Sean Larkin

Posted on Oct 11, 2017

I maintain webpack, ask me anything!

#ama #webpack #javascript

I'm Sean,

I maintain webpack.

I work on Microsoft Edge DevTools.

I love ðŸ”s.

Ask.

Me.

Anything.

:-D

Latest comments (112)

Taylor Teal • Feb 8 '20

What do you think about using webpack for backend express apps? Is there a compelling reason to do this or not to?

Binyamin Green • Oct 31 '19

Using and customizing webpack can be very confusing for beginners. Why do you think that is? What can we as a community do to help them?

kirankumar • Oct 17 '19

when I add new plugin to webpack dev config file javascript heap out of memory error is getting?
what do I do?

Zach Cervi • Jun 24 '19

How can you conditionally load two different sass styles from webpack? Is it possible? I am trying to perform AB testing with two different stylesheets.

Condition A {
Load style A}
Else {
Load style B
}

AntonPilyak • Dec 28 '18

Hi Sean! I'm trying to write a plugin (or loader) for Webpack, but think that I'm stuck in trying to understand hooks and compilation stages. Could you please help me with this question: stackoverflow.com/questions/539367...
I would be extremely grateful!

x-yuri • Oct 6 '18

Hey Sean, what exactly is Webpack's manifest? How can I see it? I'm trying to understand why I should move runtime into a separate chunk (optimization.runtimeChunk = 'single'). And can't reproduce this case where content hash changes with each build, with no changes in the project files. webpack.js.org/guides/caching/#out...

Lizzie Karr • Jul 13 '18 • Edited

Hi Sean! Thanks for being open to questions <3

I'm trying to use an a tag to download a .rdp file. This works fine with an image but not with the file I need. Do you know if there's a webpack loader that can accept .rdp ?

Thank you!

<a :href='../assets/access.rdp' download>Remote Desktop</a>

Sean Larkin • Aug 13 '18

There might be, but if there's not you could always write one and then open source it to webpack-contrib!!! webpack.js.org/API/loaders

Nic • Feb 5 '18 • Edited

hi,Sean.
i use DllPlugin to produces bundle.dll.js and put it on cdn.
then,i use externals extract the library,but there is an error i dont understand

webpack.bundle.dll.js

const webpack = require('webpack');
const path = require('path');

module.exports = {
    entry: {
        bundle: [
            'vue',
            'vuex',
            'axios',
            "vue-router"
        ],
    },
    output: {
        path: path.join(__dirname, 'dll'),
        filename: '[name].dll.js'
    },
    plugins: [
        new webpack.DllPlugin({
            path: path.join(__dirname, 'dll', '[name]-manifest.json'),
            name: '[name]',
        }),
        new webpack.optimize.UglifyJsPlugin({
            beautify: false,
            comments: false,
            compress: {
                warnings: false,
                drop_console: true, //no console
            }
        }),
    ]
};

webpack.config.js

externals: {
    'vue': 'vue',
     "vuex": 'vuex',
     'axios': 'axios',
     'vue-router': 'vue-router'
},
new webpack.DllReferencePlugin({
      context: path.join(__dirname),
      manifest: require('./dll/bundle-manifest.json')
})

the error

index.min.js?b40cc7a554404568b02b:2844 Uncaught ReferenceError: vue is not defined
    at Object.<anonymous> (index.min.js?b40cc7a554404568b02b:2844)
    at __webpack_require__ (index.min.js?b40cc7a554404568b02b:689)
    at fn (index.min.js?b40cc7a554404568b02b:110)
    at Object.<anonymous> (index.min.js?b40cc7a554404568b02b:5096)
    at __webpack_require__ (index.min.js?b40cc7a554404568b02b:689)
    at fn (index.min.js?b40cc7a554404568b02b:110)
    at Object.<anonymous> (index.min.js?b40cc7a554404568b02b:13318)
    at __webpack_require__ (index.min.js?b40cc7a554404568b02b:689)
    at module.exports (index.min.js?b40cc7a554404568b02b:790)
    at index.min.js?b40cc7a554404568b02b:793

Frank_lyan • Jan 29 '18

Hi Sean!
What's your incentive to write JS for webpack? It's really comprehensive and compelling work!

Sean Larkin • Feb 2 '18

Because I love the entire user experience behind it. I love its complete extensibility. To me its a specimin case study of event driven architecture, along with a complete pluggable system (internally and externally).

Those things are really interesting to me. I also love getting people to contribute, and be involved and have a sense of feeling and fellowship.

Frank_lyan • Feb 21 '18

Thanks, and I wonder how can I gain the compelling programming skills like you? Haha...

Sean Larkin • Mar 14 '18

Study the things you love obsessively and teach people about it! Blog, share, present, give talks. :)

Frank_lyan • Sep 5 '18

Exactly, but sometimes I find time is too short and work is too busy. Maybe I need implement more useful ideas about time management, I will be more than gratitude if you give me some tips in detail . Thanks Sean!

Chris Nuvoli • Jan 18 '18

I hope this webpack thing burns in hell as soon as possible.

Sean Larkin • Jan 20 '18

Sorry ;-) Not likely anytime soon. Happy to help you learn anyways XD

Belhassen Chelbi • Dec 10 '17

If I want to start contributing to open source projects (with front-end technologies) what projects do you suggest I can start contributing to? any advices?

Sean Larkin • Jan 20 '18

Suggest something that interests you! Open Source is the most enjoyable when you are passionate about the project you contribute to!

Barry⚡ • Dec 10 '17

Hi Sean, what can you say about the new module bundler parcel? their benchmarks are really convincing.

Sean Larkin • Dec 31 '17

I'd say show me an optimized webpack build against a parcel build and let's see real benchmarks.

For what it's worth, there is no transparent information about that benchmark they post.

However I have created a benchmark that I hope more people contribute too that actually showcases some initial numbers. github.com/TheLarkInn/bundler-perf...