CrudeBuild.js

0.1.3 verified Sat Apr 25 auth: no javascript

CrudeBuild.js is a minimalist JavaScript build tool for single-file libraries. Version 0.1.3 (released 2025) requires no configuration and has zero dependencies, automatically minifying files with Google Closure Compiler, generating browser-ready output, CommonJS (.cjs) and ES module (.mjs) exports, and extracting metadata headers from package.json. It is a lightweight alternative to tools like esbuild or rollup for simple projects. Released under the MIT license.

Common errors

error crude-build: command not found ↓

cause Not installed globally or not in PATH.

fix

Use npx crude-build or install locally via npm i -D crude-build and run via npx.

error Error: Cannot find module '...' ↓

cause Missing input file (package.json or main entry).

fix

Run from project root with valid package.json and a main file.

error Output file is empty or not minified ↓

cause Module name argument mismatch or missing source file.

fix

Ensure the module name matches the source file (e.g., 'MyModule' expects 'MyModule.js' in current dir).

Warnings

gotcha The argument to crude-build is the module name, not a file path. Using a path will fail silently or produce incorrect output. ↓

fix Use only the module name (e.g., 'MyModule') not a file path like 'src/index.js'.

gotcha CrudeBuild relies on Google Closure Compiler via a bundled binary? Check license compliance; closure compiler uses Apache 2.0. ↓

fix Ensure your project complies with the Closure Compiler license if redistributing.

gotcha No configuration options; cannot customize minification, header format, or output directory. ↓

fix If you need customization, switch to a more mature tool like esbuild or rollup.

gotcha package.json must have 'name' and 'version' fields; otherwise header generation may error. ↓

fix Ensure your package.json contains at least name and version.

Install

npm install crude-build

yarn add crude-build

pnpm add crude-build

Imports

default (CLI)
wrong
```
import crudeBuild from 'crude-build'
```
correct
```
npx crude-build ModuleName
```
The package is designed as a CLI tool, not a library; the main entry exports nothing useful for programmatic use.
package.json scripts
wrong
```
"build": "crude-build --entry ModuleName"
```
correct
```
"build": "crude-build ModuleName"
```
No CLI flags are supported; just pass the module name as argument.

Quickstart

Demonstrates zero-config build: install, add script, run, get formatted output.

// Install
npm install crude-build

// In package.json add:
"scripts": {
  "build": "crude-build MyModule"
}

// Then run:
npm run build

// Output in dist/: MyModule.js (minified), MyModule.cjs, MyModule.mjs