TL/DR: This is a program that allows you to compile Handlebars html files from json stored on your computer. When you save your html file, it will auto update the output
Lately at my work I have to create a lot of e-mail templates in Mandrill using Handlebars. The data in these e-mail's is injected by an API call. To test my templates, I would have to send an API call and wait for a response in my inbox.
That’s why I wrote this open source tool. With this tool I can look how templates look using sample data from a API call stored in a JSON file. Even though it is primarily meant for e-mail templates, it should work for other applications.
In fact, this tool supports all Handlebars expressions as long your json matches with the variables in your html file. It also can be used completely offline.
Body html file:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>This is the title</title>
<style>
/* some global styles */
</style>
</head>
<body>
<!-- content will be rendered here -->
{{> content}}
</body>
</html>Content html file:
<div class="entry">
<h1>{{title}}</h1>
<div class="body">
{{body}}
</div>
</div>JSON file:
{
"title": "My New Post",
"body": "Hello world"
}Just like regular Handlebars.
- If you haven't already, please install the latest NodeJS version for your OS
- Clone this repository
- Run
npm install
- Run
npm start - A dialog will popup asking you for a html and json file
- Drag your files into the appropriate textboxes (Be sure to be precise or the chromium wrapper will think that you want to open the file in the current window, if this happens restart the application)
- Hit Start
- The internal webserver will start and loads your files. Afterwards your default browser should go to http://localhost:20755
- Just save your files after an edit and refresh your browser window. The server will automatically serve the latest version of your html and json.
This tool uses the following open source frameworks or libraries:
- NodeJs
- Electron
- jQuery
Mandrill and Handlebars.js belong to their respective owners and are in no way affiliated with this project