Getting Started with Grunt: The JavaScript Task Runner

About This Book

• Gain insight on the core concepts of Grunt, Node.js and npm to get started with Grunt.
• Learn how to install, configure, run, and customize Grunt
• Example-driven and filled with tips to help you create custom Grunt tasks

Who This Book Is For

This book is for JavaScript developers who want to get to grips with GruntJS and use it to build and test their JavaScript applications. The only requirement for this book is a basic understanding of objects and functions in JavaScript.

What You Will Learn

• Learn about Grunt and its advantages
• Understand Node.js and how it relates to Grunt
• Take an in-depth look at npm, Node.js modules, and the working of Grunt plugins
• Get familiar with installing Grunt and setting up your first Grunt build environment
• Gain insight on the methods of configuring Grunt and when each method should be used
• Effectively execute Grunt through the use of task arguments, task aliasing, multi-task targets, and more
• Construct your own Grunt tasks, multi-tasks, and asynchronous tasks

In Detail

In recent times, modern web browsers have become the application platform of choice. Grunt, along with its wide range of plugins, provides a simple way of managing the large number of build tasks required to maintain a sophisticated web application.

Getting Started with Grunt: The JavaScript Task Runner provides you with all the information you need to become an effective Grunt power-user. You will quickly learn how to install, configure, and run Grunt. You will go on to understand how to use third-party Grunt and then create your own Grunt tasks that cater to your particular needs.

This book first demonstrates various Grunt use cases before running through the steps of installing, configuring, running, and customizing Grunt. You will learn how to install Node.js, the Node.js package manager (npm), and Grunt. Then, you will understand how to set up and configure a personalized Grunt environment. Next, you will look at the various methods of running and customizing Grunt to utilize its flexibility. Finally, to emphasise what has been learnt, you will see a complete example build of a web application.

Getting Started with Grunt: The JavaScript Task Runner will enable you to create your very own Grunt environments from scratch and fully utilize Grunt's large feature set to effectively solve your custom requirements.

Jaime Pillora

Jaime Pillora is a passionate fullstack JavaScript developer, an open source advocate and contributor, and is currently the CTO of Luma Networks, a wellfunded networking startup in Sydney, Australia. Jaime has always been interested in all things computer science, and from a young age, he began to devote his time and effort to learning and perfecting his knowledge in the field. Jaime holds a Bachelor of Computer Science from the University of New South Wales. In all of his work, Jaime strives to reduce technical debt while maintaining maximum efficiency; this is done through software engineering best practices, combined with using the best tools for the given situation. Grunt is one such tool, which is utilized in every frontend project. Jaime's interest in Grunt began early on in his development career and he has since become a renowned expert. Jaime has been working as a frontend JavaScript developer since 2008, and a backend JavaScript developer utilizing Node.js since 2011. Currently, Jaime leads all software development at Luma Networks, who is implementing softwaredefined networking on commodity hardware utilizing JavaScript.