---

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.

Angular Migration

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

When to Use This Skill

• 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

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

Copy// 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 });
  });

Copy// 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

Copy// 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);
    };
  });

Copy// 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

Copy// 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>
    `,
  };
});

Copy// 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

Copy// 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);
    },
  };
});

Copy// 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

Copy// 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

Copy// 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

Copy// 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>",
    });
});

Copy// 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

Copy<!-- 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>

Copy// 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

CopyPhase 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