How to delete unneeded files from a npm frontend package in production

Question

I have a frontend web app created using Angular 2 and TypeScript, and I just can't find a way to properly organize the build process.

Let's say I have this structure which I think is reasonable:

/
 - dist/   <-- transpiled .js files
 - src/    <-- .ts files
 - assets/
 - bower_components/
 - node_modules/
 - package.json
 - index.html

Question 1

Of course I'd like not to have the src folder on the production server. But when should I delete it, if I should? With a npm script? With a Grunt task? With a rm when creating a Docker image?

The same thing applies for package.json and Gruntfile.js.

Question 2

A similar issue comes from the node_modules folder: I use Browserify to bundle most of the dependencies of my app into a single file, so for example Angular becomes part of dist/bundle.js.

Should I delete node_modules on the production server, given that it isn't useful anymore? How?

For some reason I might use some modules that won't get included into the final bundle (e.g. because they're referenced from <script> tags): how do I know what to delete and what to keep?

Theo Yaung · Accepted Answer · 2016-05-14 00:27:07Z

2

I'm assuming that your TS/JS is entirely client-side (in-browser).

In that case, if your project contains no server-side code, I've seen a lot of projects use something like a www folder that represents the URL scheme of the website predeployment. Everything outside of www is only for development (src, node_modules, etc.). Keeps deploying simple :)

answered May 14, 2016 at 0:27

Theo Yaung

4,0641 gold badge20 silver badges14 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

How to delete unneeded files from a npm frontend package in production

Question 1

Question 2

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Question 1

Question 2

1 Answer 1

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related