#ns-flip A tool for creating and using updatable code templates. Supports regeneration of code without losing custom changes. Framework agnostic.

• Why
• What
• How
• Help
• Usage
• Commands

Why

After you generate code with a template or tool, you make changes to the code. But then usually you can't regenerate it without losing your changes. So you can't apply an updated template or change to another similar template. Keeping your "legacy code" current becomes an expensive pain.

What

ns-flip is a CLI to support code templates that can be exchanged as easily as WordPress themes.

A template can generate three types of files:

1. standard (appear in every generated code base, e.g. App.jsx)
2. custom static (static, but must be custom specified for each code base, e.g. steps in an input stepper)
3. custom dynamic (based on queries e.g. components showing query results).

You can create templates with locations designated for custom code. You can also name regions that can be replaced or removed in the generated code. Ns-flip stores the custom changes before regenerating and restores them.

See some standard use cases.

How

A template is a directory with requirements explained in the documentation. You can use it privately or distribute it. To create one, you will need a basic working knowledge of Handlebars and not much more.

To generate code from a template:

1. Create a starter directory by calling ns newstarter -t <template> -s <starter>.
2. Create a code base using the starter: ns newcode -c <code path> -s <starter>.
3. The code base will have a meta directory with a sample ns file meta/ns.yml. You can modify the ns file to change data types for dynamic files and any static information needed. After any modifications, regenerate the code using [ns regenerate -c <code>](#ns regenerate)
4. Anyone can add custom code. But periodically run ns test -c <code> to be certain you did it right. (Otherwise, some of your changes will not be preserved when ns regenerate is run in the future.)

Whenever you want to run an updated version of the template, create a new starter (as in step 1) and then run ns regenerate -c <code> again.

Here's a sample template.

Help

• Read our documentation
• Post questions on our Community
• open issues

In short: don't be shy!

Usage

$ npm install -g ns-flip
$ ns COMMAND
running command...
$ ns (-v|--version|version)
ns-flip/1.6.6 linux-x64 node-v14.9.0
$ ns --help [COMMAND]
USAGE
  $ ns COMMAND
...

Commands

• ns help [COMMAND]
• ns newcode
• ns newstarter
• ns newtemplate
• ns regenerate
• ns test

ns help [COMMAND]

display help for ns

USAGE
  $ ns help [COMMAND]

ARGUMENTS
  COMMAND  command to show help for

OPTIONS
  --all  see all commands in CLI

See code: @oclif/plugin-help

ns newcode

new code base, based on a starter. You can use generate to update based on the ns.yml file.

USAGE
  $ ns newcode

OPTIONS
  -c, --codeDir=codeDir        code base directory
  -h, --help                   show CLI help
  -s, --starterDir=starterDir  starter directory.

EXAMPLE
  $ ns newcode -c ~/projects/myapp -s ~/ns/starters/current

See code: lib/commands/newcode.js

ns newstarter

create new starter from a template. You can then generate a new code base from it using newCode.

USAGE
  $ ns newstarter

OPTIONS
  -c, --sampleDir=sampleDir      optional sample generated code directory
  -f, --force                    when force is used, the starter is overwritten without warning.
  -h, --help                     show CLI help
  -s, --starterDir=starterDir    starter directory
  -t, --templateDir=templateDir  template directory

EXAMPLES
  $ ns newstarter -t ~/ns/templates/basicTemplate -s ~/ns/starters/mystarter
  $ ns newstarter -t $TEMPLATE -s $STARTER -c ~/ns/samples/out
  $ ns newstarter -t $TEMPLATE -s $STARTER -c $CODE -f

See code: lib/commands/newstarter.js

ns newtemplate

create new template.

USAGE
  $ ns newtemplate

OPTIONS
  -h, --help  show CLI help

EXAMPLE
  $ ns newtemplate

See code: lib/commands/newtemplate.js

ns regenerate

regenerates code based on a meta file ns.yml, custom changes, and a starter. The code directory must have been created for the first time using newcode.

USAGE
  $ ns regenerate

OPTIONS
  -c, --codeDir=codeDir  code directory
  -h, --help             show CLI help

EXAMPLE
  $ nd regenerate -c ~/projects/myapp

See code: lib/commands/regenerate.js

ns test

Confirms that your custom changes have been entered safely, allowing you to generate with an updated or replaced template, or with a changed 'ns.yml' file. For documentation about the rules for custom code placement, please see https://github.com/NoStackApp/ns-flip/wiki/Safe-Custom-Code.

USAGE
  $ ns test

OPTIONS
  -c, --codeDir=codeDir  code base directory
  -h, --help             show CLI help

DESCRIPTION
  Essentially, the test generates a new version of the code and then simply compares it against your current version.  
  If there are differences, then there is a problem with your code.

EXAMPLE
  $ ns test -c ~/projects/myapp

See code: lib/commands/test.js