**Course Title:** Build and Package Management in Modern Development **Section Title:** Advanced Topics in Build and Package Management **Topic:** Using Task Runners (Gulp, Grunt) Alongside Build Tools **Overview:** In the world of build and package management, task runners play a crucial role in automating repetitive tasks and streamlining workflows. In this topic, we'll explore how to use popular task runners like Gulp and Grunt in conjunction with build tools to take your development workflow to the next level. **What are Task Runners?** Task runners are command-line tools that help you automate tasks, such as: * Minifying and compressing files * Compiling code * Running tests * Creating and updating files * Server tasks and more Task runners allow you to define tasks and run them in parallel, saving you time and effort. **Why Use Task Runners with Build Tools?** Using task runners with build tools offers several benefits: * Automated workflows: Task runners automate tasks that would otherwise be manual, freeing up time for development. * Improved efficiency: By running tasks in parallel, task runners can significantly speed up your build process. * Scalability: Task runners can handle large and complex projects with ease. **Gulp vs. Grunt: Which Task Runner to Choose?** Two popular task runners are Gulp and Grunt. Both have their strengths and weaknesses: * **Gulp**: Gulp is a more modern task runner that's known for its speed and simplicity. It's easier to learn and use, especially for developers familiar with Node.js streams. * **Grunt**: Grunt is a more established task runner that's been around longer. It has a larger community and more plugins available, but its configuration file can be more complex. **Setting Up Gulp** Let's start with a basic Gulp setup. Create a new project directory and install Gulp using npm: ```bash npm install --save-dev gulp ``` Create a new file called `gulpfile.js` and add the following code: ```javascript const gulp = require('gulp'); gulp.task('hello', function() { console.log('Hello, World!'); }); ``` Run the task using the following command: ```bash gulp hello ``` **Setting Up Grunt** Now, let's set up Grunt. Install Grunt using npm: ```bash npm install --save-dev grunt ``` Create a new file called `Gruntfile.js` and add the following code: ```javascript module.exports = function(grunt) { grunt.registerTask('hello', function() { console.log('Hello, World!'); }); }; ``` Run the task using the following command: ```bash grunt hello ``` **Using Task Runners with Build Tools** Now that we've covered the basics of task runners, let's explore how to use them with build tools like Webpack. You can use task runners to perform tasks that are not directly related to your build process. For example, you can use Gulp to create a task that copies your CSS files to a separate directory: ```javascript gulp.task('copy-css', function() { return gulp.src('src/**/*.css') .pipe(gulp.dest('dist/css')); }); ``` **Practical Takeaways** Here are some key takeaways to remember: * Task runners are essential for automating repetitive tasks and improving efficiency. * Choose the right task runner for your project (Gulp or Grunt). * Use task runners in conjunction with build tools to streamline your workflow. **Resources and Examples** * [Gulp Documentation](https://gulpjs.com/docs/en/getting-started/installing-gulp) * [Grunt Documentation](https://gruntjs.com/getting-started) * [Gulp Example Projects](https://gulp-examples.com/) **Exercise:** Try setting up a basic Gulp or Grunt project and create a few tasks to automate. Experiment with different plugins and workflows. **Next Topic:** In the next topic, we'll review key concepts and tools in Build and Package Management in Modern Development. We'll cover best practices and real-world examples to help solidify your understanding. **Do you have any questions or need help?** Please ask your questions in the comments below.

npm install --save-dev gulp

const gulp = require('gulp');

gulp.task('hello', function() {
  console.log('Hello, World!');
});

gulp hello

npm install --save-dev grunt

module.exports = function(grunt) {
  grunt.registerTask('hello', function() {
    console.log('Hello, World!');
  });
};

grunt hello

gulp.task('copy-css', function() {
  return gulp.src('src/**/*.css')
    .pipe(gulp.dest('dist/css'));
});