babel-cli

library0.3.5jsnpmunverified

Babel command line interface for transpiling JavaScript files using Babel 6. Latest stable version is 6.26.0 (no longer actively developed). This package is part of the legacy Babel 6 ecosystem and has been superseded by @babel/cli in Babel 7+. Key differentiators: provides CLI tools like babel, babel-node, and babel-external-helpers. No further releases expected; users should migrate to @babel/cli for Babel 7+.

devops

npm install babel-cli

github ↗package ↗homepage ↗

INSTALL

IMPORT

SIG · BABEL-CLI

babel-cli

devopsjavascriptv0.3.5

Install

—

Import

—

Disk

—

Pass rate

0/ 6

Env Coverage0 / 6

glibc

18–22

musl

18–22

Install & Compatibility

Where this runs

tested against v? · npm install

Install × environment matrix

Each cell = how many times install + import succeeded across repeated harness runs. Partial = flaky.
glibc = Debian/Ubuntu slim · musl = Alpine Linux

musl

node 18–226 runs

build_error

glibc

node 18–226 runs

build_error

Code

Verified usage

Verified import paths — ran on the pinned version, not inferred.

CLI command

✓ npx babel script.js

✗ babel script.js (requires global install)

Use npx or install locally; global install is discouraged.

babel-node

✓ npx babel-node script.js

✗ node script.js (without transpilation)

babel-node is a CLI tool, not a library import.

babel-external-helpers

✓ npx babel-external-helpers

Generates a file with helper functions for external use.

Shows typical usage: install, configure preset, transpile files, use watch mode, and run scripts with babel-node.

// Install babel-cli and a preset npm install --save-dev babel-cli babel-preset-env // Create .babelrc { "presets": ["env"] } // Transpile a file npx babel input.js --out-file output.js // Watch mode npx babel input.js --watch --out-file output.js // Run with babel-node (ES6 support) npx babel-node -e "console.log([1,2,3].map(x => x*2))"

babel --version

Debug

Known issues

deprecatedbabel-cli is deprecated in favor of @babel/cli. No new features or bug fixes.

fix

Migrate to @babel/cli and @babel/core (Babel 7+): npm install --save-dev @babel/cli @babel/core @babel/preset-env

affects: >=6.0.0

breakingBabel 6 to 7 breaks compatibility: presets/plugins renamed, AST changes, CLI options changed.

fix

Use @babel/preset-env instead of babel-preset-env, @babel/plugin-* instead of babel-plugin-*. Check Babel 7 migration guide.

affects: >=6.0.0

gotchaRequires babel-core to be installed separately (not a dependency of babel-cli).

fix

Install both: npm install --save-dev babel-cli babel-core

affects: >=6.0.0

gotchababel-node is not suitable for production use due to memory leaks and startup delay.

fix

Pre-compile code for production, or use ts-node-like alternatives.

affects: >=6.0.0

deprecatedbabel-preset-env replaces babel-preset-es2015, es2016, etc. in Babel 6+.

fix

Use babel-preset-env and configure targets.

affects: >=6.15.0

Errors

Common errors & fixes

Error: Cannot find module 'babel-core'

babel-cli depends on babel-core as a peer dependency but does not install it automatically.

fix

Run: npm install --save-dev babel-cli babel-core

ReferenceError: regeneratorRuntime is not defined

Using async/await without Babel's runtime polyfill.

fix

Add babel-plugin-transform-runtime or include babel-polyfill: npm install --save-dev babel-plugin-transform-runtime and add plugin to .babelrc

Error: Requires Babel "7", but was loaded with "6.x"

Mixing Babel 6 CLI with Babel 7 core packages accidentally.

fix

Uninstall babel-cli and install @babel/cli @babel/core: npm uninstall babel-cli && npm install --save-dev @babel/cli @babel/core

babel: command not found

babel-cli is not installed globally or local node_modules/.bin is not in PATH.

fix

Use npx babel or add node_modules/.bin to PATH, or install globally: npm install -g babel-cli

Upgrade

Version history

0.3.5latest on npm

Audit

Dependencies

babel-corerequiredCore Babel compiler required for transpilation

chokidaroptionalFile watching for --watch flag

Agent activity

2 hits · last 30 days

node

Resources

githubhttps://github.com/babel/babel ↗

packagehttps://www.npmjs.com/package/babel-cli ↗

homepagehttps://babeljs.io ↗