cpx

What is cpx?

The cpx npm package is a tool for copying files and directories with various options. It is useful for tasks such as copying files during a build process, synchronizing directories, and more.

What are cpx's main functionalities?

Copy files from source to destination

This command copies all files and directories from the 'src' directory to the 'dist' directory. The glob pattern 'src/**/*' matches all files and directories recursively.

cpx 'src/**/*' dist

Watch mode

This command copies files from 'src' to 'dist' and continues to watch for changes. When a file in the 'src' directory is modified, it will be copied to the 'dist' directory automatically.

cpx 'src/**/*' dist --watch

Include and exclude patterns

This command copies only JavaScript files from 'src' to 'dist', excluding any files that match the '*.test.js' pattern.

cpx 'src/**/*' dist --include='*.js' --exclude='*.test.js'

Clean destination before copying

This command cleans the 'dist' directory before copying files from 'src' to 'dist'. This ensures that the destination directory is empty before the new files are copied.

cpx 'src/**/*' dist --clean

Other packages similar to cpx

copyfiles

The copyfiles package is another tool for copying files and directories. It offers similar functionality to cpx, including support for glob patterns and options for flattening directory structures. However, it does not have a built-in watch mode.

ncp

The ncp (Node Copy) package is a simple utility for copying files and directories. It is known for its ease of use and reliability. Unlike cpx, ncp does not support glob patterns or watch mode, but it is a solid choice for straightforward copy operations.

fs-extra

The fs-extra package extends the native Node.js fs module with additional methods, including methods for copying files and directories. It provides a more comprehensive set of file system utilities compared to cpx, but it requires more setup and code to achieve similar tasks.

README

cpx

Copy file globs, watching for changes.

This module provides a CLI tool like cp, but with watching.

Installation

npm install cpx

Usage

Usage: cpx <source> <dest> [options]

    Copy files, watching for changes.

        <source>  The glob of target files.
        <dest>    The path of a destination directory.

Options:

    -c, --command <command>   A command text to transform each file.
    -C, --clean               Clean files that matches <source> like pattern in
                              <dest> directory before the first copying.
    -L, --dereference         Follow symbolic links when copying from them.
    -h, --help                Print usage information
    -t, --transform <name>    A module name to transform each file. cpx lookups
                                the specified name via "require()".
    -v, --verbose             Print copied/removed files.
    -V, --version             Print the version number
    -w, --watch               Watch for files that matches <source>, and copy
                              the file to <dest> every changing.

Example

cpx "src/**/*.{html,png,jpg}" app --watch

This example will copy html/png/jpg files from src directory to app directory, keeping file tree structure. Whenever the files are changed, copy them.

Since Bash expands globs, requires to enclose it with double quotes.

You can use together Browserify.

cpx "src/**/*.{html,png,jpg}" app -w & watchify src/index.js -o app/index.js

You can use shell commands to convert each file.

cpx "src/**/*.js" app -w -c "babel --source-maps-inline"

You can use the transform packages for Browserify.

cpx "src/**/*.js" app -w -t babelify -t uglifyify

It maybe can use to add header comment, to optimize images, or etc...

Node.js API

You can use this module as a node module.

var cpx = require("cpx");

cpx.copy

cpx.copy(source, dest, options, callback)
cpx.copy(source, dest, callback)

• source {string} -- A file glob of copy targets.
• dest {string} -- A file path of a destination directory.
• options {object}
  • options.clean {boolean} -- A flag to remove files that copied on past before copy.
  • options.dereference {boolean} -- A flag to follow symbolic links when copying from them.
  • options.transform {((filepath: string) => stream.Transform)[]} -- Functions that creates a stream.Transform object to transform each copying file.
• callback {(err: Error|null) => void} -- A function that is called at done.

Copy files that matches with source glob to dest directory.

cpx.copySync

cpx.copySync(source, dest, options)
cpx.copySync(source, dest)

A synchronous function of cpx.copy.

Arguments is almost same as cpx.copy. But options.transform is not supported.

cpx.watch

cpx.watch(source, dest, options)
cpx.watch(source, dest)

Copy files that matches with source glob string to dest directory. After the first copy, starts observing. And copy the files when every changes.

Arguments is same as cpx.copy.

cpx.watch returns an EventEmitter.

• .on("copy", (e) => { ... }) : Be fired after file is copied. e.srcPath is a path of original file. e.dstPath is a path of new file.
• .on("remove", (e) => { ... }) : Be fired after file is removed. e.path is a path of removed file.
• .on("watch-raedy", () => { ... }) : Be fired when started watching files, after the first copying.
• .on("watch-error", (err) => { ... }) : Be fired when occured errors during watching.