react-app-rewired vs customize-cra vs craco
Customizing Create React App
react-app-rewiredcustomize-cracracoSimilar Packages:
Customizing Create React App

Customizing Create React App (CRA) is essential for developers who need to modify the default configuration of a CRA project without ejecting. Ejecting exposes all configuration files, making them editable but also complicating future updates. Instead, tools like craco, customize-cra, and react-app-rewired allow for non-intrusive modifications to Webpack, Babel, ESLint, and other settings, enabling customization while keeping the CRA setup manageable. These tools are particularly useful for adding plugins, loaders, or changing settings to meet specific project requirements without losing the benefits of CRA's zero-config approach.

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react-app-rewired318,2539,87548.9 kB18-MIT
customize-cra173,7562,787-1155 years agoMIT
craco13,364890.9 kB0-MIT
Feature Comparison: react-app-rewired vs customize-cra vs craco

Configuration Method

  • react-app-rewired:

    react-app-rewired allows for configuration overrides by replacing the react-scripts entry point in package.json. It does not require a separate configuration file, making it easy to implement. However, it relies on the existing CRA configuration structure, which may limit the extent of customization.

  • customize-cra:

    customize-cra does not require a separate configuration file. Instead, it provides a set of functions that can be used to modify the existing Webpack configuration directly within the config-overrides.js file. This method is more flexible and allows for quick, targeted changes without the need for extensive setup.

  • craco:

    craco uses a dedicated configuration file (craco.config.js) that allows for centralized management of all customizations, including Webpack, Babel, and ESLint. This approach promotes better organization and clarity, especially for larger projects.

Ease of Use

  • react-app-rewired:

    react-app-rewired is straightforward and quick to set up, making it ideal for developers who need to make simple changes without a steep learning curve. Its simplicity, however, may limit more complex customizations.

  • customize-cra:

    customize-cra is easy to use for developers familiar with Webpack. Its plugin-based architecture allows for quick integration of customizations, but it may require some understanding of Webpack configuration to use effectively.

  • craco:

    craco is user-friendly and well-documented, making it easy for developers to implement and understand the customization process. Its structured approach reduces the learning curve and helps maintain consistency across the project.

Community and Ecosystem

  • react-app-rewired:

    react-app-rewired has a large user base and is well-established in the CRA ecosystem. It is actively maintained, and its simplicity has led to widespread adoption for projects requiring quick and easy configuration overrides.

  • customize-cra:

    customize-cra is popular within the CRA community, especially among developers who need targeted Webpack customizations. It is well-maintained and has a supportive community, but it is more niche compared to craco and react-app-rewired.

  • craco:

    craco has a growing community and ecosystem, with active maintenance and contributions. It is widely adopted for its comprehensive feature set and flexibility, making it a reliable choice for long-term projects.

Code Example

  • react-app-rewired:

    Example of react-app-rewired setup:

    // package.json
    {
      "scripts": {
        "start": "react-app-rewired start",
        "build": "react-app-rewired build",
        "test": "react-app-rewired test"
      }
    }
    
  • customize-cra:

    Example of customize-cra usage:

    // config-overrides.js
    const { override, addWebpackPlugin } = require('customize-cra');
    const MyCustomPlugin = require('./path/to/my-custom-plugin');
    
    module.exports = override(
      addWebpackPlugin(new MyCustomPlugin()), // Add custom Webpack plugin
    );
    
  • craco:

    Example of craco configuration:

    // craco.config.js
    module.exports = {
      webpack: {
        configure: (webpackConfig) => {
          // Modify webpackConfig as needed
          return webpackConfig;
        },
      },
      babel: {
        presets: [], // Add custom Babel presets
        plugins: [], // Add custom Babel plugins
      },
      eslint: {
        enable: true, // Enable custom ESLint configuration
        mode: 'extends', // Use extends mode
        configure: (eslintConfig) => {
          // Modify eslintConfig as needed
          return eslintConfig;
        },
      },
    };
    
How to Choose: react-app-rewired vs customize-cra vs craco
  • react-app-rewired:

    Opt for react-app-rewired if you need a simple way to override CRA's Webpack configuration without ejecting. It allows for quick modifications by replacing the react-scripts entry point, making it great for smaller projects or when only minor adjustments are needed.

  • customize-cra:

    Select customize-cra if you prefer a lightweight, plugin-based approach to modify Webpack configurations. It works best when combined with react-app-rewired and is suitable for projects that need specific, targeted changes without a full configuration overhaul.

  • craco:

    Choose craco if you want a comprehensive solution that supports multiple configuration overrides (Webpack, Babel, ESLint) through a single craco.config.js file. It is ideal for teams looking for a structured and maintainable way to customize CRA without ejecting.

README for react-app-rewired

ℹ️ Before submitting an issue to this repo - Ensure it's a issue with the code in this repo, not a how do I configure something with Webpack question (post something on Stack Overflow or Spectrum). It's your config you "own" it.

npm version npm monthly downloads

react-app-rewired

Tweak the create-react-app webpack config(s) without using 'eject' and without creating a fork of the react-scripts.

All the benefits of create-react-app without the limitations of "no config". You can add plugins, loaders whatever you need.

Rewire Your App ☠

As of Create React App 2.0 this repo is "lightly" maintained mostly by the community at this point.

⚠️ Please Note:

By doing this you're breaking the "guarantees" that CRA provides. That is to say you now "own" the configs. No support will be provided. Proceed with caution.

"Stuff can break" — Dan Abramov https://twitter.com/dan_abramov/status/1045809734069170176


Note: I personally use next.js or Razzle which both support custom Webpack out of the box.

Alternatives

You can try customize-cra for a set of CRA 2.0 compatible rewirers, or any of the alternative projects and forks that aim to support 2.0:

How to rewire your create-react-app project

Create your app using create-react-app and then rewire it.

1) Install react-app-rewired

For create-react-app 2.x with Webpack 4:
npm install react-app-rewired --save-dev
For create-react-app 1.x or react-scripts-ts with Webpack 3:
npm install react-app-rewired@1.6.2 --save-dev

2) Create a config-overrides.js file in the root directory

/* config-overrides.js */

module.exports = function override(config, env) {
  //do stuff with the webpack config...
  return config;
}
+-- your-project
|   +-- config-overrides.js
|   +-- node_modules
|   +-- package.json
|   +-- public
|   +-- README.md
|   +-- src

3) 'Flip' the existing calls to react-scripts in npm scripts for start, build and test

  /* package.json */

  "scripts": {
-   "start": "react-scripts start",
+   "start": "react-app-rewired start",
-   "build": "react-scripts build",
+   "build": "react-app-rewired build",
-   "test": "react-scripts test",
+   "test": "react-app-rewired test",
    "eject": "react-scripts eject"
}

Note: Do NOT flip the call for the eject script. That gets run only once for a project, after which you are given full control over the webpack configuration making react-app-rewired no longer required. There are no configuration options to rewire for the eject script.

4) Start the Dev Server

npm start

5) Build your app

npm run build

Extended Configuration Options

You can set a custom path for config-overrides.js. If you (for instance) wanted to use a 3rd-party config-overrides.js that exists in node_modules, you could add the following to your package.json:

"config-overrides-path": "node_modules/some-preconfigured-rewire"

By default, the config-overrides.js file exports a single function to use when customising the webpack configuration for compiling your react app in development or production mode. It is possible to instead export an object from this file that contains up to three fields, each of which is a function. This alternative form allows you to also customise the configuration used for Jest (in testing), and for the Webpack Dev Server itself.

This example implementation is used to demonstrate using each of the object require functions. In the example, the functions:

  • have some tests run conditionally based on .env variables
  • set the https certificates to use for the Development Server, with the filenames specified in .env file variables.
module.exports = {
  // The Webpack config to use when compiling your react app for development or production.
  webpack: function(config, env) {
    // ...add your webpack config
    return config;
  },
  // The Jest config to use when running your jest tests - note that the normal rewires do not
  // work here.
  jest: function(config) {
    // ...add your jest config customisation...
    // Example: enable/disable some tests based on environment variables in the .env file.
    if (!config.testPathIgnorePatterns) {
      config.testPathIgnorePatterns = [];
    }
    if (!process.env.RUN_COMPONENT_TESTS) {
      config.testPathIgnorePatterns.push('<rootDir>/src/components/**/*.test.js');
    }
    if (!process.env.RUN_REDUCER_TESTS) {
      config.testPathIgnorePatterns.push('<rootDir>/src/reducers/**/*.test.js');
    }
    return config;
  },
  // The function to use to create a webpack dev server configuration when running the development
  // server with 'npm run start' or 'yarn start'.
  // Example: set the dev server to use a specific certificate in https.
  devServer: function(configFunction) {
    // Return the replacement function for create-react-app to use to generate the Webpack
    // Development Server config. "configFunction" is the function that would normally have
    // been used to generate the Webpack Development server config - you can use it to create
    // a starting configuration to then modify instead of having to create a config from scratch.
    return function(proxy, allowedHost) {
      // Create the default config by calling configFunction with the proxy/allowedHost parameters
      const config = configFunction(proxy, allowedHost);

      // Change the https certificate options to match your certificate, using the .env file to
      // set the file paths & passphrase.
      const fs = require('fs');
      config.https = {
        key: fs.readFileSync(process.env.REACT_HTTPS_KEY, 'utf8'),
        cert: fs.readFileSync(process.env.REACT_HTTPS_CERT, 'utf8'),
        ca: fs.readFileSync(process.env.REACT_HTTPS_CA, 'utf8'),
        passphrase: process.env.REACT_HTTPS_PASS
      };

      // Return your customised Webpack Development Server config.
      return config;
    };
  },
  // The paths config to use when compiling your react app for development or production.
  paths: function(paths, env) {
    // ...add your paths config
    return paths;
  },
}

1) Webpack configuration - Development & Production

The webpack field is used to provide the equivalent to the single-function exported from config-overrides.js. This is where all the usual rewires are used. It is not able to configure compilation in test mode because test mode does not get run through Webpack at all (it runs in Jest). It is also not able to be used to customise the Webpack Dev Server that is used to serve pages in development mode because create-react-app generates a separate Webpack configuration for use with the dev server using different functions and defaults.

2) Jest configuration - Testing

Webpack is not used for compiling your application in Test mode - Jest is used instead. This means that any rewires specified in your webpack config customisation function will not be applied to your project in test mode.

React-app-rewired automatically allows you to customise your Jest configuration in a jest section of your package.json file, including allowing you to set configuration fields that create-react-app would usually block you from being able to set. It also automatically sets up Jest to compile the project with Babel prior to running tests. Jest's configuration options are documented separately at the Jest website. Note: Configuration arrays and objects are merged, rather than overwritten. See #240 and #241 for details

If you want to add plugins and/or presets to the Babel configuration that Jest will use, you need to define those plugins/presets in either a babel section inside the package.json file or inside a .babelrc file. React-app-rewired alters the Jest configuration to use these definition files for specifying Babel options when Jest is compiling your react app. The format to use in the Babel section of package.json or the .babelrc file is documented separately at the Babel website.

The jest field in the module.exports object in config-overrides.js is used to specify a function that can be called to customise the Jest testing configuration in ways that are not possible in the jest section of the package.json file. For example, it will allow you to change some configuration options based on environment variables. This function is passed the default create-react-app Jest configuration as a parameter and is required to return the modified Jest configuration that you want to use. A lot of the time you'll be able to make the configuration changes needed simply by using a combination of the package.json file's jest section and a .babelrc file (or babel section in package.json) instead of needing to provide this jest function in config-overrides.js.

3) Webpack Dev Server

When running in development mode, create-react-app does not use the usual Webpack config for the Development Server (the one that serves the app pages). This means that you cannot use the normal webpack section of the config-overrides.js server to make changes to the Development Server settings as those changes won't be applied.

Instead of this, create-react-app expects to be able to call a function to generate the webpack dev server when needed. This function is provided with parameters for the proxy and allowedHost settings to be used in the webpack dev server (create-react-app retrieves the values for those parameters from your package.json file).

React-app-rewired provides the ability to override this function through use of the devServer field in the module.exports object in config-overrides.js. It provides the devServer function a single parameter containing the default create-react-app function that is normally used to generate the dev server config (it cannot provide a generated version of the configuration because react-scripts is calling the generation function directly). React-app-rewired needs to receive as a return value a replacement function for create-react-app to then use to generate the Development Server configuration (i.e. the return value should be a new function that takes the two parameters for proxy and allowedHost and itself returns a Webpack Development Server configuration). The original react-scripts function is passed into the config-overrides.js devServer function so that you are able to easily call this yourself to generate your initial devServer configuration based on what the defaults used by create-react-app are.

4) Paths configuration - Development & Production

The paths field is used to provide overrides for the create-react-app paths passed into webpack and jest.

5) Provide rewired webpack config for 3rd party tools

Some third party tools, like react-cosmos relies on your webpack config. You can create webpack.config.js file and export rewired config using following snippet:

const { paths } = require('react-app-rewired');
// require normalized overrides
const overrides = require('react-app-rewired/config-overrides');
const config = require(paths.scriptVersion + '/config/webpack.config.dev');

module.exports = overrides.webpack(config, process.env.NODE_ENV);

Then just point to this file in tool configuration.

Additional Issues and Options

1) Entry Point: 'src/index.js'

At this point in time, it is difficult to change the entry point from the default src/index.js file due to the way that file is included by create-react-app. The normal rewiring process gets bypassed by several of the create-react-app scripts.

There are three work-arounds available here:

  1. Simply require/import your desired file from inside the src/index.js file, like:
require('./index.tsx');
  1. Use a customised version of the react-scripts package that changes the entry point inside the scripts themselves (e.g. react-scripts-ts for a typescript project - see below for how to use custom script versions with react-app-rewired).
  2. Override the react-dev-utils/checkRequiredFiles function to always return true (causing create-react-app to no longer try to enforce that the entry file must exist).

2) Custom scripts versions

It is possible to use a custom version of the react-scripts package with react-app-rewired by specifying the name of the scripts package in the command line option --scripts-version or setting REACT_SCRIPTS_VERSION=<...> via the environment.

A working example for using the scripts version option is:

{
  "scripts": {
    "start": "react-app-rewired start --scripts-version react-scripts-ts",
    "build": "react-app-rewired build --scripts-version react-scripts-ts",
    "test": "react-app-rewired test --scripts-version react-scripts-ts",
    "eject": "react-scripts eject"
  }
}
React-app-rewired 2.x requires a custom react-scripts package to provide the following files:
  • config/env.js
  • config/webpack.config.js
  • config/webpackDevServer.config.js
  • scripts/build.js
  • scripts/start.js
  • scripts/test.js
  • scripts/utils/createJestConfig.js
React-app-rewired 1.x requires a custom react-scripts package to provide the following files:
  • config/env.js
  • config/webpack.config.dev.js
  • config/webpack.config.prod.js
  • config/webpackDevServer.config.js
  • scripts/build.js
  • scripts/start.js
  • scripts/test.js
  • scripts/utils/createJestConfig.js

3) Specify config-overrides as a directory

React-app-rewired imports your config-overrides.js file without the '.js' extension. This means that you have the option of creating a directory called config-overrides at the root of your project and exporting your overrides from the default index.js file inside that directory.

If you have several custom overrides using a directory allows you to be able to put each override in a separate file. An example template that demonstrates this can be found in Guria/rewired-ts-boilerplate at Github.

4) Specify config-overrides location from command line

If you need to change the location of your config-overrides.js you can pass a command line option --config-overrides to the react-app-rewired script.

Version 1.X Community Maintained Rewires (Check the plugin repo for 2.0 support)

Babel plugins

Webpack plugins

Loaders

Other

Development

When developing this project, ensure you have yarn installed.

Quick Start

To run the test app, navigate to the directory and run:

yarn setup
yarn start

(when you are finished, run yarn teardown to clean up)

Commands

Here is a list of all the available commands to help you in development

  • yarn setup - installs dependences and links test/react-app
  • yarn start - starts the react app
  • yarn build - builds the react app
  • yarn test - tests the react app
  • yarn teardown - unlinks test/react-app and removes dependencies

Why This Project Exists

See: Create React App — But I don’t wanna Eject.