Loader requires active RPC connection during npm build

[sachabest]

Issue

Truffle solidity loader requires an active RPC connection when using npm run build, even if you don't have any migrations.

My goal is this: have truffle solidity provide contracts as importable artifacts for React in-browser, then rely on Metamask's provided RPC connection to deploy contracts on user command (in browser). But, the loader appears to require an active RPC connection during the build phase, which seems extraneous in this use case. Is that correct? I'm new to ethereum so please excuse my ignorance if not.

Steps to Reproduce

Run npm build without an active RPC connection

Expected Behavior

N/A

Actual Results

Build failure.

Environment

• Operating System: Windows 10 x64
• Truffle version: 3.2.5
• Testrpc version: 3.0.5
• Ethereum client: Metamask
• node version: v6
• npm version: 4.2