Cleaning Up Your SPFx Web Part

Cleaning Up Your SPFx Web Part: A Detailed Technical Guide

When you create a new SharePoint Framework (SPFx) web part using the Yeoman generator, it generates a template with many components, styles, and files that may not be necessary for your specific use case. This can lead to confusion and clutter in your project structure. This article will guide you through the process of cleaning up the template to streamline your SPFx web part development. This guide complements our first article in the SPFx series, focusing on the initial setup and usage of SPFx.

Understanding the Yeoman Generator Template

The Yeoman generator for SPFx provides a robust starting point for developing web parts. However, it includes various boilerplate code, styles, and configurations that you might not need. This can make it difficult to focus on your specific requirements. Here’s how to effectively clean up your project.

Step-by-Step Cleanup Process

1. Create Your Web Part

To start, generate a new SPFx web part using the Yeoman generator. Open your command line interface (CLI) and run:

yo @microsoft/sharepoint

Follow the prompts to set up your project. Choose the options that best suit your needs, such as the web part name, description, and framework (if applicable).

2. Navigate to Your Project Directory

After the generator completes, navigate into your project folder:

cd your-webpart-name

3. Review the Project Structure

Once inside the project directory, you’ll find several files and folders. The key components include:

src: Contains your web part code.
config: Configuration files for your SPFx project.
node_modules: Dependencies required for your project.

4. Remove Unused Files

Within the src folder, you might find files related to components or styles that you don’t plan to use. For example:

Remove any sample components: If you created a web part that doesn’t require sample code, delete those files.
Clean Up the MyWebPart.ts File:
Open src/webparts/myWebPart/MyWebPart.ts and simplify the imports at the top of the file. Remove any unused imports. Here’s an example of what to keep:

  import { BaseClientSideWebPart } from '@microsoft/sp-webpart-base';
  import { IMyWebPartProps } from './IMyWebPartProps';

5. Simplify the Render Method

Inside the MyWebPart.ts, focus on cleaning up the render method. You can strip down the default implementation to just your necessary HTML content:

public render(): void {
    this.domElement.innerHTML = `
        <div>
            <h1>Welcome to My Clean Web Part</h1>
            <p>This is a streamlined version of the original template.</p>
        </div>`;
}

6. Update the `package.json` File

Open package.json and review the dependencies. If you’re not using certain libraries (e.g., React, if you’re not developing with it), you can remove those dependencies to lighten your project.

7. Adjust the Configuration Files

Ensure that the config/serve.json is properly set up for local development. It should point to your local workbench. Here’s a basic example:

{
    "https": true,
    "initialPage": "https://localhost:4321/temp/workbench.html",
    "port": 4321
}

8. Test Your Cleaned Web Part

Finally, run the development server to test your cleaned web part and verify that it functions correctly:

gulp serve

This command will launch the local workbench in your browser, allowing you to see your changes in action.

Conclusion

Cleaning up your SPFx web part is essential for maintaining clarity and focus in your development workflow. By following these steps, you can efficiently remove unnecessary components and streamline your project. This not only improves your code readability but also enhances your development experience. This article serves as a practical continuation of our initial series, ensuring that developers have a solid understanding of SPFx setup and cleanup.

Additional Resources

For more information and best practices on SPFx development, check out the official Microsoft documentation:

Summary of Commands

Create Web Part:

   yo @microsoft/sharepoint

Navigate to Project Directory:

   cd your-webpart-name

Serve the Web Part:

   gulp serve

By keeping your SPFx project clean and organized, you set yourself up for success in your development journey. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask!

edvaldo b. guimarães filho

Cleaning Up Your SPFx Web Part