angular2.js vs angular2.dev.js

Question

I was wondering about the differences between angular2.js and angular2.dev.js, of course there are more files like: router.dev.js and

Answer 1

So as per @Bonneville's useful link the pattern would be, during development as "SystemJS loader user", to reference from the index.html the dev scripts:

• node_modules/angular2/angular2.dev.js,
• node_modules/angular2/router.dev.js and
• node_modules/angular2/http.dev.js

and then for production to swap in the minified scripts:

• node_modules/angular2/angular2.min.js,
• node_modules/angular2/router.min.js and
• node_modules/angular2/http.min.js

Answer 2

There are actually three versions of angular2.js along with three files for each dependency. There is the regular prod version of each (angular2.js), a minified prod version (angular2.min.js) and a development version (angular2.dev.js). Check out this link to see how the files can be bundled: Bundles, their content and usage scenarios

Answer 3

angular2.dev.js uses global.Zone.longStackTraceZone = require('../zones/long-stack-trace.js') via zone.js for showing long stacktrace for angular exceptions to help with your development.

Source: https://code.angularjs.org/2.0.0-alpha.28/angular2.dev.js

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