Asset pipeline

What does it mean to concatenate files? Find an image of an example concatenated file. Why would we want to concatenate files?


Concatenate files lets you string a bunch of files together likeyouwoulddowithwordslikethis. Concating means you can draw all of these objects in one draw call. 


What does it mean to precompile files? What does this have to do with coffeescript and sass files?


To reduce compilation times, some compilers allow header files to be compiled into a form that is faster for the 
compiler to process. This intermediate form is known as a precompiled header, and is commonly held in a file named with 
the extension .pch or similar, such as .gch under the GNU Compiler Collection.


What does it mean to minify files? Find an image of an example minified file. Why would we want to minify files?

Minification (also minimisation or minimization), in computer programming languages and especially JavaScript, is the process of removing all unnecessary 
characters from source code without changing its functionality.



Start up the server for Catch ‘em All (rails s) and navigate to http://localhost:3000/assets/application.js. Then open up 
the code for application.js in your text editor. Why are these not the same?




What is a manifest (in terms of the asset pipeline)? Where can you find two manifests in Catch ‘em All?

A manifest file in computing is a file containing metadata for a group of accompanying files that are part of a set or coherent unit. For example, the files of a 
computer program may have a manifest describing the name,
version number and the constituting files of the program.


In regular HTML files, we bring in css files with <link rel="stylesheet" href="application.css">. How is this done in a Rails project? Where do you see this line in Catch ‘em All?
How is a digest/fingerprint used on the assets for caching purposes?
Done? Take a look at RailsGuides: The Asset Pipeline.