Introduction to Unlighthouse
Unlighthouse is a powerful and user-friendly tool designed to scan entire websites using Google Lighthouse technology. It offers a modern interface, requires minimal configuration, and employs smart sampling to provide comprehensive performance insights.
Main Features
Unlighthouse is renowned for its ability to conduct thorough scans using Google Lighthouse, a popular open-source tool developed by Google. With its sophisticated yet straightforward interface, Unlighthouse ensures that even those with minimal technical expertise can benefit from its powerful capabilities. The tool's smart sampling feature intelligently selects the most representative pages of a website to assess, offering users valuable insights without overwhelming them with data.
Getting Started
To set up and start using Unlighthouse, users need to run a simple command in their terminal. This process involves using Node.js, making it essential to have Node version 18.x or higher installed on the system. The following command initiates a scan on a specified website:
npx unlighthouse --site <your-site>
Alternatively, users can employ the PNPM package manager:
pnpm dlx unlighthouse --site <your-site>
Recommendations
After running Unlighthouse, it's advisable to add the output directory to your .gitignore file. This step prevents the autogenerated reports from being committed to version control, maintaining a clean workflow. Simply add the following line to your .gitignore file:
.unlighthouse
Debugging and Support
Should any issues arise during the use of Unlighthouse, users are encouraged to rerun the scan with debugging mode enabled. This can be done with the following command:
npx unlighthouse --site unlighthouse.dev --debug
This feature helps to identify and resolve problems quickly. For additional support or in-depth assistance, users are welcome to join the Discord community, where one-on-one help is available.
Documentation and Integration
Comprehensive documentation, including integration guides, API details, and configuration specifications, can be accessed via the official Unlighthouse documentation site. This resource offers all the information needed to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of this tool in various projects.
Community and Sponsorship
Unlighthouse is a project that thrives on community engagement and support. Contributions from sponsors have played a crucial role in the ongoing development and success of the tool. For those interested, there’s an option to support the project through the sponsor program.
License
Unlighthouse is released under the MIT License, allowing for broad use and adoption. Developed by Harlan Wilton, the project is open for contributions and collaboration via its repository on GitHub.
Unlighthouse continues to empower web developers and site owners with its comprehensive scanning capabilities, making it an invaluable asset in the pursuit of web performance optimization.