How to manage client-side JavaScript dependencies? [closed]

Answer 1

You might want to take a look at Yeoman, which uses several techniques to help you with your requirements.

Our workflow is comprised of three tools for improving your productivity and satisfaction when building a web app: yo (the scaffolding tool), grunt (the build tool) and bower (for package management).

Build-in support for CoffeeScript, Compass and more. Works with r.js (RequireJS), unittesting etc.

As for your requirements:

1. Bower is used for dependency management
2. Bower can work with local files, git://, http:// and more
3. Build-in support for minification and concatenation (even for your images)
4. Build-in support to automatically compile CoffeeScript & Compass (with LiveReload)
5. As stated in the build process: if you're using AMD, I will pass those modules through r.js so you don't have to.

All features:

Lightning-fast scaffolding — Easily scaffold new projects with customizable templates (e.g HTML5 Boilerplate, Twitter Bootstrap), RequireJS and more.

Great build process — Not only do you get minification and concatenation; I also optimize all your image files, HTML, compile your CoffeeScript and Compass files, if you're using AMD, I will pass those modules through r.js so you don't have to.

Automatically compile CoffeeScript & Compass — Our LiveReload watch process automatically compiles source files and refreshes your browser whenever a change is made so you don't have to.

Automatically lint your scripts — All your scripts are automatically run against JSHint to ensure they're following language best-practices.

Built-in preview server — No more having to fire up your own HTTP Server. My built-in one can be fired with just one command.

Awesome Image Optimization — I optimize all your images using OptiPNG and JPEGTran so your users can spend less time downloading assets and more time using your app.

Killer package management — Need a dependency? It's just a keystroke away. I allow you to easily search for new packages via the command-line (e.g. `bower search jquery), install them and keep them updated without needing to open your browser.

PhantomJS Unit Testing — Easily run your unit tests in headless WebKit via PhantomJS. When you create a new application, I also include some test scaffolding for your app.