Webpack is a module bundler primarily for JavaScript, but it can transform front-end assets like HTML, CSS, and images if the corresponding plugins are included. Webpack takes modules with dependencies and generates static assets representing those modules. More information can be found in the official Webpack site https://webpack.js.org/

These are the list of commands available:

The default build using Webpack.

npm run build

This command use to start the Webpack real-time watcher. This task watches the sass/js files and automatically recompile whenever the source files are changed.

npm run watch

Webpack use webpack-dev-server to quickly develop an application. Use below command to start the Webpack in localhost.

npm run localhost

npm run build --rtl

npm run build --prod

npm run build --css=false

npm run build --js=false

The Webpack file entries are located at [metronic]/theme/default/[demo]/tools/webpack/ and you can customize the output file to meet your project requirements:

Example of custom plugin in [metronic]/theme/default/[demo]/tools/webpack/vendors/custom/datatables.bundle.js

/**
 * @output vendors/custom/jstree/jstree.bundle
 * @images ../../../../../themes/framework/media/vendors/jstree/32px.png
 */

The new plugins from npm can be added into existing global.js file or in separate bundle. [metronic]/theme/default/[demo]/tools/webpack/vendors/global.js

To create a separate bundle, check on these existing samples in [metronic]/theme/default/[demo]/tools/webpack/vendors/custom/*

Get the new plugin package from yarn site; https://yarnpkg.com/en/. Install the new plugin using yarn (refer to this guide https://yarnpkg.com/en/docs/usage). This is the example command to add a new npm plugin. After running this command, the new plugin name will be added into package.json

yarn add [package]

Use below sample code to include the new plugin. The Webpack will first look for the plugins in the node_modules folder.

require("[package]");

require("path/to/dist/package.js");

For some case, the included plugin that need to be initialized within your custom codes by pass it to the global window. Then can be used globally within your custom codes. For example as below;

window.Dropzone = require("dropzone");

This is to fix the browser to recognize the plugin when need to use it as new Dropzone()

To include CSS file from the plugin, use this;

require("path/to/dist/package.css");

Below is a file structure inside the default Metronic's Webpack config. The Metronic's Webpack config is located in [metronic]/theme/default/[demo]/tools/webpack/*