How to use gulp-hb with JSON data files?

Use the .data() method with glob patterns to load JSON files, or inject data via file.data with plugins like gulp-data. The merged data is available in templates through @root or scoped contexts, as detailed in the File-specific Data Sources section.

gulp-hb vs Jekyll: which is better for blogs?

gulp-hb is more flexible and integrated with Gulp, allowing custom workflows, while Jekyll is a full-featured static site generator with built-in blog support. Choose gulp-hb for control and Gulp users, Jekyll for out-of-the-box features and simplicity.

Can gulp-hb handle partials from multiple directories?

Yes, by calling .partials() multiple times with different glob patterns, as shown in the advanced usage, to load partials from various sources into the Handlebars registry for reuse across templates.

How to debug issues in gulp-hb templates?

Enable debug mode by passing { debug: true } to the hb() function, which logs registered helpers and data, helping identify missing partials or data issues during development.

What's the difference between gulp-hb and handlebars-wax?

gulp-hb is a Gulp plugin built on handlebars-wax, which provides the core functionality for loading partials and data. gulp-hb adds Gulp-specific streaming and integration, making it easier to use in Gulp tasks for static site generation.

How to set up i18n with gulp-hb for multilingual sites?

Use through2 to process multiple data sources, such as JSON files for each locale, and render templates separately, as demonstrated in the Multiple Data Sources section of the README for efficient internationalization.

Open-Awesome

gulp-hb

MITJavaScriptv6.0.0

A Gulp plugin for compiling Handlebars templates into static HTML, designed as a sane static site generator.

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147 stars13 forks0 contributors

What is gulp-hb?

gulp-hb is a Gulp plugin that compiles Handlebars templates into static HTML files, serving as a lightweight static site generator. It solves the problem of managing complex templating workflows in Gulp by providing a streamlined, configurable interface for handling partials, helpers, and data sources. The plugin is designed to be a simpler alternative to heavier tools like Assemble or Jekyll.

Target Audience

Frontend developers and build engineers who use Gulp for their build processes and need a reliable way to generate static sites from Handlebars templates. It's ideal for projects requiring templating with reusable components and dynamic data.

Value Proposition

Developers choose gulp-hb for its simplicity, flexibility, and tight integration with Gulp. Unlike other static site generators, it avoids unnecessary complexity while offering advanced features like scoped data contexts and modular template loading, making it a "sane" choice for Handlebars-based workflows.

Overview

A sane Gulp plugin to compile Handlebars templates. Useful as a static site generator.

Use Cases

Best For

Generating static websites with Handlebars templates in a Gulp pipeline
Building documentation sites with reusable partials and helpers
Creating multi-language (i18n) static sites using separate data sources
Managing blog posts or content with front matter and JSON data
Integrating Handlebars templating into existing Gulp build processes
Developing lightweight alternatives to Jekyll or Assemble for static site generation

Not Ideal For

Projects not using Gulp as their build system (e.g., Webpack or Vite-based setups)
Applications requiring server-side rendering or dynamic content generation beyond static HTML
Teams preferring modern component-based frameworks like React or Vue over Handlebars templating

Pros & Cons

Pros

Flexible Data Integration

Supports JSON files, front matter, and inline objects with scoped contexts like @root and @global, enabling versatile data handling as shown in the Template Context section.

Modular Template System

Allows loading partials, helpers, and decorators from globs or objects, facilitating reusable components and organized code, detailed in the Usage examples.

Seamless Gulp Integration

Designed as a Gulp plugin with transform streams, making it easy to slot into existing Gulp pipelines for static generation, evident from the basic and advanced usage.

Advanced Context Control

Provides fine-grained access to data layers through @local, @file, etc., for precise template rendering and debugging, as explained in the Template Context section.

Cons

Gulp Lock-in

Only works within Gulp ecosystems; not compatible with other build tools like Webpack, limiting flexibility for teams using modern alternatives.

Static-Only Output

Compiles to static HTML only, lacking features for dynamic updates or real-time data, which may require additional solutions for interactive sites.

Configuration Verbosity

Advanced setups require chaining multiple methods and options, which can be complex and prone to errors in large projects, as seen in the advanced usage example.

Open Source Alternative To

gulp-hb is an open-source alternative to the following products:

Assemble

Assemble is a static site generator for Node.js that uses Handlebars templates to build websites, documentation, and components.

Jekyll

Jekyll is a static site generator written in Ruby that transforms plain text into static websites and blogs, commonly used with GitHub Pages.

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