Modular System Style Back

Today's websites are evolving into web apps:

  • More and more JavaScript is being used.
  • Modern browsers are offering a wider range of interfaces.
  • Fewer full page reloads → even more code in a page.

As a result there is a lot of code on the client side!

Module systems offer the option to split your code base into modules.

Style

There are multiple standards for how to define dependencies and export modules:

  • <script>-tag style (without a modular system)
  • CommonJS
  • AMD
  • ES Harmony
  • ...

1. <script>-tag style

<script src="module1.js"></script>
<script src="module2.js"></script>
<script src="libraryA.js"></script>
<script src="module3.js"></script>

Modules export an interface to the global object, i.e. the window object.

Cons

  • Conflicts in the global object
  • Order of loading can be refusing
  • Hard to manage dependencies

2. CommonJS: synchronous require

Use a synchronous require method to load a dependency and return an exported interface. A module can be exported by adding properties to the exports object or setting the value of module.exports.

require('module');
require('./../file.js');
module.exports = {};
exports.doStuff = function () {};

/** require this module */
var DoStuff = require('./../doSuff.js').doStuff;

Pros

  • Server-side modules can be reused
  • Many existed modules (npm)
  • Simple and easy to use

Cons

  • Blocking calls do not apply well in networks.
  • No parallel require of multiple modules

3. AMD: aynchronous require

require(['module', './../files.js'], function (module, file) {
    /** ... */
});

define('myModule', ['dependency1', 'dependency2'], function (d1, d2) {
    /** ... */
    return {};
});

Pros

  • Fits the asynchronous request style in networks
  • Parallel loading of multiple modules

Cons

  • Coding overhead. Hard to read or write.

4. ES Harmony

import 'module';
export function doStuff() {}
module myModule {}

Pros

Cons

  • Native browser support will take time
  • Few existed module in this style

Static Analysis

Static Analysis means to find dependencies when compiling modules.

More details can read this article.

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