Node.js Project Using esbuild

This project demonstrates the setup of a Node.js application using esbuild for bundling JavaScript files that include both ES modules and CommonJS modules. It features development setup with auto-reloading using nodemon.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have Node.js and npm installed on your system. You can download and install them from Node.js official website.

Installation

To set up this project:

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/FerJSsilva/node-esbuild-template
   cd your-project-name

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install

Development

To start developing with live reloading:

1. Run the development server:

   npm run dev

This command uses concurrently to run esbuild in watch mode and nodemon to restart the server when the bundle file is updated. This setup allows you to see changes in real time without manually restarting the server.

Building for Production

To build the application for production:

1. Build the project:

   npm run build

This will bundle all JavaScript files into a single output file in the dist directory, optimized for production use.

Advantages of Using esbuild

• Speed: esbuild is significantly faster than other bundlers like Webpack and Parcel. It uses Go instead of JavaScript, allowing for much faster bundling times.
• Simplicity: esbuild has fewer configurations, making it easier to set up and use, especially for smaller projects or for developers new to bundling.
• Efficiency: It produces smaller output files and efficiently handles dependencies, which improves load times and performance.
• Versatility: Supports both CommonJS and ES module syntax out of the box, allowing you to integrate a wide range of JavaScript code and libraries.
• Built-in Minification and Tree-shaking: esbuild comes with built-in minification and tree-shaking capabilities, helping reduce the size of the output bundle by removing unused code.

Scripts Explained

• npm run dev: Runs the development environment with live reloading.
• npm run build: Bundles the code for production.
• npm run start: Starts the server using the production bundle.

For more detailed documentation on esbuild, visit the official esbuild GitHub page.