The structure of Django, NPM, and Node packages

Question

The structure of Django, NPM, and Node packages

When considering the architecture of the project I will be working on, it's important to note the structure of the node_packages:

|- Django project
|-- app1
|-- app2
|-- node_modules
|--- foundation-sites
|--- grunt
|-- static
|--- css
|--- images
|--- js
|--urls.py
|--settings.py
|--package.json

In my opinion, relocating node_packages under the js folder in the static directory along with the package.json would be better, as shown below:

|- Django project
|-- app1
|-- app2
|-- static
|--- css
|--- images
|--- js
|---- node_modules
|----- foundation-sites
|----- grunt
|---- packages.json
|--urls.py
|--settings.py

Is there a significant difference between the two setups? Which approach is considered best practice and why?

python node.js django npm architecture

Answer 1

Answer №1

While I understand the desire to centralize all JavaScript-related files in one location, there are compelling reasons to consider keeping the node_modules folder and the package.json file separate from a Django app's static directory.

You risk serving unintended static files. Storing the node_modules folder within your production environment may result in lengthy synchronization checks during each collectstatic execution, particularly due to its complex dependency structure. Additionally, if your source JS files reside in the static directory, they will be needlessly served as static assets with no purpose.
Node.js can serve broader purposes beyond just JS building. For instance, if you utilize Grunt for tasks beyond JavaScript, such as CSS minification or implementing a proxy server for your Django dev environment that supports auto-reloading, Node.js serves as a versatile tool within your project's build process. Consequently, it's advisable to view Node.js as an integral component capable of influencing multiple facets of your project rather than solely focusing on JS bundling/transpiling.

Answer 2

While I understand the desire to centralize all JavaScript-related files in one location, there are compelling reasons to consider keeping the node_modules folder and the package.json file separate from a Django app's static directory.

You risk serving unintended static files. Storing the node_modules folder within your production environment may result in lengthy synchronization checks during each collectstatic execution, particularly due to its complex dependency structure. Additionally, if your source JS files reside in the static directory, they will be needlessly served as static assets with no purpose.
Node.js can serve broader purposes beyond just JS building. For instance, if you utilize Grunt for tasks beyond JavaScript, such as CSS minification or implementing a proxy server for your Django dev environment that supports auto-reloading, Node.js serves as a versatile tool within your project's build process. Consequently, it's advisable to view Node.js as an integral component capable of influencing multiple facets of your project rather than solely focusing on JS bundling/transpiling.

Answer 3

Answer №2

Place node_modules and package.json in the main directory of your project:
- Convenient access to installing modules and running commands from the top level of your project
- Dependencies easily visible at the top level, commonly found alongside pip requirements
- Separation of external libraries/modules from your code
Add node_modules to your .gitignore file
Serve only generated files. Keep your source code outside the STATICFILES_DIRS
(Optional) If you prefer serving npm modules without using bower, consider using a tool like django-npm to specify what should be exposed

Check out some example projects:

https://github.com/mbrochh/django-reactjs-boilerplate

https://github.com/Seedstars/django-react-redux-base

Answer 4

Place node_modules and package.json in the main directory of your project:
- Convenient access to installing modules and running commands from the top level of your project
- Dependencies easily visible at the top level, commonly found alongside pip requirements
- Separation of external libraries/modules from your code
Add node_modules to your .gitignore file
Serve only generated files. Keep your source code outside the STATICFILES_DIRS
(Optional) If you prefer serving npm modules without using bower, consider using a tool like django-npm to specify what should be exposed

Check out some example projects:

https://github.com/mbrochh/django-reactjs-boilerplate

https://github.com/Seedstars/django-react-redux-base

Answer 5

Answer №3

Typically, it is recommended to keep the node_modules folder outside of the Django application structure. My preferred setup for a Django project usually looks like this:

- AppName
---- appname (Django Project)
---- appname-env (Python virtualenv)
---- bower_components
---- bower.json
---- gulpfile.js
---- node_modules
---- package.json
---- requirements.txt

Afterwards, I utilize gulp to transfer components from either node modules or bower components into the static/lib directory of my app.

Answer 6

Typically, it is recommended to keep the node_modules folder outside of the Django application structure. My preferred setup for a Django project usually looks like this:

- AppName
---- appname (Django Project)
---- appname-env (Python virtualenv)
---- bower_components
---- bower.json
---- gulpfile.js
---- node_modules
---- package.json
---- requirements.txt

Afterwards, I utilize gulp to transfer components from either node modules or bower components into the static/lib directory of my app.

The structure of Django, NPM, and Node packages

Answer №1

Answer №2

Answer №3

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