bala.js is a lightweight and intuitive JavaScript utility designed to load scripts into your web pages. Inspired by head.js, bala.js retains the simplicity that developers have come to appreciate while doing away with features no longer needed in modern web development.
Back in the day, I was a regular user of head.js for its simplicity and ease of use. While other tools were complex and often loaded with features we didn't need, head.js stood out for being straightforward and doing one thing exceptionally well: loading scripts.
However, as time passed, head.js fell behind the curve due to a lack of support and updates. Moreover, certain features that were critical in the days of head.js have become obsolete with advances in web development standards and practices.
As such, I've decided to create bala.js, a tool that carries forward the spirit of simplicity from head.js but is updated to fit the requirements of modern web development. I've focused on features that matter most in today's context - parallel loading, order execution, and dependency management, and done away with the rest.
"Bala" means "bullet" in Portuguese, symbolizing the speed and efficiency of this script. Much like a bullet, setting up bala.js in your project is swift and gets the job done with precision.
To get started with bala.js, include the bala.min.js script found in the dist folder in the head of your HTML file or our CDN one:
<head>
<!-- Other head elements -->
<!-- Bala.js script -->
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/fersk/[email protected]/dist/bala.min.js"></script>
</head>// Load scripts
bala.load({
'myscript1': 'https://path-to-your-script1.js',
'myscript2': 'https://path-to-your-script2.js'
}, function() {
console.log('All scripts loaded successfully!');
});
// Check if a script and its dependencies are ready
bala.ready('myscript2', function() {
console.log('myscript2 and all preceding scripts have loaded!');
// You can put any additional code you want to execute here.
});Parallel Loading: Enhance your page performance as all scripts are loaded in parallel.
Ordered Execution: Despite the parallel loading, scripts are executed in the order in which they were declared. This ensures the proper functioning of scripts that are dependent on others.
Dependency Management: With our 'ready' function, you can not only check if a script is ready but also make sure all its dependencies (scripts declared before it) are ready.
While bala.js is a simple tool for managing script loading, it doesn't provide advanced features found in full-featured module loaders or bundlers like RequireJS, SystemJS, or Webpack, such as:
- Module support
- Optimization and bundling
- Transpilation
- Source maps
- Hot Module Replacement (HMR)
- Code splitting and lazy loading
- Plugins and loaders
- Tree shaking
bala.js is a simple tool but used in our large-scale projects serving millions of users every day. Please consider using a more sophisticated tool if you have different needs.
We welcome contributions from the community. If you wish to contribute, please fork the repository and submit a pull request.