How to use Crisper with Gulp for CSP compliance?

Install the gulp-crisper plugin, then add it to your Gulp pipeline to process HTML files, specifying output files for HTML and JavaScript similar to the command-line usage described in the README.

Crisper or manual refactoring for inline scripts?

Crisper automates extraction, saving time and reducing errors compared to manual refactoring. However, for complex scripts or non-standard HTML, manual tweaks might still be necessary after processing.

Does Crisper work with server-side rendering (SSR) applications?

Crisper is designed for static HTML processing during build time, not dynamic SSR. It's best used in build pipelines to prepare HTML files before deployment, rather than in runtime environments.

What to do if Crisper breaks my document.write calls?

Use the --script-in-head=false flag or set scriptInHead: false in library usage to place scripts at the end of the body, which maintains compatibility with document.write as indicated in the Breaking Changes section.

Are there any Crisper alternatives for Webpack users?

Webpack has built-in features for code splitting and CSP, but for inline script extraction, you might need custom loaders or plugins. Crisper lacks a native Webpack plugin, making integration more complex compared to Gulp or Grunt.

How does Crisper handle multiple HTML files in a project?

Crisper processes one HTML file at a time via command line or build tool integration. For multiple files, you need to loop through them in your build script or use glob patterns with tools like Gulp, as it doesn't natively batch process.

Crisper — CSP Compliance Tool for HTML

What is Crisper?

Crisper is a Node.js tool that extracts inline JavaScript from HTML files into separate external files. It solves the problem of Content Security Policy (CSP) compliance by eliminating the need for unsafe-inline directives, allowing developers to implement stricter security policies.

Target Audience

Web developers and security engineers working on projects that require CSP compliance, particularly those using Polymer or build tools like Vulcanize, Gulp, or Grunt.

Value Proposition

Developers choose Crisper because it provides a simple, automated way to achieve CSP compliance without manual refactoring, integrates with popular build tools, and supports advanced CSP features like hash-based strict-dynamic policies.

Overview

Crisper is a utility that processes HTML files by separating inline JavaScript into external files, making it easier to implement Content Security Policy (CSP) restrictions. It helps developers avoid unsafe-inline directives by moving scripts to external resources that can be safely whitelisted.

Key Features

Inline Script Extraction — Automatically extracts inline <script> tags from HTML and writes them to a separate .js file.
CSP Compliance Support — Enables hash-based or strict-dynamic CSP policies by removing inline scripts that would otherwise require unsafe-inline.
Flexible Script Placement — Optionally places the script reference in the <head> (default for performance) or at the end of <body> (for document.write compatibility).
Build Tool Integration — Works with Vulcanize for Polymer projects and has plugins for Gulp and Grunt.
Hashable Script Loader — Generates a script loader that supports hash-based CSP with strict-dynamic for enhanced security.

Philosophy

Crisper follows a pragmatic approach to CSP compliance, prioritizing security without sacrificing developer workflow by integrating seamlessly with existing build processes.

Use Cases

Best For

Implementing Content Security Policy in Polymer applications
Automating inline script extraction during build processes
Enabling hash-based CSP policies with strict-dynamic
Integrating CSP compliance into Gulp or Grunt workflows
Processing HTML files from Vulcanize output for CSP readiness
Removing unsafe-inline directives from legacy HTML files

Not Ideal For

Projects heavily reliant on document.write calls without refactoring, as the default script-in-head setting can cause breakage.
Modern single-page applications using frameworks like React or Vue with built-in CSP support or different build systems like Webpack.
Teams without a Node.js build process or those seeking runtime script extraction, as Crisper requires static build-time integration.

Pros & Cons

Pros

Automated Script Extraction

Automatically extracts all inline <script> tags from HTML into external files, eliminating the need for unsafe-inline CSP directives and reducing manual effort.

Build Tool Integration

Seamlessly works with Vulcanize for Polymer projects and has official plugins for Gulp and Grunt, making it easy to incorporate into existing build workflows.

Advanced CSP Support

Supports hash-based and strict-dynamic CSP policies via the --csp-hashable-script-loader option, enabling stricter security configurations without compromising functionality.

Performance Optimization

Defaults to placing scripts in the <head> with defer, which improves page load performance by allowing parallel parsing of HTML and JavaScript, as noted in the README.

Cons

Breaking Changes

Version 2.x introduced breaking changes like removing the deprecated split API and changing default behavior, requiring manual adjustments and potentially breaking existing implementations.

Niche Framework Focus

Primarily optimized for Polymer and Vulcanize workflows, making it less versatile for projects using other frameworks or without specific build tool integrations.

Setup Complexity

Requires configuration and integration into build systems like Gulp or Grunt, which can add overhead for simple projects or teams unfamiliar with these tools.

Crisper

What is Crisper?

Overview

Key Features

Philosophy

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

Crisper

What is Crisper?

Overview

Key Features

Philosophy

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?