Angular Migration

name: angular-migration description: Migrate from AngularJS to Angular using hybrid mode, incremental component rewriting, and dependency injection updates. Use when upgrading AngularJS applications, planning framework migrations, or modernizing legacy Angular code. tags: [angular, frontend]

Angular Migration

Master AngularJS to Angular migration, including hybrid apps, component conversion, dependency injection changes, and routing migration.

Use this skill when

• Migrating AngularJS (1.x) applications to Angular (2+)
• Running hybrid AngularJS/Angular applications
• Converting directives to components
• Modernizing dependency injection
• Migrating routing systems
• Updating to latest Angular versions
• Implementing Angular best practices

Do not use this skill when

• You are not migrating from AngularJS to Angular
• The app is already on a modern Angular version
• You need only a small UI fix without framework changes

Instructions

1. Assess the AngularJS codebase, dependencies, and migration risks.
2. Choose a migration strategy (hybrid vs rewrite) and define milestones.
3. Set up ngUpgrade and migrate modules, components, and routing.
4. Validate with tests and plan a safe cutover.

Safety

• Avoid big-bang cutovers without rollback and staging validation.
• Keep hybrid compatibility testing during incremental migration.

Migration Strategies

1. Big Bang (Complete Rewrite)

• Rewrite entire app in Angular
• Parallel development
• Switch over at once
• Best for: Small apps, green field projects

2. Incremental (Hybrid Approach)

• Run AngularJS and Angular side-by-side
• Migrate feature by feature
• ngUpgrade for interop
• Best for: Large apps, continuous delivery

3. Vertical Slice

• Migrate one feature completely
• New features in Angular, maintain old in AngularJS
• Gradually replace
• Best for: Medium apps, distinct features

Hybrid App Setup

// main.ts - Bootstrap hybrid app
import { platformBrowserDynamic } from '@angular/platform-browser-dynamic';
import { UpgradeModule } from '@angular/upgrade/static';
import { AppModule } from './app/app.module';

platformBrowserDynamic()
  .bootstrapModule(AppModule)
  .then(platformRef => {
    const upgrade = platformRef.injector.get(UpgradeModule);
    // Bootstrap AngularJS
    upgrade.bootstrap(document.body, ['myAngularJSApp'], { strictDi: true });
  });

// app.module.ts
import { NgModule } from '@angular/core';
import { BrowserModule } from '@angular/platform-browser';
import { UpgradeModule } from '@angular/upgrade/static';

@NgModule({
  imports: [
    BrowserModule,
    UpgradeModule
  ]
})
export class AppModule {
  constructor(private upgrade: UpgradeModule) {}

  ngDoBootstrap() {
    // Bootstrapped manually in main.ts
  }
}

Component Migration

AngularJS Controller → Angular Component

// Before: AngularJS controller
angular.module('myApp').controller('UserController', function($scope, UserService) {
  $scope.user = {};

  $scope.loadUser = function(id) {
    UserService.getUser(id).then(function(user) {
      $scope.user = user;
    });
  };

  $scope.saveUser = function() {
    UserService.saveUser($scope.user);
  };
});

// After: Angular component
import { Component, OnInit } from '@angular/core';
import { UserService } from './user.service';

@Component({
  selector: 'app-user',
  template: `
    <div>
      <h2>{{ user.name }}</h2>
      <button (click)="saveUser()">Save</button>
    </div>
  `
})
export class UserComponent implements OnInit {
  user: any = {};

  constructor(private userService: UserService) {}

  ngOnInit() {
    this.loadUser(1);
  }

  loadUser(id: number) {
    this.userService.getUser(id).subscribe(user => {
      this.user = user;
    });
  }

  saveUser() {
    this.userService.saveUser(this.user);
  }
}

AngularJS Directive → Angular Component

// Before: AngularJS directive
angular.module('myApp').directive('userCard', function() {
  return {
    restrict: 'E',
    scope: {
      user: '=',
      onDelete: '&'
    },
    template: `
      <div class="card">
        <h3>{{ user.name }}</h3>
        <button ng-click="onDelete()">Delete</button>
      </div>
    `
  };
});

// After: Angular component
import { Component, Input, Output, EventEmitter } from '@angular/core';

@Component({
  selector: 'app-user-card',
  template: `
    <div class="card">
      <h3>{{ user.name }}</h3>
      <button (click)="delete.emit()">Delete</button>
    </div>
  `
})
export class UserCardComponent {
  @Input() user: any;
  @Output() delete = new EventEmitter<void>();
}

// Usage: <app-user-card [user]="user" (delete)="handleDelete()"></app-user-card>

Service Migration

// Before: AngularJS service
angular.module('myApp').factory('UserService', function($http) {
  return {
    getUser: function(id) {
      return $http.get('/api/users/' + id);
    },
    saveUser: function(user) {
      return $http.post('/api/users', user);
    }
  };
});

// After: Angular service
import { Injectable } from '@angular/core';
import { HttpClient } from '@angular/common/http';
import { Observable } from 'rxjs';

@Injectable({
  providedIn: 'root'
})
export class UserService {
  constructor(private http: HttpClient) {}

  getUser(id: number): Observable<any> {
    return this.http.get(`/api/users/${id}`);
  }

  saveUser(user: any): Observable<any> {
    return this.http.post('/api/users', user);
  }
}

Dependency Injection Changes

Downgrading Angular → AngularJS

// Angular service
import { Injectable } from '@angular/core';

@Injectable({ providedIn: 'root' })
export class NewService {
  getData() {
    return 'data from Angular';
  }
}

// Make available to AngularJS
import { downgradeInjectable } from '@angular/upgrade/static';

angular.module('myApp')
  .factory('newService', downgradeInjectable(NewService));

// Use in AngularJS
angular.module('myApp').controller('OldController', function(newService) {
  console.log(newService.getData());
});

Upgrading AngularJS → Angular

// AngularJS service
angular.module('myApp').factory('oldService', function() {
  return {
    getData: function() {
      return 'data from AngularJS';
    }
  };
});

// Make available to Angular
import { InjectionToken } from '@angular/core';

export const OLD_SERVICE = new InjectionToken<any>('oldService');

@NgModule({
  providers: [
    {
      provide: OLD_SERVICE,
      useFactory: (i: any) => i.get('oldService'),
      deps: ['$injector']
    }
  ]
})

// Use in Angular
@Component({...})
export class NewComponent {
  constructor(@Inject(OLD_SERVICE) private oldService: any) {
    console.log(this.oldService.getData());
  }
}

Routing Migration

// Before: AngularJS routing
angular.module('myApp').config(function($routeProvider) {
  $routeProvider
    .when('/users', {
      template: '<user-list></user-list>'
    })
    .when('/users/:id', {
      template: '<user-detail></user-detail>'
    });
});

// After: Angular routing
import { NgModule } from '@angular/core';
import { RouterModule, Routes } from '@angular/router';

const routes: Routes = [
  { path: 'users', component: UserListComponent },
  { path: 'users/:id', component: UserDetailComponent }
];

@NgModule({
  imports: [RouterModule.forRoot(routes)],
  exports: [RouterModule]
})
export class AppRoutingModule {}

Forms Migration

<!-- Before: AngularJS -->
<form name="userForm" ng-submit="saveUser()">
  <input type="text" ng-model="user.name" required>
  <input type="email" ng-model="user.email" required>
  <button ng-disabled="userForm.$invalid">Save</button>
</form>

// After: Angular (Template-driven)
@Component({
  template: `
    <form #userForm="ngForm" (ngSubmit)="saveUser()">
      <input type="text" [(ngModel)]="user.name" name="name" required>
      <input type="email" [(ngModel)]="user.email" name="email" required>
      <button [disabled]="userForm.invalid">Save</button>
    </form>
  `
})

// Or Reactive Forms (preferred)
import { FormBuilder, FormGroup, Validators } from '@angular/forms';

@Component({
  template: `
    <form [formGroup]="userForm" (ngSubmit)="saveUser()">
      <input formControlName="name">
      <input formControlName="email">
      <button [disabled]="userForm.invalid">Save</button>
    </form>
  `
})
export class UserFormComponent {
  userForm: FormGroup;

  constructor(private fb: FormBuilder) {
    this.userForm = this.fb.group({
      name: ['', Validators.required],
      email: ['', [Validators.required, Validators.email]]
    });
  }

  saveUser() {
    console.log(this.userForm.value);
  }
}

Migration Timeline

Phase 1: Setup (1-2 weeks)
- Install Angular CLI
- Set up hybrid app
- Configure build tools
- Set up testing

Phase 2: Infrastructure (2-4 weeks)
- Migrate services
- Migrate utilities
- Set up routing
- Migrate shared components

Phase 3: Feature Migration (varies)
- Migrate feature by feature
- Test thoroughly
- Deploy incrementally

Phase 4: Cleanup (1-2 weeks)
- Remove AngularJS code
- Remove ngUpgrade
- Optimize bundle
- Final testing

Resources

• references/hybrid-mode.md: Hybrid app patterns
• references/component-migration.md: Component conversion guide
• references/dependency-injection.md: DI migration strategies
• references/routing.md: Routing migration
• assets/hybrid-bootstrap.ts: Hybrid app template
• assets/migration-timeline.md: Project planning
• scripts/analyze-angular-app.sh: App analysis script

Best Practices

1. Start with Services: Migrate services first (easier)
2. Incremental Approach: Feature-by-feature migration
3. Test Continuously: Test at every step
4. Use TypeScript: Migrate to TypeScript early
5. Follow Style Guide: Angular style guide from day 1
6. Optimize Later: Get it working, then optimize
7. Document: Keep migration notes

Common Pitfalls

• Not setting up hybrid app correctly
• Migrating UI before logic
• Ignoring change detection differences
• Not handling scope properly
• Mixing patterns (AngularJS + Angular)
• Inadequate testing