I’m working on a project that uses private npm packages written in CoffeeScript. To keep things simple during deployment, I want each package to handle its own CoffeeScript compilation. The idea is to include CoffeeScript as a dependency and compile the code when the package is installed.
This works fine for standalone packages, but I’m running into issues when one package depends on another that needs to be compiled.
Here’s a simplified example of what I’m trying to do:
When I try to install package-beta, it fails with an error saying it can’t find the CoffeeScript compiler in package-alpha. Any ideas on how to make this work? I really need to deploy JavaScript, not CoffeeScript files.
I’ve faced a similar challenge with transpiling TypeScript during package installation. The issue you’re encountering is likely due to the order of operations during npm install.
One approach that worked for me was to use a postinstall script instead of an install script. This ensures that all dependencies are fully installed before the compilation occurs. Try modifying your package.json files like this:
Additionally, you might want to consider adding the coffeescript compiler as a devDependency instead of a regular dependency. This can help reduce the overall package size for production installs.
If you’re still running into issues, you could explore using a build tool like Webpack or Rollup to handle the compilation process. This gives you more control over the build pipeline and can be more robust for complex dependency structures.
Remember to gitignore your lib directory and include it in your npm package files to ensure the compiled JavaScript is what gets published and installed.
hey, u might wanna try using a prebuild script instead. it runs before the package is packed, so the compiled js is ready when installed. change ur package.json like this:
“scripts”: {
“prebuild”: “coffee -c src -o lib”
}
it worked for me with some other stuff. also, make sure to include the lib folder in ur package files. good luck!
I’ve encountered similar issues when working with packages that require compilation. One approach that’s worked well for me is to use a prepublish script instead of an install script. This ensures the compilation happens before the package is published, so the compiled JavaScript is already available when it’s installed as a dependency.
You could modify your package.json files like this:
Also, consider adding a ‘prepare’ script that runs both for npm publish and for local npm install. This can help catch any compilation issues early:
"scripts": {
"prepare": "coffee -c src -o lib"
}
Don’t forget to include the compiled ‘lib’ directory in your package files and .npmignore appropriately. This approach has helped me streamline my workflow and avoid dependency compilation headaches.