Typescript - bundle all source files in single output with required external modules from node_modules

Question

I am using typescript to bundle my application into a single .js file. As far as I understand this is possible since TS 1.8 (I am using 2.1). Here is my .tsconfig

{
  "compileOnSave": true,
  "compilerOptions": {
    "experimentalDecorators": true,
    "alwaysStrict": true,
    "jsx": "react",
    "noEmitOnError": true,
    "outFile": "dist/bundle.js",        
    "moduleResolution": "node",
    "preserveConstEnums": true,
    "removeComments": true,
    "sourceMap": true,
    "target": "es5",
    "module": "system"
  },
  "exclude": [
    "node_modules",
    "wwwroot"
  ]
}

This really creates the bundle.js file but the referenced modules from node_modules are not in this bundle. Is it possible to add the module in the bundle somehow?

I know that this can be done using Webpack or similar tools, but my question is whether it is possible to do it only using typescript

Mmmm that exclude there is excluding "node_modules" (typescriptlang.org/tsconfig#exclude) and also be aware of the reference path directive (typescriptlang.org/docs/handbook/…) — Victor
– Victor, Commented Jan 19, 2023 at 15:43

zeh · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-08 16:32:28Z

Short answer is no.

Long answer is that you can do it in some cases, but it probably shouldn't be attemped. TSC works as a TypeScript-to-JavaScript compiler, converting files and checking for their validity. Creating proper bundles, especially from JavaScript dependencies of different versions, has a whole different set of requirements and expectations that are not part of the scope of the transpiler.

There are some cases where you can have a pure TSC-based bundle workflow, and it may even make sense to do so. But those would necessarily mean you're dealing with a pure TypeScript solution, and not really meeting the expectations you'd have from a real bundle.

It may sound like an unnecessary complication at first, but Webpack is the way to go, even for libraries.

I work in a project where we use bundles created from tsc directly... they just work OK as long you place your dependencies OK with /// <reference path="..." />...¿ why we shouldn't? I mean, it works...

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