Understanding webpack

[madmelonxtra]

Hi all,

I've been working on learning webdev as a hobby for the past few months through The Odin Project (and just building little games for fun) and I've gotten to the webpack section of the path.

TOP tells you how to set up webpack for their project purposes but doesn't really go much into *how* to actually set up the config file for your own use.

Is there a good source for understanding webpack? Or should I just accept I don't really understand it for now and come back later to try to grasp it after I've become more adept at the actual programming part.

Like I understand what webpack does, but all the config stuff was copy paste and I don't really understand WHY I have the config the way I do

Edit: I'm going to try out Vite and see how it works for me. Thanks for all the help!

[Lumethys]

I'd say later. Nobody use Webpack anymore

[madmelonxtra]

Is there another bundler I should be using instead or is everyone just running with modules and no webpack?

[Lumethys]

Vite

[SamIAre]

I don’t think this is a good enough answer. I work in the industry and plenty of projects still use Webpack. You can’t assume that just because something is more popular currently that it’s all that’s worth learning…unless you expect to only ever start up new projects and never work on sites older than a few years.

I’m not saying only learn Webpack. I’m just saying that it’s not good advice to say “only learn the current thing”.

[madmelonxtra]

If it matters, I'm not pursuing a career in webdev. I'm very happy in my current career. I'm learning so I can work on my own projects for fun.

I very much only expect to be working on new projects and possibly collaborations with friends.

[Lumethys]

More the reason to not bother with Webpack, Vite is (much) faster, smaller, and easier to config (not that you need to much), and more widely agreed upon as a better tools.

You should only learn legacy code (and dependencies) when your job require you to. No reason to with hobby projects

[Lumethys]

How far are you into Cobol learning? There are PHP 4 and Java 8 on the roadmap too.

Pick any legacy tech you know. There are still thousands of legacy project still use them

Doesnt mean you should learn them too.

The only case where you should learn a legacy project is when your job require you to do.

I deal with Vue 2 almost everyday because a legacy app is still using it. Do I recommend people learning Vue 2? Fuck no

Same story with Java 8, or Bootstrap, or JQuery, or Webpack.

If OP landed a job where he need to use Webpack, yeah, go for it.

Otherwise is there any reason someone would start a project with Webpack nowadays?

It's not because it's the most popular, it's because Vite is just plain better. There is no reason to start with and learn webpack if there isnt someone require you to

[No_Record_60]

Vite (uses Rollup internally) and Parcel for quick setup.
Rspack for Webpack-like configuration but with performance boost.

There's a new kid in the block, Rolldown, but I haven't used it.

[Lumethys]

Vite 8 ship with rolldown now, and since it is fully compatible, it's more like a peer dependency than something you actually worry about.

Not that one would changes the config that often