neo.mjs create-app

Create a new neo.mjs app (workspace) using the 1-liner:

npx neo-app

npx neo-app works on macOS, Linux and Windows 10. If errors occur for your local environment, please file an issue.

Please ensure you have node & npm installed (npx is available for npm 5.2+).

You do not need to clone this repository or globally install the neo-app npm package.

Please take a couple of minutes to read this README.md file first.

Content

1. Quick Overview
2. Script Options
3. Starting a local web-server
4. Viewing your app in development mode
5. Viewing your app in dist modes
6. Workspace Content
7. package.json Scripts
8. Working on your new neo.mjs App
9. Learning neo.mjs
10. Feedback and Questions
11. Alternative options to create an App
12. Kudos

Quick Overview

npx neo-app

Running the script will prompt 3 questions:

1. Choose a workspace folder name. This folder will get created inside the terminal / CMD folder you are in. You can rename it later on if needed.
2. Choose an app name (Pascal Case)
3. Choose the themes you want to use (you can change this later on inside the index.html)
4. Choose the mainThreadAddons you want to use (you can change this later on inside the index.html)

Script Options

You can pass additional params to the script:

Choose a workspace folder name:

npx neo-app -w workspace

Choose an app name:

npx neo-app -n MyApp

Choose the themes:

npx neo-app -t both

Of course you can combine the options, e.g.:

npx neo-app -w workspace -n MyApp -t both

Starting a local web-server

By default, npx neo-app will start a webpack dev-server right after the build.

A new browser tab should open right away:

In case you do not want to start the dev-server automatically, you can use the -s option:

npx neo-app -s false

You can use a different web-server of your choice (e.g. webstorm) or you can start the default one manually later:

cd workspace

npm run server-start

Viewing your app in development mode

At this point, the dev-mode only works in Google Chrome & Edge (Chromium), since Firefox & Safari do not support JS modules inside the worker scope yet.

To view your new app, you can navigate to:

http://localhost:8096/apps/myapp/

The beauty inside this screen is:

1. You can see 4 threads inside the bottom left edge of the console
2. Your app as well as most parts of neo.mjs run within the App thread
3. You get the real JS modules directly into your browser
   1. No need to transpile JS code in this mode
   2. No need for source-maps

Viewing your app in dist modes

The dist versions run in Firefox & Safari as well.

dist/development is using webpack based builds (source-maps, not minified)

http://localhost:8096/dist/development/apps/myapp/

dist/production is using webpack based builds (no source-maps, minified)

http://localhost:8096/dist/production/apps/myapp/

Workspace Content

Using the script will create the following content:

1. .gitignore has a basic setup excluding IDE related files, the dist folder & the package-lock.json
2. apps contains the source files of your new app. You can create multiple apps as needed.
3. buildScripts contains meta-infos (in theory this could get stored inside the neo.mjs node_module, but then every framework version update would require to re-create it)
4. dist contains the development & production builds of your app, as well as the docs app
5. docs contains a copy of the neo.mjs non dist version of the docs app. This version does show documentation views of your app as well as all neo.mjs examples
6. node_modules => all related dependencies which are required for the build scripts & the dev-server
7. package.json => a dummy version; feel free to change it

package.json Scripts

"server-start": "webpack-dev-server --open",
"build-all": "node ./node_modules/neo.mjs/buildScripts/buildAll.js -n",
"build-all-questions": "node ./buildScripts/buildAll.js",
"build-my-apps": "node ./node_modules/neo.mjs/buildScripts/webpack/buildMyApps.js",
"build-themes": "node ./node_modules/neo.mjs/buildScripts/webpack/buildThemes.js",
"build-threads": "node ./node_modules/neo.mjs/buildScripts/webpack/buildThreads.js",
"create-app": "node ./node_modules/neo.mjs/buildScripts/createApp.js",
"generate-docs-json": "node ./node_modules/neo.mjs/buildScripts/docs/jsdocx.js",
"test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1"

You need to enter the workspace folder inside your terminal / CMD.

cd workspace

You can run each script via

npm run <script-name>

Some IDEs like webstorm can show npm scripts as a toolbox, so you can just click on them instead.

1. server-start: Starts the webpack dev-server
2. build-all: npm install & builds literally everything.
3. build-all-questions: same as build all, but you can choose what to build using the inquirer interface.
4. build-my-apps: creates the dist versions for your app(s) as well as the Docs app
5. build-themes: builds the themes for dev and / or prod and lets you choose if want to use CSS variables.
6. build-threads: builds main, data & vdom (or any combinations) for dev and / or prod.
7. create-app: add an additional app to your project. You can also trigger npx neo-app multiple times.
8. generate-docs-json: When you change your app code (e.g. adding new files) and want to see those changes inside the Docs app, you need to run this script to update the content.

You can choose which apps you want to build. Might not work on Windows 10 (issues with the deasync npm package) 6. prod-build-my-apps: creates the dist/production versions for your app(s) as well as the Docs app. You can choose which apps you want to build. Might not work on Windows 10 (issues with the deasync npm package) 7. theme related builds. You should run those when upgrading to a newer neo.mjs version, in case there were changes inside the scss files.

Working on your new neo.mjs App

It is recommended to use the development mode (non dist version) for developing your App(s). This way you can just reload the App page whenever you change the code base. No need for source-maps and a very smooth debugging experience.

You ideally want to start with changing the view/MainContainer.mjs file.

Once you get to a point where you want to test your changes inside the dist versions, take a look at: package.json Scripts.

Learning neo.mjs

To be fair, neo.mjs just got released to the public on November 23, 2019.

At this point getting up to speed is not as easy as it could be. There are a couple of guides inside the Docs app, but on the long term we definitely need more (help on this one is greatly appreciated!).

I recommend taking a look at the code base of the Docs app source (which is a neo.mjs App).

The Real World App is also worth a look. This one is not using a neo.mjs theme, since a given Bootstrap theme was a requirement, but it can help you to get the idea of how to craft custom components and work with Controllers.

The Covid Dashboard is the real deal, so studying the code will help you a lot (a blog on its creation is on the roadmap).

In general, it does make a lot of sense to dive into the neo.mjs code base. Some starting points: Neo.mjs (class system enhancements) Main.mjs (main thread starting point) worker.Manager (Creates the 3 workers) core.Base (Base class for almost everything)

Feedback and Questions

Feel free to use one of these options (or both): Slack Channel Invite Link Discord Chat Invite Link

Alternative options to create an App

1. Use npx neo-app
2. Clone or fork the neo.mjs workspace (if there are any issues with npx neo-app)
3. In case you want to get the neomjs/neo repository running locally, please take a look at the neo.mjs Getting Started Guide. Step 6 creates a new App inside neo/apps

Kudos

The npx neo-app script is deeply inspired by Create React App.

Copyright (c) 2019 - today, Tobias Uhlig