nuxt-remove-before-flight

A Nuxt module that removes code marked with // @remove-before-flight during production build only. In development the marked code runs as usual; in build it is stripped from the bundle. Source files on disk are never changed, so git history stays clean.

Use this when you want to keep dev-only code (debug logs, mocks, feature flags) in the same codebase but exclude it from production bundles.

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Installation

1. Install the package (use one of the following):

   npm install nuxt-remove-before-flight
   # or
   pnpm add nuxt-remove-before-flight
   # or
   yarn add nuxt-remove-before-flight

2. Register the module in nuxt.config.ts:

   export default defineNuxtConfig({
       modules: ['nuxt-remove-before-flight'],
   })

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Usage

Single line

Place // @remove-before-flight on one line. That line and the next line are removed at build time.

Example:

function init() {
    // @remove-before-flight
    console.log('Debug: only in dev')
    doRealInit()
}

After build, the result is equivalent to:

function init() {
    doRealInit()
}

Block

Use two // @remove-before-flight lines to mark a block. Everything from the first marker up to and including the second marker is removed at build time.

Example:

function setup() {
    // @remove-before-flight
    if (import.meta.dev) {
        useFakeBackend()
    }
    // @remove-before-flight
    useRealBackend()
}

After build:

function setup() {
    useRealBackend()
}

Rules:

• Each pair of markers defines one block (first through second, inclusive).
• An odd, unpaired marker is treated as single-line: that line and the next are removed.

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Behavior

Environment	Effect on marked code
Dev (nuxt dev)	No removal; marked code runs as written.
Build (nuxt build)	Marked single lines and blocks are removed before bundling.
Git	No file writes; nothing to commit from this module.

Removal is done in memory via a Vite transform that runs only during build. The repository always keeps the original source.

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Supported files

• JS/TS: .ts, .js, .mjs, .cjs — the whole file is processed.
• Vue: .vue — <script>, <script setup>, and <template> are processed. In templates use the HTML comment <!-- @remove-before-flight --> with the same single-line and block rules.

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Configuration

To turn the module off:

// nuxt.config.ts
export default defineNuxtConfig({
    modules: ['nuxt-remove-before-flight'],
    removeBeforeFlight: {
        enabled: false,
    },
})

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Development

Commands for contributors:

• Build the module: npm run build — output is in dist/.
• Run tests: npm run test — runs Vitest once.
• Run tests in watch mode: npm run test:watch
• Run the playground: npm run dev — starts the Nuxt app in playground/ using the local module.

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License

MIT