Gulp tool window

Context menu of a Gulpfile.js - Show Gulp Tasks
View | Tool Windows | Gulp

Use this tool window to run Gulp.js tasks The result of executing a task is shown in the Run tool window. The tool window shows the Gulp.js output, reports the errors occurred, lists the packages or plugins that have not been found, etc. The name of the last executed task is displayed on the title bar of the tool window.

Before you start

Download and install Node.js.
Install the gulp-cli package (Gulp command-line interface) globally and install the gulp package as a development dependency. See Installing Gulp.js for details.

Running tasks

To open the Gulp tool window

Select the required Gulpfile.js file in the Project tool window or open it in the editor and choose Show Gulp Tasks from the context menu.

By default WebStorm does not recognize ES6 in Gulpfile.js and fails to build a tasks tree. To solve this problem, update the default Gulp.js run configuration.

To build a tasks tree from a ES6 Gulpfile.js

From the main menu, select Run | Edit Configuration.
Under the Templates node, click Gulp.js.
In the Run/Debug Configuration: Gulp.js dialog that opens, type --harmony in the Node options field and click OK.

To build a tree of tasks

In the Gulp tool window, click on the toolbar and choose the required Gulpfile.js file from the list. By default, WebStorm shows the Gulpfile.js file in the root of your project.
If you have another Gulpfile.js file, click Choose Gulpfile.js and select the Gulpfile.js file you need in the dialog that opens. WebStorm adds a new node with the path to the chosen Gulpfile.js file on its title and builds a tasks tree under the new node.

To re-build a tree

Switch to the required node and click on the toolbar.

To sort the tasks in a tree by their names

Click on the toolbar, choose Sort by from the menu, and then choose Name.
By default, a tree shows the tasks in the order in which they are defined in Gulpfile.js (option Definition order).

To run a task

Double-click the task.
Select the task in the tree and press Enter or choose Run <task name> from the context menu.

To run the default task

Select the root node in the tree, and choose Run default from the context menu of the selection.

To run several tasks

Use the multiselect mode: hold Shift (for adjacent items) or Ctrl (for non-adjacent items) keys and select the required tasks, then choose Run or Debug from the context menu of the selection.

To navigate to the definition of a task

Select the required task in the tree, and choose Jump to source from the context menu of the selection.

Toolbar

	Add Gulpfile	Click this button to have a tasks tree for another Gulpfile.js file built. Choose the required Gulpfile.js file from the list. WebStorm builds a tasks tree and shows it under a separate node.
	Remove Gulpfile	Click this button to remove the tasks tree under the selected node.
	Reload tasks	Click this button to have the tasks tree under the selected node re-built. You may need a tree re-built after updating the corresponding Gulpfile.js file because Gulp.js does not apply changes to trees on the fly.
	Collapse all	Click this button to hide all the tasks trees and have only Gulpfile.js nodes displayed.
		Click this button to configure the current view and to change the viewing modes of the tool window, see Tool window view modes for details. Note that most of the menu items are options that you can turn on or off. An option which is on has a check mark to the left of its name. The Gulp -specific options are: Gulp Settings: select this option to open the Gulp Settings dialog and update the current settings for Gulp and for the Node interpreter, see Gulp. Sort by: select this option to configure the order in which tasks are shown in trees. Click on the toolbar, choose Sort by from the menu, and then choose Name. By default, a tree shows the tasks in the order in which they are defined in Gulpfile.js (option Definition order).
	Hide	Click this button to hide the tool window. To have it displayed again, choose View \| Tool Windows \| Gulp on the main menu. The tool window appears again showing all the previously built trees of tasks.

Context Menu of a Tree

Gulp Settings	Choose this menu item to open the Gulp Settings dialog and view or edit the Node.js configuration
Jump to Source	Choose this menu item to open the Gulpfile.js file for which the current tree is built.
Reload tasks	Choose this menu item to have the tree of tasks under the selected node re-built.
Copy Path	Choose this menu item to save the path to the Gulpfile.js file according to which the current tree was built to the clipboard.
Remove Gulpfile.js	Choose this menu item to remove the tree of tasks under the selected node.

Context Menu of a Task

Run <task name>	Choose this menu item to run the selected task.
Debug <task name>	Choose this menu item to debug the selected task.
Edit <task name> settings	Choose this menu item to open the Run/Debug Configuration dialog box and edit the predefined settings for the selected task.
Jump to Source	Choose this menu item to open the Gulpfile.js file for which the current tree is built and navigate to the definition of the selected task.

Last modified: 20 April 2021