file-replace-loader

file-replace-loader is webpack loader that allows you replace files in compile time by some condition.

file-replace-loader is free and will always remain free
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Table of contents

• Features
• Installation
• Usage
• Multiple replace
• Using with binary files
• Using with other loaders
• Loader options
• Contributing
• License

Features

• Compatibility with webpack 3.x, 4.x, 5.x;
• Support watch webpack mode;
• Replace files in compile time without change source files;
• Multiple replacement;
• Sync and async modes;
• Compatibility with other loaders;
• Support binary files.

Installation

NPM

npm install --save-dev file-replace-loader

Yarn

yarn add file-replace-loader

Usage

1const { resolve } = require('path');
2
3module.exports = {
4  //...
5  module: {
6    rules: [{
7      test: /\.config\.js$/,
8      loader: 'file-replace-loader',
9      options: {
10        condition: 'if-replacement-exists',
11        replacement: resolve('./config.local.js'),
12        async: true,
13      }
14    }]
15  }
16}

This example rule replaces all of imports /\.config.js$/ to config.local.js file,
if replacement exists (condition if-replacement-exists).

After this build a bundle file will contain code from config.local.js and original sources won't changed.

Multiple replace

To describe replace rules for two or more files you can use function as replacement value.

How does it work?

1. Webpack runs file-replace-loader according to test rule, include and exclude rule options;
2. file-replace-loader looks on replacement option. If it is string then the loader just replace a file. If it is a function then file-replace-loader checking what it returns. If the function returns a path to file then the loader replaces, if returns nothing then current match skips.
3. If replacement function returns a path then file-replace-loader looks to condition. If condition is always then it replace every match. If condition is if-replacement-exists then loader checking existing file, etc;

For example:

1const { resolve } = require('path');
2
3module.exports = {
4  //...
5  module: {
6    rules: [{
7      test: /\.js$/,
8      loader: 'file-replace-loader',
9      options: {
10        condition: 'always', // <-- Note that the rule applies for all files!
11        replacement(resourcePath) {
12          if (resourcePath.endsWith('foo.js')) {
13            return resolve('./bar.js');
14          }
15          if (resourcePath.endsWith('foo-a.js')) {
16            return resolve('./bar-a.js');
17          }
18        },
19        async: true,
20      }
21    }]
22  }
23}

file-replace-loader passes to replacement function resourcePath for every matching. file-replace-loader doesn't care what developer does with this path but if repalcement function returns a new path then file-replace-loader replaces file. If replacement function returns nothing then file-replace-loading skip replace for current resourcePath.

Example with mapping:

1const { resolve } = require('path');
2
3module.exports = {
4  //...
5  module: {
6    rules: [{
7      test: /\.js$/,
8      loader: 'file-replace-loader',
9      options: {
10        condition: 'always', // <-- Note that the rule applies for all files! But you can use other conditions too
11        replacement(resourcePath) {
12          const mapping = {
13            [resolve('./src/foo-a.js')]: resolve('./src/bar-a.js'),
14            [resolve('./src/foo-b.js')]: resolve('./src/bar-b.js'),
15            [resolve('./src/foo-c.js')]: resolve('./src/bar-c.js'),
16          };
17          return mapping[resourcePath];
18        },
19        async: true,
20      }
21    }]
22  }
23}

NOTE: Make shure that all replacement files contains necessary imports and exports that other files are expecting.

Using with binary files

file-replace-loader allows replace binary files.
For example:

1//webpack.config.js
2
3const { resolve } = require('path');
4
5module.exports = {
6  //...
7  module: {
8    rules: [{
9      test: /\.png$/,
10      use: [{
11        loader: 'file-loader',
12        options: {
13          name: '[name].[ext]',
14        },
15      }, {
16        loader: 'file-replace-loader',
17        options: {
18          condition: 'if-replacement-exists',
19          replacement: resolve('./src/replacement.png')
20        }
21      }]
22    }]
23  }
24}

Using with other loaders

file-replace-loader must executes before other loaders. This means that in webpack config file the loader must be last in list.
For example:

1//webpack.config.js
2
3const { resolve } = require('path');
4
5// Correct
6
7module.exports = {
8  //...
9  module: {
10    rules: [{
11      test: /\.config\.js$/,
12      use: [{
13        loader: 'babel-loader',
14      }, {
15        loader: 'file-replace-loader',
16        options: {
17          condition: 'if-replacement-exists',
18          replacement: resolve('./config.local.js'),
19          async: true,
20        }
21      }]
22    }]
23  },
24}

Above is correct example. file-replace-loader will executed before other loaders.
Let's see incorrect usage:

1//webpack.config.js
2
3const { resolve } = require('path');
4
5// Error, because file-replace-loader will be execute after other loaders
6
7module.exports = {
8  //...
9  module: {
10    rules: [{
11      test: /\.config\.js$/,
12      use: [{
13        loader: 'file-replace-loader',
14        options: {
15          condition: 'if-replacement-exists',
16          replacement: resolve('./config.local.js'),
17          async: true,
18        }
19      }, {
20        loader: 'babel-loader',
21      }]
22    }]
23  },
24}

In incorrect example above file-replace-loader first in rule list. This case throw an error because file-replace-loader should be last in list.

Loader options

Option	Type	Required	Default	Possible values
condition Condition to replace	string|boolean	no	'if-replacement-exists'	true, false, 'always', 'never', 'if-replacement-exists', 'if-source-is-empty'
replacement Replacement file	string|function (resourcePath, options)	yes	—	Full path to file or function returning full path to file
async Asynchronous file reading	boolean	no	true	true, false
progress Progress output	boolean	no	IS_DEBUG_MODE == true or IS_PROGRESS_MODE == true	true, false

Contributing

See contributing guideline.

License

MIT LICENSE