3.1.2.js",
            "resources/dev/js/lib/jquery.simplemodal.js",
            "resources/dev/js/xfiles.register.js"
        ]
    }
(...)

I maintain 2 folders: dev / prod. Using grunt to handle the minification and organization of files between these two folders. When NODE_ENV=production, only minified scripts/css are delivered. This approach seems to offer a clean and efficient solution at present.

Answer №5

Here's another Node.js module that might be useful: connect-cachify.

While it doesn't handle actual minification, connect-cachify allows you to easily serve either the minified or original versions of scripts without having to modify your templates, thanks to cachify_js and cachify_css.

Although not as feature-packed as Piler, connect-cachify is likely simpler and still capable of meeting all the needs mentioned in the initial question.

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