external requires lost in new browserify bundle trigger by edit when autoWatch=true

[crawlregister]

I created a simple example to show the problem I encountered. There is an external module must be required at creating the bundle with browserify.

My karma.conf.js is like this:

    // frameworks to use
    // available frameworks: https://npmjs.org/browse/keyword/karma-adapter
    frameworks: ['jasmine', 'browserify'],

    // list of files / patterns to load in the browser
    files: [
        'main.js',
        'test.js'
    ],

    // list of files to exclude
    exclude: [],

    // preprocess matching files before serving them to the browser
    // available preprocessors: https://npmjs.org/browse/keyword/karma-preprocessor
    preprocessors: {
        './main.js': ['browserify']
    },

    browserify: {
        debug: true,
        extensions: ['.js'],
        require: ['moment']
    },

    // enable / disable watching file and executing tests whenever any file changes
    autoWatch: true,

There is an external require specified as require: ['moment'] The first time run karma start, the moment module is included in the bundle correctly. Then I edit the main.js and save, which will trigger rebundle. But in the new bundle, moment module is missing from the new bundle.

[chrisdeely]

I have found a workaround for this behavior using the configure function & prebundle event in the config block:

browserify: {
      config:{
        watchify: {
          poll: true
        }
      },
      configure: function(bundle) {
        bundle.on('prebundle', function() {
          bundle.require('./path/to/appConfig', {expose: 'appConfig'});
        });
      }
    }

You may be able to execute bundle.require('moment') with or without the expose setting.

Please let me know if that helps

[crawlregister]

Thanks @chrisdeely I will give it a try.

Another potential solution is build the external requires into another bundle and make sure it is ready before running karma test.

[nikku]

Browserify has some strange behavior around externals and stuff.

The working way of consistently exposing moment from outside the bundle is:

  ...
  browserify: {
    configure: function(bundle) {
      bundle.require('moment');
    }
  }

I am happy to accept PRs if you would like to contribute an improvement here.