There are so many frameworks and tools for developers now that some have been complaining of “JavaScript frameworks fatigue”. It has caused a lot of buzz among JS developers.
As someone that only started learning to code 4 months ago, these tools have seemed daunting, but after the learning curve I have come to see just how useful they are. Browserify has solved some major headaches.
This post will outline what Browserify is, how it can be used, and also hint at some extra tools to streamline its use.
What is Browserify?
If you’re new to Nodejs — you should know this before we start. In NodeJS you can use different scripts known as “modules” as long as you require them within the script you are currently working on. For example if I wanted to use a popular library, React, in NodeJS, I could write the following (as long as I had installed React beforehand):
var React = require(“react”);
I can then use this throughout my script referencing React to use its properties and methods.
You can also reference your own Javascript files as modules. For example:
var MyJS = require(“./myJS.js”)
You can then use what you have exported from this file in a different file altogether! Wow!
Browserify takes this functionality and adds it to the browser. This means that you can reference external modules and your own to use everything on the Client Side of your application.
Let’s take an example. Say I want to use JQuery on the client but I have forgotten my CDN link for some bizarre and fortunate reason for this tutorial. I do however have Browserify installed….. so I can simply do this in my client side JS file (as long as I have installed JQuery first):
var $ = require(“jquery”)
I can then use the $ as I would normally use ($.getJSON() e.t.c.).
Why is this useful?
The first obvious reason is that you can use popular libraries in your client side which reduces having to reinvent the wheel. Say I need to parse a date, I can use MomentJS in the browser.
The big reason for me is that you can separate your scripts into easily manageable files. How often have you have you had huge js files hundreds of lines long on the client side and found it hard to debug? Now you can easily separate out your main functions and require them when needed. For example, say I need ajax functions regularly and for some reason I don’t want to use JQuery. I could create a file like this:
var ajaxFunctions = {
ready: function ready (fn) {
if (typeof fn !== ‘function’) {
return;
}
if (document.readyState === ‘complete’) {
return fn();
}
document.addEventListener(‘DOMContentLoaded’, fn, false);
},
ajaxRequest: function ajaxRequest (method, url, callback) {
var xmlhttp = new XMLHttpRequest();
xmlhttp.onreadystatechange = function () {
if (xmlhttp.readyState === 4 && xmlhttp.status === 200) {
callback(xmlhttp.response);
}
};
xmlhttp.open(method, url, true);
xmlhttp.send();
}
};
module.exports= ajaxFunctions;Now in another file, instead of writing out an Ajax function from scratch, I can reference this script, and use one of it’s methods to create an ajax request with very little code.
var ajaxFunctions = require(“./ajaxFunctions.js”)ajaxFunctions.ajaxRequest(“GET”, “example URL”, console.log(data))
What’s going on here? I am exporting my ajaxFunctions code as an object, which then is required as a variable in a different file. I can then reference the methods of this object and use the ajaxRequest function that was declared originally. This is heaven for KISS and DRY principles as you do not have to repeat your code at all.
How does it work?
Browserify takes the scripts you declare to it and joins them together into one file. Anything that is required will also be pulled in, say if you required an external library for use on the client side.
You can name this file whatever you want but most docs aptly call it bundle.js. You then reference this one JS file in your HTML or template and you’re ready to go! That’s right, only one file in your HTML — not lots — that’s a major positive for understanding your code and debugging.
How can you get up and running?
First of all, install Browserify using:
npm install Browserify -g — save;
Now you need to bundle your scripts:
browserify script1.js script2.js -o bundle.js
Make sure you include the file destinations and put the bundle.js file where you want relative to where you are running the command.
That should be it but of course there are always issues! If you have any feel free to send me a message and I will respond quickly — I wish I had had someone to ask…
Extensions — Watchify!
Yes, I know what you’re thinking. I have to compose this bundle.js file every time I want to make a change…… No! You can install Watchify which will recompose the bundle.js file whenever you make a change to a JS file. If you use Nodemon this functionality should be familiar to you. Install like so:
npm install Watchify -g — save;
Use like so:
browserify script1.js script2.js -o bundle.js
When this is running you will be able to see changes in action. Make sure it is running though, otherwise any changes you are making in your JS files will not be composed into the bundle.js and you will start scratching your head as to why nothing is working….. (I am of course speaking from experience….)
Summing it Up
Browserify solves the problems of having too many JS files referenced in your HTML, inability to use Node modules in the browser, and inability to reference your own modules in your own code.
Watchify streamlines the process of bundling your files and will make a change every time you change a JS file in your project.
My next article will be on configuring Browserify and ReactJS for creating components in separate files that work seamlessly in the browser.
I hope you found this useful. As always, these tools are hard to get your head around but once you do they can open a lot of doors.
FAQs
Hello World With Browserify
With Browserify you can write code that uses require in the same way that you would use it in Node. Browserify parses the AST for require() calls to traverse the entire dependency graph of your project. Drop a single <script> tag into your html and you're done!
What is the equivalent of Browserify? ›
Bower, Webpack, Babel, rollup, and RequireJS are the most popular alternatives and competitors to Browserify.
Who created Browserify? ›
Browserify
| Developer(s) | Browserling team and Browserify contributors |
|---|
| Repository | github.com/browserify/browserify |
| Written in | JavaScript |
| Operating system | Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Platform | Node.js |
7 more rowsHow to Start Learning Node. js
- Learn JavaScript. ...
- Understand Why It Is Called Node. ...
- Understand non-blocking in Node. ...
- Learn the Concept of the Event Loop. ...
- Learn the Global Variables. ...
- Learn How to Use the Libraries That Come With Node. ...
- Learn Code Writing for Node. ...
- Without Using Any Frameworks, Write a Web Application on Node.
Browserify solves the problems of having too many JS files referenced in your HTML, inability to use Node modules in the browser, and inability to reference your own modules in your own code. Watchify streamlines the process of bundling your files and will make a change every time you change a JS file in your project.
What are the benefits of browserify? ›
Browserify is a flexible and powerful build tool for JavaScript. At the most basic level, it allows you to bundle your JS code using CommonJS style modules that will run in the browser. It also offers a plugin and transformation api. Allowing you to process your scripts as they are bundled.
What is the difference between BrowserSync and Browserify? ›
Browserify: Browser-side require() the node. js way. Browserify lets you require('modules') in the browser by bundling up all of your dependencies; BrowserSync: Reload all your browsers, every time you hit save.
Why do we use gulp? ›
Gulp let us automate processes and run repetitive tasks with ease. What makes Gulp different from other task runners is that it uses Node streams; piping output from one task as an input to the next. It only needs to read a file once, then process it through multiple tasks, and finally write the output file.
What is Esmify? ›
A dead-simple tool to add import / export ES Module syntax to your browserify builds. The plugin makes the following changes to your bundler: Adds .
Does browserify work with TypeScript? ›
Bundling is one of the standard operations to compile a TypeScript application before running it. You can make use of a package called Browserify, which provides a simpler syntax to configure the bundling. The aim is to normalize the bundling process using Browserify, which helps to maintain the app.
It takes around 3 months to fully learn Node JS and be able to build a functional full-stack application. If you already know some other programming, you can get the basics down within a few week's time.
How many days required to learn JavaScript? ›
Generally, it takes around six to 12 weeks to learn the basics of JavaScript. This includes understanding its syntax, data types, operators, and programming concepts. Becoming an expert in the language often requires two to four years of experience.
Is Node JS easier than Python? ›
Ease of Learning
Both Python and Node. js are easy to learn. However, Python is more readable and can even be understood by those who aren't developers. We'll next explore basic syntax by creating a “Hello World” server in Node.
What is the function of browserify in JavaScript? ›
Browserify is a solution for allowing Node. js style require() calls for importing libraries and your own code in a simple, easy-to-read fashion. Outside of the browser, it is pretty simple to include a library or additional file in your code (in most languages). In PHP, just calling require 'filename.
What is Watchify in JavaScript? ›
watchify is a browserify plugin, so it can be applied like any other plugin.
What are the two types of functions in JavaScript? ›
Functions in JavaScript are very similar to those of some other scripting high-level languages such as TypeScript and there are two types of functions: predefined and user-defined.
What is the difference between Browserify and Webpack? ›
Browserify is less flexible than Webpack. It uses tools such as Gulp and Grunt to define bundling workflows. Browserify requires plugins like split-require to perform code splitting. Browserify may require further configuration to work with npm packages.
Why do we need ECMAScript? ›
ECMAScript is a scripting-language specification that was developed by ECMA International in order to create a standardized JavaScript implementation across all web browsers. It is widely used for client-side scripting in web browsers, and it is also used for server-side scripting with node.
Why use polyfills JavaScript? ›
The polyfill uses non-standard features in a certain browser to give JavaScript a standards-compliant way to access the feature. Although this reason for polyfilling is very rare today, it was especially prevalent back in the days of IE6 and Netscape where each browser implemented JavaScript very differently.
What is the alternative to BrowserSync? ›
Keep multiple browsers & devices in sync when building sites
The best alternatives to BrowserSync are Blisk browser, Browserling, and Browserosaurus. If these 3 options don't work for you, we've listed a few more alternatives below.
The BrowserSync is used to watch all HTML and CSS files in the css directory and performs the live reload to the page in all browsers whenever files were changed. BrowserSync makes workflow faster by synchronizing URL's, interactions and code changes across multiple devices.
Is there a better alternative to JavaScript? ›
CoffeeScript, as the name suggests, is a fresh, lightweight alternative to JavaScript. It brings a more pythonic syntax to the table, and it's pretty readable. The code you write in CoffeeScript compiles to JavaScript under the hood, so no worries about compatibility.
What is the best alternative to JavaScript? ›
Top 10 alternatives to JavaScript for Frontend
- Typescript. Typescript is an object-oriented programming language that is gaining quite a lot of popularity, especially in Frontend development. ...
- Elm. The majority of users wonder if elm is a good language or not. ...
- Dart. ...
- PHP. ...
- CoffeeScript. ...
- ClojureScript. ...
- Kotlin. ...
- Flutter.
guava, Neo4j, Java 8, RxJava, and Apache FreeMarker are the most popular alternatives and competitors to JGraphT.
Is gulp outdated? ›
Hey, Gulp is still alive and still used in the Internet.
Should I use Webpack or gulp? ›
The basic difference is Gulp is a task runner, whereas Webpack is a bundler. Hence, Webpack can run the majority of functions by itself without the help of any other applications. In the bundle, there are provisions for running tasks, minification and source maps in the system.
Why TypeScript is not supported in browsers? ›
Browsers don't understand TypeScript. They understand JavaScript code. Hence, the TypeScript code needs to get compiled into JavaScript, and for that, you need the TypeScript compiler.
Should I always use TypeScript instead of JavaScript? ›
TypeScript is better than JavaScript in terms of language features, reference validation, project scalability, collaboration within and between teams, developer experience, and code maintainability.
Do I need Babel if I use TypeScript? ›
Babel excels at custom transformations
If you need custom transformations, you'll need to use Babel. The good news is that most TypeScript tools allow you to both use TypeScript and then run the code through Babel afterwards, to get the best of both worlds.
Why is it so hard to learn Node JS? ›
Since Node. js is an advanced programming skill, the more computer science experience and training you have, the easier it will be to learn. The biggest hurdle for Node. js students is already surmounted because it is learning HTML/CSS and JavaScript, which is required to start learning Node.
It's simpler than Java. It's ideal for full-stack developers. It offers faster and easier code writing. It has a node package manager, letting you store many libraries in one line.
Can I learn Node JS as my first language? ›
If you have taken another programming course before (like Python) then you have the proper programming foundation and can go ahead and start learning Node JS without taking a JavaScript course. You can pick up the fundamentals of JS while you build servers with Node.
Am I too old to learn JavaScript? ›
It's never too late to learn a programming language. Some job seekers who are older may initially doubt their ability to learn coding because of a lack of experience or fear of employment bias. But, the reality is that learning a new skill takes time and dedication, no matter your age.
Can I get a job by just learning JavaScript? ›
It's not impossible to get a job as a web or mobile app developer if you know only Javascript. You may have even come across such developer stories occasionally on the internet. But it's not the norm. The majority of such job opportunities are offered as internships or training programs.
Is it worth learning JavaScript in 2023? ›
1. High Demand in the Job Market. One of the most significant benefits of learning Java and JavaScript is the high demand for these skills in the job market. Many companies still use these languages for their software development projects, and they will likely continue to do so in the future.
What is the best language for backend development? ›
C# C-Sharp is one of the most widely used languages for creating system backends. It's because of its incredible features, such as Windows server automation.
Should I learn Python or JavaScript for backend? ›
js vs Python – which is better for the backend? Python is recommended for backend development. However, you could use Node. js both for backend as well as frontend development.
Is Node.js used for frontend or backend? ›
Node. js is sometimes misunderstood by developers as a backend framework that is exclusively used to construct servers. This is not the case; Node. js can be used on the frontend as well as the backend.
What is the difference between BrowserSync and browserify? ›
Browserify: Browser-side require() the node. js way. Browserify lets you require('modules') in the browser by bundling up all of your dependencies; BrowserSync: Reload all your browsers, every time you hit save.
How does the browser read JSX? ›
Because JSX is not valid JavaScript, browsers can't read it directly; they do not know what to do with it, so we need a transpiler to translate it to React. createElement() calls.
To detect the version of the browser in the JavaScript we need to use navigator. appVersion or navigator. userAgent.
How to read data from website using JavaScript? ›
Steps Required for Web Scraping
- Creating the package.json file.
- Install & Call the required libraries.
- Select the Website & Data needed to Scrape.
- Set the URL & Check the Response Code.
- Inspect & Find the Proper HTML tags.
- Include the HTML tags in our Code.
- Cross-check the Scraped Data.
JSX allows us to write HTML elements in JavaScript and place them in the DOM without any createElement() and/or appendChild() methods. JSX converts HTML tags into react elements. You are not required to use JSX, but JSX makes it easier to write React applications.
How does a browser read a URL? ›
Wrapping Up
- You type a URL in your browser and press Enter.
- Browser looks up IP address for the domain.
- Browser initiates TCP connection with the server.
- Browser sends the HTTP request to the server.
- Server processes request and sends back a response.
- Browser renders the content.
JSX: JavaScript XML
These snippets of suspiciously-HTML-like code are not HTML, but a syntax extension to JavaScript based on ES6 called “JavaScript XML.” More commonly referred to as “JSX,” JavaScript XML is a form of markup that allows us to write HTML in React by converting HTML tags into React elements.
How do I know if my browser is blocking JavaScript? ›
Activate JavaScript in your browser
- Open Chrome on your computer.
- Click. Settings.
- Click Security and Privacy.
- Click Site settings.
- Click JavaScript.
- Select Sites can use Javascript.
To detect a user browser, we can make use of the global window object available in the browser. The window object contains a navigator object which can be accessed with or without referencing the window, because it can stand alone and is globally accessible.
How to get user IP address in JavaScript? ›
For example: json(`https://api.ipdata.co?api-key=${apiKey}&fields=ip`).then(data => { console. log(data. ip); });
Which language is best for web scraping? ›
Best Programming Languages for Effective Web Scraping
- Python. If you asked developers focused on web scraping what their language of choice is, most would likely answer Python, and for a good reason. ...
- JavaScript. JavaScript, without Node. ...
- Ruby. Speaking of simplicity, it'd be difficult to ignore Ruby. ...
- PHP. ...
- C++ ...
- Java.
Web scraping is the process of using bots to extract content and data from a website. Unlike screen scraping, which only copies pixels displayed onscreen, web scraping extracts underlying HTML code and, with it, data stored in a database.
How do we do web scraping?
- Inspect the website HTML that you want to crawl.
- Access URL of the website using code and download all the HTML contents on the page.
- Format the downloaded content into a readable format.
- Extract out useful information and save it into a structured format.
