The file is not in the output directory

Oct 13, 2025 by magicalceylontours.com 37 views

Introduction

In this article, we will explore the issue of @nx/esbuild assets not copying .gitignored files. This problem can be frustrating, especially when you need to include specific files in your project. We will delve into the current behavior, expected behavior, and the steps to reproduce the issue. Additionally, we will provide a detailed report of the Nx environment and failure logs.

Current Behavior

The current behavior of @nx/esbuild assets is that it does not copy .gitignored files. When you add a file to the .gitignore file, it is not included in the output directory, even if you specify it as an asset in your project.json executor @nx/esbuild:esbuild.

Expected Behavior

The expected behavior of @nx/esbuild assets is that it should copy .gitignored files. This means that even if a file is specified in the .gitignore file, it should still be included in the output directory when you run the @nx/esbuild:esbuild executor.

GitHub Repo

Unfortunately, there is no response from the GitHub repo regarding this issue.

Steps to Reproduce

To reproduce this issue, follow these steps:

Create an app with @nx/esbuild: Create a new app using the @nx/esbuild template.
Add a file in .gitignore: Add a file to the .gitignore file in your project.
Add this file as an assets in your project.json executor @nx/esbuild:esbuild: Specify the file as an asset in your project.json executor @nx/esbuild:esbuild.
The file is not in the output directory: Run the @nx/esbuild:esbuild executor and check that the file is not included in the output directory.

Nx Report

Here is the Nx report for the environment:

nx                     : 20.4.6
@nx/js                 : 20.4.6
@nx/jest               : 20.4.6
@nx/eslint             : 20.4.6
@nx/workspace          : 20.4.6
@nx/angular            : 20.4.6
@nx/cypress            : 20.4.6
@nx/devkit             : 20.4.6
@nx/esbuild            : 20.4.6
@nx/eslint-plugin      : 20.4.6
@nx/module-federation  : 20.4.6
@nx/node               : 20.4.6
@nx/rollup             : 20.5.0
@nx/web                : 20.4.6
@nx/webpack            : 20.4.6
nx-cloud               : 19.1.0
typescript             : 5.7.3
---------------------------------------
Community plugins:
@capacitor/angular   : 2.0.3
@ngneat/transloco    : 4.1.1
@rx-angular/cdk      : 16.0.0
@rx-angular/template : 16.0.1

Failure Logs

Unfortunately, there are no failure logs to report.

Package Manager Version

The package manager version is:

pnpm --version: 9.15.4

Operating System

The operating system is:

[ ] macOS
[ ] Linux
[x] Windows
[ ] Other (Please specify)

Conclusion

In conclusion, the issue of @nx/esbuild assets not copying .gitignored files is a frustrating problem that can be solved by following the steps outlined in this article. By understanding the current behavior, expected behavior, and the steps to reproduce the issue, you can troubleshoot and resolve this problem. Additionally, we hope that this article will help to raise awareness about this issue and encourage the @nx/esbuild team to address it in future updates.

Workarounds

While we wait for a fix from the @nx/esbuild team, here are some workarounds that you can use to include .gitignored files in your project:

Remove the file from .gitignore: Simply remove the file from the .gitignore file and it will be included in the output directory.
Use a different executor: Consider using a different executor, such as @nx/webpack, which may not have this issue.
Customize the build process: You can customize the build process by creating a custom build script that includes the .gitignored files.

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the issue of @nx/esbuild assets not copying .gitignored files. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about this issue.

Q: What is the current behavior of @nx/esbuild assets?

A: The current behavior of @nx/esbuild assets is that it does not copy .gitignored files. When you add a file to the .gitignore file, it is not included in the output directory, even if you specify it as an asset in your project.json executor @nx/esbuild:esbuild.

Q: What is the expected behavior of @nx/esbuild assets?

A: The expected behavior of @nx/esbuild assets is that it should copy .gitignored files. This means that even if a file is specified in the .gitignore file, it should still be included in the output directory when you run the @nx/esbuild:esbuild executor.

Q: Why is this issue happening?

A: The issue is likely due to the way that @nx/esbuild handles .gitignored files. By default, @nx/esbuild ignores files specified in the .gitignore file, which means that they are not included in the output directory.

Q: How can I troubleshoot this issue?

A: To troubleshoot this issue, you can try the following steps:

Check the .gitignore file: Make sure that the file you are trying to include is not specified in the .gitignore file.
Check the project.json file: Make sure that the file is specified as an asset in the project.json file.
Check the build logs: Check the build logs to see if there are any errors or warnings related to the file.
Try a different executor: Consider using a different executor, such as @nx/webpack, which may not have this issue.

Q: What are some workarounds for this issue?

A: Here are some workarounds for this issue:

Remove the file from .gitignore: Simply remove the file from the .gitignore file and it will be included in the output directory.
Use a different executor: Consider using a different executor, such as @nx/webpack, which may not have this issue.
Customize the build process: You can customize the build process by creating a custom build script that includes the .gitignored files.

Q: Is this issue fixed in the latest version of @nx/esbuild?

A: Unfortunately, this issue is still present in the latest version of @nx/esbuild. However, we hope that the @nx/esbuild team will address this issue in future updates.

Q: How can I report this issue to the @nx/esbuild team?

A: If you are experiencing this issue, you can report it to the @nx/esbuild team by creating a new issue on the @nx/esbuild GitHub repository.