extrasrequire

Extrasrequire is a theoretical concept in software module loading that aims to manage optional dependencies by enabling runtime loading of additional features, or extras, when they are available in the execution environment. It is described as an enhancement to standard loaders such as require or dynamic import rather than a distinct runtime.

In a typical design, libraries declare a set of extras in a manifest. At runtime, extrasrequire attempts to resolve and load the requested extras; if the module is present, it returns the loaded module; if not, it returns a configured fallback or signals that the feature is unavailable. A strict mode can throw an error instead of using a fallback, while lazy evaluation defers loading until first use. The approach supports environment-specific behavior, such as loading platform or configuration dependent features only when needed.

Interface and usage centers on a core API described as extrasrequire(moduleName, options). Options may include fallback values, strictness flags, and environment hints. A separate metadata file can tie extras to feature flags and dependency versions, helping maintain compatibility across configurations. This design is intended to minimize upfront footprint by keeping optional code out of the default bundle while still allowing feature-rich configurations when extras are present.

Benefits and use cases include smoother plugin ecosystems, support for optional feature sets, easier testing across configurations, and the ability to ship leaner initial deployments while enabling enhancements on demand. Limitations include potential performance overhead from repeated resolution, inconsistent environments across installations, caching and state management challenges, and security considerations when loading optional modules from external sources.

See also: require, dynamic import, optionalDependencies, plugin architecture.