Custom Schematics with Angular CLI

1. Introduction

Angular CLI provides a powerful tool for developers to create and manage Angular applications. One of its advanced features is the ability to create custom schematics, which allow developers to automate repetitive tasks and streamline project setup.

2. What are Schematics?

Schematics are templates that allow you to generate and modify code in a standardized way. They provide a way to create components, services, modules, and more, ensuring that your code adheres to best practices and project conventions.

3. Creating Custom Schematics

To create custom schematics, follow these steps:

ng generate schematics my-schematic

This command will generate a new schematic under the `projects/my-schematic` directory. Next, you will need to define your schematic:

{
  "$schema": "http://json.schemastore.org/schematics",
  "collection": {
    "name": "My Schematic",
    "description": "A custom schematic for creating components",
    "version": "1.0.0"
  },
  "schematics": {
    "my-component": {
      "description": "Generates a new component",
      "factory": "./src/my-component/index",
      "schema": "./src/my-component/schema.json"
    }
  }
}

Now, create the necessary files for your schematic, including the `index.ts` and `schema.json` files, to define your schematic’s behavior and options.

4. Best Practices

• Keep your schematics small and focused on a single task.
• Document your schematics for easy usage by other developers.
• Test your schematics thoroughly to avoid runtime errors.

5. FAQ