Webpack 5: What’s New and What You Need to Know
Webpack is a popular tool for bundling front-end assets, and its latest version, Webpack 5, is packed with new features and improvements. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what’s new in Webpack 5 and what you need to know to get started.
Breaking Changes and Compatibility
Before we dive into the new features, it’s essential to note that Webpack 5 has some breaking changes. The minimum supported Node.js version has increased from 6 to 8, and some plugins might not work as expected. Make sure to check the compatibility of your plugins and update them if necessary.
New Features and Improvements
Improved Build Performance
Webpack 5 introduces persistent caching, which can significantly improve build performance. This feature is still experimental, but it shows promising results. To enable persistent caching, add the following line to your Webpack configuration file:
javascript
cache: {
type: 'filesystem',
},
Better Long-Term Caching
Webpack 5 includes new algorithms for assigning chunk and module IDs. These algorithms are designed to improve long-term caching and reduce the number of cache invalidations. You can enable these algorithms by adding the following lines to your Webpack configuration file:
javascript
optimization: {
chunkIds: 'deterministic',
moduleIds: 'deterministic',
},
Named Chunk IDs
Webpack 5 introduces a new algorithm for naming chunk IDs. This algorithm generates human-readable chunk IDs based on the chunk’s content. You can enable this algorithm by adding the following line to your Webpack configuration file:
javascript
optimization: {
chunkIds: 'named',
},
Automatic Node.js Polyfills Removal
Webpack 5 no longer includes automatic polyfills for Node.js core modules. Instead, you’ll need to manually add polyfills for the modules you use. This change helps reduce the size of your bundles and improves performance.
Improved SplitChunksPlugin
The SplitChunksPlugin has been improved to handle different types of sizes. You can now specify multiple values for minSize and maxSize to manage different types of chunks.
Other Changes and Improvements
There are many other changes and improvements in Webpack 5, including internal changes, config updates, and more. Make sure to check the official changelog for a complete list of changes.
Getting Started with Webpack 5
To get started with Webpack 5, make sure to update your Webpack version and plugins. You can install Webpack 5 using the following command:
bash
npm install webpack@next
Once you’ve updated your Webpack version, you can start exploring the new features and improvements. Make sure to check the official documentation for more information on how to use Webpack 5.
Conclusion
Webpack 5 is a significant improvement over its predecessor, with many new features and improvements. From persistent caching to better long-term caching, there’s something for everyone in Webpack 5. Make sure to check the official changelog and documentation for more information on how to get started with Webpack 5.