Publishing Your NX Library to npm: Using the dist Folder as the Source
Building and publishing libraries from an NX monorepo is a breeze. However, you might encounter a scenario where you need to publish your library's dist folder to the npm registry instead of the default source folder. This is particularly useful when you have a complex build process that generates the final library code in a dedicated dist directory. This article will guide you through the process of configuring your NX project to publish your library's dist folder to npm.
The Problem:
You've built a fantastic library within your NX monorepo, but your build process outputs the final library files in a dist folder. The default NX publishing process assumes the library code resides in the project's root, which is not the case in your scenario.
The Solution:
We can leverage NX's flexible configuration to specify the dist folder as the source for our npm publishing. Let's dive into the steps:
1. Adjust the package.json file:
Within your library's package.json file, modify the main and types fields (if applicable) to point to the relevant files in the dist folder. For example:
{
"name": "my-library",
"version": "1.0.0",
"main": "dist/index.js",
"types": "dist/index.d.ts"
}
2. Update the NX Configuration:
Add a custom builder to your library's project.json file to override the default publishing behavior. This builder will use the dist folder as the source for your npm package.
{
"projects": {
"my-library": {
"root": "libs/my-library",
"sourceRoot": "libs/my-library/src",
"projectType": "library",
"targets": {
"build": {
"executor": "@nrwl/js:tsc",
"outputs": ["dist/my-library"],
"options": {
"outputPath": "dist/my-library"
}
},
"publish": {
"executor": "@nrwl/js:npm-publish",
"options": {
"publishPath": "dist/my-library"
}
}
}
}
}
}
Explanation:
publishPath: This option in thepublishtarget tells NX to use the specified dist folder as the source for your npm package.
3. Publish Your Library:
Run the nx publish my-library command to publish your library's dist folder to the npm registry.
Important Note: The above example assumes you are building a JavaScript library. For other library types (e.g., Angular, React), the specific configuration may differ slightly.
Additional Considerations:
- Clean Builds: Always ensure that you have a clean build before publishing to avoid unexpected errors or version conflicts.
- Versioning: Use semantic versioning (e.g., 1.0.0, 1.0.1) to manage your library versions and ensure compatibility between releases.
- Dependency Management: Keep your project dependencies up-to-date to benefit from security updates and bug fixes.
Summary:
By following these steps, you can successfully publish your NX library's dist folder to the npm registry. This approach provides flexibility for libraries with complex build processes, ensuring the final, optimized library code is published.
Remember to test your published library thoroughly and update your project documentation to reflect any changes made to the publishing process.
