codebase

name: codebase description: Use when understanding the build system, modifying CLI commands, working with isobuild, or navigating the tools/ directory. Covers build pipeline flow and file locations.

Meteor's build system (Isobuild) and CLI structure.

Overview

Meteor is a full-stack JavaScript platform with:

Core packages in /packages
Build system (Isobuild) in /tools/isobuild
CLI tool in /tools/cli
Real-time data layer via DDP
Mobile support via Cordova

Build Pipeline

CLI (tools/cli/main.js) → parses commands
Project Context (project-context.js) → resolves packages, dependencies
Isobuild (tools/isobuild/)
- Bundler (bundler.js) → orchestrates build
- Compiler (compiler.js) → compiles packages
- Linker (linker.js) → wraps modules
- Build plugins (Babel, TypeScript, CSS)
Output → star.json, programs
Runners (tools/runners/) → run-app.js, run-mongo.js, run-hmr.js
Live App → DDP Server ↔ Minimongo ↔ UI

Directory Structure

tools/
├── cli/                   # Command-line interface
├── isobuild/              # Build system core
├── packaging/             # Package management
├── runners/               # App execution engines
├── fs/                    # File system utilities
├── cordova/               # Mobile/Cordova support
├── static-assets/         # Project templates
└── project-context.js     # Dependency resolution

CLI (`tools/cli/`)

File	Description
`main.js`	Entry point, command dispatcher
`commands.js`	Main command implementations
`commands-packages.js`	Package management commands
`commands-cordova.js`	Cordova/mobile commands

Commands: meteor create, run, build, deploy, add/remove, mongo, shell

Isobuild (`tools/isobuild/`)

File	Description
`bundler.js`	High-level bundling orchestration
`compiler.js`	Package compilation
`linker.js`	Module wrapping and linking
`import-scanner.ts`	Import statement parsing
`compiler-plugin.js`	Compiler plugin API
`isopack.js`	Package format handling

Runners (`tools/runners/`)

File	Description
`run-app.js`	Web application runner
`run-mongo.js`	MongoDB server runner
`run-hmr.js`	Hot module reload runner
`run-all.js`	Multi-runner orchestration

Build Targets

Target	Description
`web.browser`	Modern browsers
`web.browser.legacy`	Legacy browsers (IE11)
`web.cordova`	Cordova mobile apps
`server`	Node.js server

Package Relationships

tools-core → rspack, future integrations
accounts-base → all accounts-* packages
ddp-server + ddp-client → realtime communication
mongo → minimongo (client-side)
webapp → all HTTP handling

Project Templates

Via meteor create --<template>: react, vue, svelte, angular, blaze, typescript, tailwind, solid, apollo, minimal, bare, full

Environment Variables

Variable	Purpose
`METEOR_PROFILE`	Build profiling
`METEOR_PACKAGE_DIRS`	Additional package paths
`METEOR_DEBUG_BUILD`	Verbose build output

Troubleshooting

Package not found: Check package.js name, run meteor reset
Build plugin not running: Check archMatching, file extensions
npm issues: Clear .meteor/local/, run meteor npm install