Top 7 must have Webpack plugins for your next React 2019 application

Some of the most recent articles have been about, “How to setup a Webpack dev server for React” or “How to optimize your CSS with this 1 rule in Webpack“.

But this begs to ask, what are the top Webpack plugins that an engineer should be using for their React project?

Webpack optimization

Webpack comes with a configuration property called optimization.

Inside optimization another property named minimize, and minimizer.

If minimize equals true, then everything inside minimizer will trigger.

The next couple of Webpack plugins that I will cover, they should be inside the minimizer property.

Terser webpack plugin

The Terser plugin is a great tool to minimize the application JavaScript bundle file for production.

Another plus to this plugin is that it supports ES6+.

Here is a basic configuration for Terser.

Source: Terser plugin

Optimize CSS assets Webpack plugin

The Optimize CSS assets Webpack plugin is another one for production build.

It helps optimize and minimize your React CSS code.

Source: Optimize css assets plugin

Webpack plugins

HTML Webpack plugin

The HTML Webpack plugin is a handy plugin for both development and production build.

It tells Webpack to generate an HTML file and inject a script tag with the JavaScript code.

All you need to do is supply the HTML template to use.

You may also add minification rules such as removing comments, minifying the CSS, and JavaScript.

But if you’d like to only use the minify property for build you can do something like.

Source: HTML Webpack plugin

Webpack Define plugin

This plugin comes with the Webpack node module, and it’s a handy little tool when developing your React application.

The DefinePlugin allows you to create environment variables and makes it accessible to your JavaScript code.

Source: Webpack DefinePlugin

Mini CSS Extract plugin

This plugin is another great production tool.

It allows your to extract the CSS in your React app into separate files per JavaScript file.

Some other features that are enjoyable versus the Extract Text Webpack plugin is:

• Async loading
• No duplicate compilation
• Easier to use

Webpack modules

Babel loader

This plugin allows you to write the latest generation of JavaScript and converts it to a compiled ES5 version.

Now to configure babel-loader for .js, .jsx, and as well for Typescript (if you’re using it).

Source: Babel loader

Babel preset react app

This module is maintained by the Create React App team and it has a great set of presets for your React App.

All we need to do is add more to the babel loader configuration.

Source: Babel preset react app

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