Tag: JavaScript

How to Set Up a Robust Build System with WordPress/Scripts
What is the wordpress/scripts package?

The wordpress/scripts package is an npm package that provides a robust build system for WordPress applications. It uses webpack.js to compile ES6, React, SCSS, uglify, minify, and can be extended to use other webpack plugins.

The wordpress/scripts package is not limited to WordPress applications. It can be used to build any web application.

How to get started

To get started with the wordpress/scripts package, you need to install it in your project directory. You can do this by running the following command:
```
npm install @wordpress/scripts
```
Once the package is installed, you can start using it by running the following command:
```
npm run build
```
This will compile your JavaScript and CSS files and create a production build in the dist directory.

For more information about extending the default functionality such as entry and output destinations, see the npm link here.

For WordPress Gutenberg block development

If you are developing a WordPress Gutenberg block, you can use the wordpress/scripts package to compile your JavaScript and CSS files and create a production build that is compatible with the Gutenberg editor.

You will then need to add metadata like the following metadata to your block.json file:
```
"editorScript": "dist/block.js",
"editorStyle": "dist/block.css",
"script": "dist/block.js",
"viewScript": "dist/block.js"
```
The editorScript and editorStyle properties specify the file paths for the JavaScript and CSS files that will be loaded in the Gutenberg editor. The script and viewScript properties specify the file paths for the JavaScript files that will be loaded in the front-end of your website.

Running your npm scripts anywhere JS is supported

Once you have created and configured your webpack.js rules, you should be able to fire them off from anywhere nodejs is supported like docker images or CI/CD pipelines.

To run your npm scripts, you can use the npm run command. For example, to run the build script, you would run the following command:
```
npm run build
```
Gotchas

When working with the wordpress/scripts package, it’s important to stay on top of the exciting aspects of managing npm dependencies. This involves staying up to date with updates, security patches, and ensuring a consistent nodejs version. By keeping an eye on these factors, you’ll be able to make the most of your development experience.

To make sure that your dependencies are up to date, you can run the following command:
```
npm update
```
To check for security updates, you can run the following command:
```
npm audit
```
To keep a persistent nodejs version, you can use a tool like nvm.

Conclusion

The wordpress/scripts package is a powerful tool that can be used to set up a robust build system compiler for your web applications. It is easy to get started with and can be used to build any web application that uses JavaScript.

I hope this post has been helpful. Please let me know if you have any questions.
September 10, 2023
Web Components pt. 2: Server Side Rendering thoughts
The JavaScript ecosystem is constantly evolving, with new frameworks and best practices emerging all the time. One promising area of development is server-side rendering (SSR), which renders web pages on the server before sending them to the client. This can improve Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and page load times, and it can also make it easier to build accessible and performant web applications.

SSR works by rendering the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript for a web page on the server. This means that the browser does not have to do any of the work of rendering the page, which can significantly improve performance. Additionally, SSR can help with SEO by ensuring that search engines can crawl and index the content of your pages.

Server-Side Rendering (SSR) is a powerful technique that can be used to significantly improve the performance, SEO, and accessibility of web applications. By pre-rendering the web page on the server and sending the fully rendered HTML to the client, SSR ensures that the initial page load is fast and that the content is accessible to all users, including those with slower internet connections or devices with limited JavaScript capabilities.

One of the main advantages of SSR is the improved performance it offers. With SSR, the server can do much of the heavy lifting by rendering the HTML and sending it directly to the client. This means that the user doesn’t have to wait for the JavaScript to load and execute before seeing the content, resulting in faster page load times. Additionally, SSR reduces the need for subsequent round trips to the server to fetch additional content, further enhancing the overall user experience.

SSR Tools

By using the correct packages with React or other JS technologies, you will be able to render full web pages on the server side. Some of these tools include, but are not limited to:
- ReactDom.hydrate
- React rendertostring
- WP Gutenberg SSR (editor)
SEO

Another important benefit of SSR is its positive impact on SEO. Search engines prefer websites with fast load times and accessible content. With SSR, search engine crawlers can easily access and index the pre-rendered HTML, which can lead to better visibility and ranking in search engine results pages. By making your website more SEO-friendly, SSR can help drive organic traffic and increase your online presence.

Accessibility

SSR also contributes to improved accessibility. By rendering the HTML on the server and sending it directly to the client, SSR ensures that the content is accessible to all users, including those who rely on assistive technologies like screen readers. This is particularly beneficial for users with disabilities, as it allows them to consume the content without any barriers and fully participate in the online experience.

Dynamic content and Hybrid approach

However, it’s important to note that SSR also comes with some challenges. Implementing SSR requires additional server-side infrastructure and expertise, which can increase the complexity of your application. Additionally, SSR may not be suitable for all types of applications, especially those that heavily rely on dynamic content or real-time updates. In such cases, a hybrid approach, combining SSR with Client-Side Rendering (CSR), may be more appropriate.

Best Practices

In addition to SSR, there are a number of other best practices that you can follow to improve the performance and SEO of your web applications. These include:
- Using a lightweight framework or library
- Minifying and compressing your JavaScript and CSS files
- Using a content delivery network (CDN)
- Avoiding third-party scripts
- Implementing lazy loading
In summary, SSR is a powerful technique that can greatly enhance the performance, SEO, and accessibility of web applications. By pre-rendering the web pages on the server and sending the fully rendered HTML to the client, SSR improves initial page load times, boosts SEO rankings, and ensures that content is accessible to all users. However, it’s important to carefully consider the challenges and suitability for your specific application before implementing SSR.
September 9, 2023
Web Components in WordPress: A Modernizing Solution with a Lot of Potential

Web Components are a relatively new technology, but they have the potential to revolutionize the way we develop client-side web applications. Web Components are self-contained, reusable pieces of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript that can be used to create custom UI elements and functionality.

While Web Components are still not as popular as they should be in WordPress, there is a lot of potential for this technology to modernize client-side development in the CMS. By using a combination of JavaScript tools like webpack.js, @wordpress/wp-scripts, Gutenberg, React, and Native Web Components, developers can create powerful and performant WordPress themes and plugins without having to know a lot of PHP.

Here are some of the benefits of using Web Components in WordPress:

Faster performance: Web Components are compiled to native JavaScript, which means that they can be rendered much faster than traditional JavaScript code. This is especially important for WordPress themes and plugins, which need to be able to load and render quickly on all devices.

Modularity: Web Components are modular, which means that they can be easily reused and shared across different WordPress themes and plugins. This makes it easier to develop and maintain complex WordPress applications.

Openness: Web Components are an open standard, which means that they can be used by any web developer, regardless of their preferred framework or library. This makes it easier to collaborate on WordPress projects and to create reusable components that can be used in other web applications.

Example: wp-visualization-blocks plugin

My plugin, wp-visualization-blocks, demonstrates how to use Web Components to create custom Gutenberg blocks. The plugin uses wp-scripts to compile the Web Components and Gutenberg block code, and it keeps the code separated for modular use of web components onto other applications.

Conclusion

Web Components are a powerful new technology that can be used to modernize client-side development in WordPress. By using a combination of JavaScript tools and frameworks, developers can create fast, modular, and reusable WordPress themes and plugins without having to know a lot of PHP.

I encourage more WordPress developers to explore Web Components and to start using them in their projects. Web Components have the potential to make WordPress development more efficient, scalable, and accessible to a wider range of developers.

#wordpress #code #gutenberg #reactjs #web-components

September 6, 2023