CODEWITHSUNDEEP
.net-coreasp.net-core-mvcasp.net-core-2.1
Josh
Josh

Reputation: 8477

Has something replaced bundleconfig.json in ASP.NET Core MVC 2.1?

When I create a new ASP.NET MVC Core targeting 2.1 RC1, it doesn't create the bundleconfig.json file which is used for bundling and minification. This file is created if I target 2.0.

Here is a example, the solution contains a new project targeting 2.0 and another targeting 2.1: enter image description here

Has something replaced the builtin bundling and minification, or is this just a bug in RC1?

Upvotes: 33

Views: 17131

Answers (6)

natemcmaster
natemcmaster

Reputation: 26813

bundleconfig.json was removed from the 2.1 templates because it relied on a tool not created or supported by Microsoft. See https://github.com/aspnet/templating/issues/326.

This file [bundleconfig.json] is for configuring the various incantations of the BundlerMinifier tool, which isn't actually shipped in the templates, or supported by Microsoft.

Please see documentation at https://docs.microsoft.com/aspnet/core/client-side/bundling-and-magnification for details on configuring this project to bundle and minify static web assets.

Update May 2024 from Microsoft documentation Choose a bundling and minification strategy

ASP.NET Core is compatible with WebOptimizer, an open-source bundling and minification solution. For set up instructions and sample projects, see WebOptimizer. ASP.NET Core doesn't provide a native bundling and minification solution.

Third-party tools, such as Gulp and Webpack, provide workflow automation for bundling and minification, as well as linting and image optimization.

Advice May 2018: The ASP.NET Core team has replaced bundleconfig with "libman". Rightclick the project --> Add --> Client Side Library and add the packages you need

Upvotes: 30

Thiago Silva
Thiago Silva

Reputation: 17792

Also, as of 2021, please consider my answer on similar SO question here: https://stackoverflow.com/a/66659756/5101

TL;DR; - Use WebOptimizer Core nuget package, by Mads Kristensen, for .NET Core 3+ and .NET 5+

Upvotes: 3

An Anita
An Anita

Reputation: 163

Just add BuildBundlerMinifier Nuget to project, and rebuild it

Upvotes: 2

mcNux
mcNux

Reputation: 1501

Note that this works for net core 2.2, not sure about 2.1. Also note that as of net core 3, it appears 'local tools' should (must?) be used instead: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/core/whats-new/dotnet-core-3-0#local-tools.

Finally had success configuring pre-build bundling using the (as of writing) recommended BundlerMinifier.Core package.

Add the following to your .csproj file:

  <!-- 
       WARNING: don't update to latest version of BundlerMinifier.Core (as of 3.2.435)! 
         3.0.415 is the latest version that appears to work with this method of
         automating bundling/minification 
  -->
  <ItemGroup>
    <PackageReference Include="BundlerMinifier.Core" Version="3.0.415" />
    <DotNetCliToolReference Include="BundlerMinifier.Core" Version="3.0.415" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <Target Name="RestoreToolsAndBundle" BeforeTargets="Build">
    <Exec Command="dotnet tool restore" />
    <Exec Command="dotnet bundle" WorkingDirectory="$(ProjectDir)" />
  </Target>

Note that this should be all that you need; you shouldn't need the 'Bundler & Minifier' VS extension, nor the 'BuildBundlerMinifier' package.

Attempt a build and you'll hopefully see in Output that bundling and minification have completed, as per your bundleConfig.json.

Upvotes: 4

Chris Akridge
Chris Akridge

Reputation: 395

I just installed Bundler and Minifier on my ASP.NET Core MVC project. When I right-clicked Bundler and Minifier > Bundle File, it made a bundleconfig.json for me, which I could then set to bundle on each build. Publishing my web app to Azure sent the correct minified CSS and JS files.

One disadvantage is that you have to minify each file, which doesn't matter for me since I have 2, but I imagine most real projects will have many more than that.

Upvotes: 0

Andy Weston
Andy Weston

Reputation: 157

I had the same problem, I was able to copy over an existing bundle file into the project and that worked for me. You do need to follow this guidance and install the Bundle & Minifier extension … also, make sure you are using VS 15.7.

It does look like the bundle file is not included in the latest project template.

Upvotes: 7

Related Questions