SharePoint SPFX Interview questions. SPFX - Gulp Build ,bundle Package with --- ship and without -- ship parameter what is the difference?

The main difference between bundling an SPFX package with and without the --ship option is that the --ship option optimizes the package for production use. This includes minifying and uglifying the JavaScript and CSS files, removing unnecessary code, and bundling the package in a smaller and more efficient format.

Here is a more detailed breakdown of the differences:

With --ship:

• JavaScript and CSS files are minified and uglified, which reduces their size and makes them load faster.
• Unnecessary code is removed, which further reduces the size of the package.
• The package is bundled in a smaller and more efficient format.
• The package includes a manifest file that provides information about the solution, such as its name, version, and dependencies.

Without --ship:

• JavaScript and CSS files are not minified or uglified.
• Unnecessary code is not removed.
• The package is not bundled in a smaller and more efficient format.
• The package does not include a manifest file.

In general, it is recommended to bundle SPFX packages with the --ship option, especially for production use. This will help to ensure that the packages are as small and efficient as possible, which will improve the performance of your SharePoint sites and apps.

Here are some examples of when you might want to bundle an SPFX package without the --ship option:

• When you are developing a package and need to debug it.
• When you are testing a package in a sandbox environment.
• When you are creating a development package that will be used by other developers.

In these cases, you may not need to minify or uglify the JavaScript and CSS files, or remove unnecessary code. You may also want to avoid bundling the package in a smaller and more efficient format, as this can make it more difficult to debug the package.