Question 1

How to minify JavaScript and CSS with gulp-useref?

Accepted Answer

gulp-useref only concatenates files; for minification, you need to pipe the output through gulp-if with plugins like gulp-uglify for JS and gulp-clean-css for CSS, as shown in the README example. This adds extra steps to your Gulp task.

Question 2

gulp-useref vs Webpack: which is better for asset bundling?

Accepted Answer

gulp-useref is simpler for basic concatenation in Gulp workflows, while Webpack is a full-featured module bundler with built-in optimization, code splitting, and a larger ecosystem. Choose gulp-useref if you're committed to Gulp and need lightweight HTML-based asset merging.

Question 3

Can gulp-useref handle source maps?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but it requires additional configuration. You can use transform streams with gulp-sourcemaps, as demonstrated in the API section with lazypipe, to integrate source maps during concatenation for debugging.

Question 4

How do I migrate from gulp-useref v2 to v3?

Accepted Answer

Migration involves simplifying your gulpfile since v3 removed the assets() method. Replace multi-stage pipes with a single useref() call and update any conditional processing. The README provides specific code examples and warnings about common errors.

Question 5

Does gulp-useref work with preprocessors like Sass or TypeScript?

Accepted Answer

It can work with preprocessed assets if you pipe them through additional streams. Use the additionalStreams option to include streams from tools like gulp-typescript, allowing concatenation of compiled files, but this adds complexity.

Question 6

What are the alternatives to gulp-useref for asset concatenation?

Accepted Answer

Alternatives include using Webpack with html-webpack-plugin, Parcel for zero-config bundling, or other Gulp plugins like gulp-concat. gulp-useref is best for its HTML block parsing, but modern tools often offer more integrated solutions with better performance features.

Question 7

Is gulp-useref still maintained and relevant?

Accepted Answer

The project has recent activity on GitHub with a build status badge, but it's focused on Gulp, which has declined in popularity compared to newer bundlers. It remains relevant for legacy Gulp projects or teams preferring its simple, stream-based approach.

gulp-useref

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