Use Javascript frameworks without build tools like grunt and gulp?

Question

I am testing some modern Javascript frameworks like Angular, React, Vue and Ember, and they all want me to use building tools like npm , grunt , gulp , maven , etc ..

Web programming was fun. Just change some files, refresh your browser and see if it works. Now, every time I change something, I have to build it again, which takes quite a lot of time. I am very sorry to see that web programming has become so. I know that this building can be done automatically using these tools that monitor file changes, etc., but still it just sucks.

My question is, when I want to use one of the mentioned frameworks, should I use the build tools every time I want to run, or do I just need them for deployment and testing (or not at all))?

Answer 1

You do not need to use these tools. They are mainly intended for people who want to use frameworks in larger projects, and have functions that allow you to collect hundreds of JS components into a single file. I personally use them mainly to automate build tests, unit tests, and bring all assets together on release days. Let me turn to the framework that you mentioned one at a time:

React : React provides an already compiled version of its code on the start page.


AngularJS : just like reacting, there is only a file that you can include, just watch "angular cdn"
Vue . They also have a file that you can simply include.
Amber : see above

For most frameworks, you can simply find the “CDN framework name” to get an online js file that you can quickly add to your web development projects in the old way.

Answer 2

Some libraries require code, some do not. From the list that you had, none of them require it technically. They can work just by including the js file in the <script> . However, there are many frameworks / libraries (such as sass or coffeescript) that require a build tool because the source code must be compiled to become html / javascript / css, as the browser understands.

In addition, there is no reason to be against using building tools. As you said, they can automatically start when a file changes, so they really are in the background.