Visual Studio Code GSAP Install Error

[DeltaFrog]

Hi All,  I'm trying to start using Visual Studio Code and would like to get access to GSAP.  

 

I used "npm install gsap" to install gsap and that worked but when I add the import line in my script.js file I get an error.

 

 

html: 

 

folder:

 

 

 

What am I doing wrong? 

 

 

 

 

[GreenSock]

You're running things in the browser with no build system - browsers don't know about node_modules. If you want to use it directly in the browser like that, you'd need to follow the directions in that error message - define a relative path from your document to the GSAP file(s), and make sure they end in ".js". 

import gsap from "./libs/gsap/gsap.js"; 

(that assumes you've got it in a directory structure like libs/gsap/gsap.js of course but you can structure it however you want.)

 

Honestly, I wouldn't really recommend using modules like that directly in the browser - I'd just use the .min.js (ES5) files because: 

• They're universally compatible
• They're compressed (faster to load)

Or switch to using a build tool that handles all that for you.

 

Good luck!

[DeltaFrog]

Thanks Jack,  I see what you are sayin, this workflow seems a bit clunky,  what build tool do you recommend?   

[GreenSock]

It really depends on your project, if you're using a framework (like React or Angular), etc. I'm not an expert on build tools.

 

Frankly, I'd just stick with the plain vanilla .min.js <script> tags for most things whenever I can. You shouldn't feel pressured into setting up a whole build tool and environment. It's common to feel like the "cool kids" use all these complex build tools, NPM, modules, bundlers, etc. and therefore you should do it too but I don't subscribe to that mindset at all. Keep it simple when you can.

 

Are you saying it feels clunky to just use <script src="https://unpkg.co/gsap@3/dist/gsap.min.js"></script> for example? 

 

Others are welcome to chime in here with their build tool recommendations. 

 

Good luck!

[DeltaFrog]

Got it, thanks Jack.