SPFx 1.22: Heft-Powered Build and Modernized Baseline

SPFx 1.22: Breaking Down the Build

The core insight of the article is the shift in the SharePoint Framework (SPFx) version 1.22 to a Heft-based build toolchain, replacing the older Gulp-based system. This represents a substantial modernization effort, aiming to address technical debt, improve extensibility, and align with broader Microsoft toolchain standards. The move to Heft, a config-driven build orchestrator from the Rush Stack ecosystem, is noteworthy because it promises a more transparent and maintainable build process, potentially alleviating the 'black box' issues developers previously faced with Gulp. Additionally, the article highlights the resolution of npm audit vulnerabilities and the upgrade of the default TypeScript version, improving security and developer experience. However, the transition isn't without its challenges. Migrating from custom Gulp configurations to Heft will require considerable effort for many teams, especially those with bespoke build steps. This could lead to temporary productivity dips during the adaptation period. Moreover, while Heft offers benefits, the article doesn't delve deeply into the specific advantages it brings over Gulp in terms of performance or developer productivity, leaving some aspects of the benefits open to further investigation.

Key Points

• SPFx 1.22 switches from Gulp to Heft for its build toolchain, modernizing the build process.
• The transition aims to address technical debt, improve extensibility, and align with Microsoft's toolchain standards.
• The release fixes known npm audit vulnerabilities and upgrades the default TypeScript version.
• Migrating from custom Gulp configurations to Heft will require effort, especially for projects with bespoke build steps.

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📖 Source: SharePoint Framework 1.22 Ships with Heft-Based Build Toolchain and Refreshed Project Baseline