14 Tools for Making Javascript Smaller

When you minimize Javascript, you make it much smaller. The downside is that humans can’t read it anymore, but that doesn’t matter because it’s meant for your browser, not for you.

There are many ways to minimize Javascript, and the tools we have to do it are quite diverse. We have online converters, fancy GUI tools, and even command line interfaces. In this article, I’ll show you how minimizing Javascript works, how you can use it in your own work, and the pros and cons of doing so.

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How Javascript Minification Works

Have you ever wondered what happens when you minify your code? Let me explain it to you in simpler terms.

If you take a look at the UglifyJS Github Repository, you’ll see the script that’s used in various online converters and tools like Grunt. It performs a series of transformations to make your code shorter:

• It removes unnecessary spaces, making your code more compact.
• It shortens variable names, often down to just one character, making your code more concise.
• It combines consecutive variable declarations, reducing redundancy.
• It converts arrays to objects wherever possible, optimizing your code.
• It optimizes if statements, making them more efficient.
• It calculates simple constant expressions, improving performance.
• And it does much more!

Let me give you a quick example. Imagine you have a function that writes out a given text. It might look something like this:

function hello(text) {

console.log(text);

}

And you call this function with the following text:

hello(‘Welcome to the article’);

When you minify this code, all the unnecessary spaces, variable names, and other optimizations are applied, resulting in a shorter and more efficient version of your code.

Hey there! Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of minification and see what happens when we give it a go. Pay close attention to the removal of spaces and indentation, as well as the shortening of the text variable.

function hello(e)hello(“Welcome to the article”)

The Scoop on Javascript Minification Tools

When it comes to minifying JavaScript, the tools at your disposal generally fall into three categories: online, GUI, and command line.

• Online tools simplify the process by allowing you to paste your code and quickly grab the result.
• GUI tools offer more functionality, with JS minification being just a small part of their repertoire.
• Command line tools are often more comprehensive, providing minification as one of their many features.

Online Tools – Quick and Easy

I’ve discovered several online tools that can help me with minifying JavaScript. The first one is javascript-minifier.com. It has a nice-looking interface and even comes with an API. Another option is the Online YUI Compressor, which is more powerful and offers a lot of options, including CSS minification. This tool uses the YUI compressor, so it’s quite reliable. If I need something quick and simple, I can try jscompress.com. It may not have all the fancy features, but it gets the job done efficiently. Lastly, there’s jsmini.com. It’s another straightforward option that is easy to use.

What I like about these online tools is how fast they are. I can quickly minify my code without any hassle. On the other hand, more complex tools like GUI and command line ones might be faster, but they require project setup to work properly. However, the downside to these online tools is that they don’t offer much customization compared to command line tools.

Speaking of GUI tools, they are another option for minifying JavaScript. They have a graphical user interface that makes them user-friendly.

When it comes to optimizing code for the web, there are several handy tools available to help make the process easier. Let me introduce you to a few of them.

• Koala: This tool is absolutely free and can handle LESS and SASS compilation, as well as JS minification, among other useful features.
• Prepros: For even more options, you might consider this cross-platform app. Though it comes with a price tag, it offers a wider range of functionalities.
• Codekit: As for me, I prefer this Mac-exclusive app. It’s paid, but it’s worth it. Codekit not only handles code compilation and minification, but also provides a preview server and bower package management, among many other features.
• UltraMinifier: If you’re working on a Mac, this free app is worth checking out. It specializes in CSS and JS minification and offers an easy drag-and-drop interface.

Now, let’s talk about the different types of graphical user interface (GUI) apps I mentioned. There are simple one-step minification tools that work similarly to their online counterparts. They’re incredibly fast and easy to use – just drag and drop your files into them, with no need for any setup. But be aware that although these apps are convenient, they offer very limited customization options.

When it comes to managing projects and compressing code, larger GUI tools like Prepros, Koala, and Codekit can be very useful. However, they do require a bit of initial setup. For example, if you want to minify your JavaScript files, you’ll need to spend about 20 seconds setting up the tool. While this may not seem like a lot, it does take longer compared to the 2-second process of using online or simple GUI tools.

But here’s the upside: larger GUI tools offer more features and automation. With these tools, your JS files will be automatically minified every time you save them. So you don’t have to go through the hassle of doing it manually. If you’re working with JavaScript, this is definitely the way to go.

Now, let’s talk about command line tools. These tools are perfect for those who want to minify JS from the command line without setting up anything fancy in Grunt or Gulp. One example is Minify, which makes it super easy to minify your JavaScript files with just a few commands. Another option is Uglify.js, which we’ve mentioned before. It’s also available as a stand-alone command line tool, giving you even more flexibility and control.

If you’re not into the whole Linux scene, you might think command line tools are just for the techy types. But let me tell you, setting up Grunt and Gulp is a breeze thanks to their amazing documentation. And the best part? These tools give you an incredible amount of flexibility when it comes to options and output.

But here’s the thing – there is a bit of a learning curve. It takes a little practice to get used to the command line, and it can feel a bit restrictive at first. But trust me, once you get the hang of it, the benefits are totally worth it.

Now, if you’re new to web development, I’d recommend starting with one of the first three GUI tools. They not only help you manage your projects, but they offer a whole lot more than just JS minification. So give them a try and see how they can level up your web development game.

If you’re an experienced pro, you might want to check out Grunt or Gulp as they give you the most control over automating tasks. If you just need to quickly condense a script without going through the process of setting up a project, command line tools can be a real time-saver.

Each group of tools has its own advantages and disadvantages, and chances are, you’ll end up using one of them at some point. Just remember, when you’re working in a professional setting, it’s always important to minify your Javascript and CSS!