Perhaps the most talked-about feature of 2017. By using ES2015 module syntax ( import and export ), Webpack can now "shake off" unused code from your final bundle, significantly reducing file size.
2017 was the year we built the foundations. The tools were slow and heavy, but they taught us the importance of modularity. Today, we enjoy fast build times thanks to Go and Rust-based tools, but they stand on the shoulders of the JS-based giants of 2017.
In 2017, the stack usually looked like this: build tools 2017
Last updated: 2026 (historical analysis)
While Webpack dominated the conversation, late 2017 saw the explosive arrival of . Parcel’s value proposition is simple: "Zero configuration." Perhaps the most talked-about feature of 2017
choco install visualstudio2017buildtools choco install visualstudio2017-workload-vctools
Unlike Webpack, which often requires a massive webpack.config.js file to get started, Parcel allows developers to point the tool at an index.html file and just start working. It automatically detects transforms (like Babel, PostCSS, or Sass) and handles them without manual setup. This has sparked a new trend in the industry, forcing other tools to prioritize "sane defaults" over manual configuration. 3. Rollup: The Library Author’s Choice The tools were slow and heavy, but they
Pre-installed on vs2017-win2016 image. Available as capability MSBuild 15.0 .