Registry / devops / babel-plugin-dev

babel-plugin-dev

library1.0.0jsnpmunverified

Simple Babel plugin that replaces the global `__DEV__` identifier with `process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production'`, allowing developers to conditionally include debug-only code without runtime overhead. Version 1.0.0 is stable and final; no new releases expected. It is lightweight with zero dependencies, works with Babel 6 and 7, and is used in production by many React-based libraries. Unlike alternatives like babel-plugin-transform-inline-environment-variables or manual if-blocks, this plugin provides a single-purpose, semantic `__DEV__` syntax with no configuration required.

devops

npm install babel-plugin-dev

github ↗package ↗

INSTALL

IMPORT

SIG · BABEL-PLUGIN-DEV

babel-plugin-dev

devopsjavascriptv1.0.0

Install

—

Import

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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.

default plugin

✓ module.exports = { plugins: ['dev'] }

✗ const plugin = require('babel-plugin-dev'); module.exports = { plugins: [plugin] }

In .babelrc or babel.config.js, reference the plugin by its string name 'dev', not by requiring the package.

Programmatic usage with Babel core

✓ const babel = require('@babel/core'); babel.transform(code, { plugins: ['dev'] })

✗ const babel = require('babel-core'); babel.transform(code, { plugins: ['dev'] })

For Babel 7, use @babel/core. For Babel 6, use babel-core. The plugin works with both.

CLI usage

✓ babel --plugins dev script.js

✗ babel --plugin babel-plugin-dev script.js

Use the short name 'dev', not the full package name. Babel resolves the name automatically.

Configures Babel to replace __DEV__ with process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production' for conditional debug code.

// File: test.js const __DEV__ = true; // In production, __DEV__ is replaced with process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production' if (__DEV__) { console.log('debug info'); } // .babelrc { "plugins": ["dev"] } // Run: // npx babel test.js --plugins dev // Output: if (process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production') { console.log('debug info'); }

Debug

Known issues

gotchaThe plugin replaces the global identifier `__DEV__` in all contexts, not just in variable declarations or expressions.

fix

Ensure `__DEV__` is not used as a variable name for other purposes; if you need scoped dev flags, use a different approach.

affects: >=1.0.0

gotchaThe replacement is textual and does not check for reassignment. If you assign `__DEV__ = false`, the replacement still occurs.

fix

Do not reassign `__DEV__`. Use it only as a read-only global flag.

affects: >=1.0.0

deprecatedThis plugin is in maintenance mode. It works with Babel 6 and 7 but no new features are planned.

fix

Consider using @babel/plugin-transform-inline-environment-variables for more flexibility, or manually check process.env.NODE_ENV.

affects: >=1.0.0

Errors

Common errors & fixes

Error: Cannot find module 'babel-plugin-dev'

The package is not installed or is installed globally instead of locally.

fix

Run `npm install babel-plugin-dev --save-dev` in your project root.

Error: __DEV__ is not defined

The plugin is not applied or Babel compilation is not happening.

fix

Add 'dev' to your Babel plugins list (e.g., in .babelrc) and ensure you are compiling the file with Babel.

SyntaxError: Unexpected token (1:10) > 1 | if (__DEV__) {

The file is not being parsed by Babel (e.g., using node directly without transpilation).

fix

Make sure to run the file through Babel before execution, e.g., using @babel/node or a build step.

Upgrade

Version history

1.0.0latest on npm

Audit

Dependencies

No dependency data recorded yet.

Agent activity

4 hits · last 30 days

node

Resources

githubhttps://github.com/Zenwolf/babel-plugin-dev ↗

packagehttps://www.npmjs.com/package/babel-plugin-dev ↗