When exposing flow definitions with `forceFlow` maybe source files needs to be copied with `.flow` prefix

[DianaSuvorova]

So the actual raw javascript files are not made public/accessible in the distributable unintentionally.

cc @lhorie

[rtsao]

So you are suggesting appending a .flow file extension suffix to each file in src before publishing?

The tricky thing is I think then paths/imports would have to be rewritten. I'm curious to learn more about why publishing the original source be an issue, can you elaborate?

[DianaSuvorova]

@rtsao , I see what you mean. I guess your strategy is a bit different here. Since you create a brand new index.js.flow file that references the src folder. I am actually not exactly sure why did you got that route...

What I have seen people do is they provide untouched raw js.flow files alongside with compiled ones.

So currently the structure cup generates looks like this for example:

- dist-node-cjs
-- client.js [transpiled]
-- index.js [transpiled]
-- index.js.flow [export * from "../src/index.js";]
- src
-- index.js [raw]
-- client.js [raw]

What I have seen libs do is the following:

- dist-node-cjs
-- client.js [transpiled]
-- client.js.flow [raw client.js]
-- index.js [transpiled]
-- index.js.flow [raw index.js]

Then you shouldn't need to do anything about paths, and you avoid exposing your raw code to the consumers (ie it is not accessible via js require\import).

There is a util to do this. Baseweb has a custom script

Here is github discussion about the best strategies to expose flow types for a lib

[rtsao]

I see, thanks. I think the original reasoning for the current design is twofold:

• Less copying (only a single extra file needs to be created)
• Less ambiguity if there is explicit type definitions, (e.g. there is bothsrc/foo.js and src/foo.js.flow)

I felt like the current approach is the simplest implementation. I think your suggestion would also work fine though. If you wanted to put up a PR, I'd be happy to review!

Would you help me understand the motivation behind hiding the original source? If consumers are importing that directly, isn't that their prerogative?

I suppose the issue is it potentially implies (falsely) that the src/ is part of the API contract of the package? And you want to restrict the surface area to the compiled source only?

[DianaSuvorova]

suppose the issue is it potentially implies (falsely) that the src/ is part of the API contract of the package? And you want to restrict the surface area to the compiled source only?

Yes, exactly. I can extend on this reasoning, but this is exactly the point.

Ok, I will craft a PR. Thank you 😊