How do I manage assets in Yii2?

Question

For example, I created a new page, and I'd like to use, for example, backbone.js, custom css file and some collection of images. Where should I declare all this stuff in Yii2? I found the AppAsset.php module, but this is only for css/js files and I haven't noticed any changes when my css/js files and path were declared there:

class AppAsset extends AssetBundle {
    public $basePath = '@webroot';
    public $baseUrl = '@web';
    public $css = [
        'css/site.css',
        'js/jquery.mobile-1.4.2.min.css',
    ];
    public $js = [
        'js/jsquery-2.1.0.min.js',
        'js/jquery.mobile-1.4.2.min.js',
        'js/script.js',
    ];

    public $depends = [
        'yii\web\YiiAsset',
        'yii\bootstrap\BootstrapAsset',
    ];
}

What am I doing wrong?

Answer 1

It took me a while to figure it out, but below is the relevant part of the Yii2 source code

if ($this->sourcePath !== null && !isset($this->basePath, $this->baseUrl)) {
    list ($this->basePath, $this->baseUrl) = $am->publish($this->sourcePath, $this->publishOptions);
}

So Yii2 will publish assets only if $sourcePath is set, and $basePath and $baseUrl are not set(!). The latter tripped me up, and it looks like the same goes for you.

So I have this AppAsset, which duly publishes

use yii\web\AssetBundle;


class AppAsset extends AssetBundle
{
public $sourcePath = '@app/assets/app';

public $css = [
    'css/openbook.css',
    'fontello/css/fontello.css',
    'fontello/css/animation.css'
];
public $js = [
    'js/plug.openbook.js',
    'js/plug.interpret.js',
    'js/plug.drop.message.js'
];
public $depends = [
   // 'yii\web\YiiAsset', 
   // 'yii\bootstrap\BootstrapAsset',
];
} 

Of course, I have in the main layout

use frontend\assets\AppAsset;
...
AppAsset::register($this);

Answer 2

to use this AppAsset or any other you should register it in the view

use app\assets\AppAsset;
AppAsset::register($this);