JavaScript Module Federation is a powerful feature in Webpack 5 that allows you to share code between separate applications, but it can also introduce performance overhead if not used correctly. In this blog post, we will cover some performance optimization tips for working with JavaScript Module Federation in Webpack 5.

1. Avoid Excessive Remote File Size

One of the main advantages of JavaScript Module Federation is being able to share code between applications. However, if you’re not careful, this can lead to large remote file sizes, impacting performance.

To mitigate this issue, ensure that you are only sharing the required code and not the entire application. Analyze and identify the specific modules or components that need to be shared and only include those in your shared configurations.

You can also utilize asynchronous loading to lazy-load remote modules on demand, minimizing the initial payload size. This can be achieved by using dynamic imports or the import() function.

2. Minimize Duplicate Dependencies

When using JavaScript Module Federation, it’s possible to end up with duplicate dependencies across multiple applications. Having multiple instances of the same dependency can increase the bundle size and negatively impact performance.

To minimize duplicate dependencies, you can leverage the shared configuration in Webpack 5. Ensure that you configure your shared dependencies properly and set the singleton flag to true when appropriate. This flag ensures that only one instance of a shared module is loaded, regardless of how many applications are using it.

Additionally, use optimization.splitChunks in your Webpack configuration to extract shared dependencies into separate chunks, reducing the size of each application bundle.

Conclusion

JavaScript Module Federation in Webpack 5 is a fantastic tool for code sharing, but care must be taken to optimize performance. By following these tips, you can avoid excessive remote file sizes and minimize duplicate dependencies, resulting in faster loading times and better overall performance.

#javascript #webpack