Registry / devops / google-closure-compiler

google-closure-compiler

library20260602.0.0jsnpmunverified

The Google Closure Compiler npm package (v20260602.0.0) provides the official Closure Compiler binary for JavaScript checking, optimization, and minification. Released monthly from the upstream Closure Compiler repository. It supports three execution modes: a native binary (Linux/macOS/Windows), a Java jar (requires Java), and an npx runner. Key differentiator: offers both simple and advanced compilation levels (including dead code elimination, type checking, and global renamings) unmatched by simpler minifiers like UglifyJS or Terser. It also includes Grunt and Gulp plugins, and an official webpack plugin. Note: the installed package contains a native binary or Java jar, not JavaScript. The Java version generally yields faster compilations for large projects.

devops testing

npm install google-closure-compiler

github ↗package ↗homepage ↗

INSTALL

IMPORT

SIG · GOOGLE-CLOSURE-COM

google-closure-compiler

devopsjavascriptv20260602.0.0

harness data pending

Install & Compatibility

Where this runs

No compatibility data collected yet for this library.

Code

Verified usage

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

default

✓ import compiler from 'google-closure-compiler'

✗ const compiler = require('google-closure-compiler')

Package is ESM-only since v20210601 (breaking change). Use dynamic import or ESM project. The default export is a function that returns a closure compiler instance.

compiler

✓ import compiler from 'google-closure-compiler'; const cc = new compiler.compiler({ js: 'in.js', compilation_level: 'SIMPLE' })

✗ const { compiler } = require('google-closure-compiler')

Named export 'compiler' is deprecated since v20220206. Use default import to get the Compiler class.

gulpPlugin

✓ import gulpPlugin from 'google-closure-compiler/gulp'

✗ const gulpPlugin = require('google-closure-compiler').gulp()

Gulp plugin is exported as default from 'google-closure-compiler/gulp'. CommonJS require pattern fails in ESM-only package.

gruntPlugin

✓ import gruntPlugin from 'google-closure-compiler/grunt'

✗ require('google-closure-compiler/grunt')

Grunt plugin is ESM-only. Import from subpath 'google-closure-compiler/grunt'.

Shows programmatic usage of the Closure Compiler with ESM import, basic compilation options, and async execution via promisify.

import compiler from 'google-closure-compiler'; import { promisify } from 'util'; const cc = new compiler.compiler({ js: 'input.js', compilation_level: 'ADVANCED_OPTIMIZATIONS', js_output_file: 'output.min.js' }); const run = promisify(cc.run.bind(cc)); run().then(() => console.log('Compilation completed')); // Or using npx: npx google-closure-compiler --js=input.js --js_output_file=output.min.js --compilation_level=ADVANCED

Debug

Known issues

breakingBreaking change: Package converted to ESM-only in v20210601. require() no longer works.

fix

Migrate to ESM imports. Use dynamic import() if needed in CommonJS project.

affects: >=20210601

deprecatedNamed export 'compiler' is deprecated since v20220206. Use default import instead.

fix

Replace import { compiler } with import compiler.

affects: >=20220206

breakingNative binary no longer ships as an optional dependency on some platforms; now requires explicit installation via @google-closure-compiler-linux-x64 etc.

fix

Install platform-specific package: npm install @google-closure-compiler-linux-x64

affects: >=20220206

gotchaBinary installed is not JavaScript; it's a native binary or Java jar. Using require() on the module will return an object, not execute the compiler.

fix

Use the compiler instance from the default export; do not attempt to require the binary path.

affects: all

gotchaGlob patterns may need quoting on Windows shells when using the Java version.

fix

Use double quotes around glob patterns in options object: js: '"src/**/*.js"'

affects: all

Errors

Common errors & fixes

Error: Cannot find module 'google-closure-compiler'

Missing package installation or incorrect import path.

fix

Run npm install google-closure-compiler and ensure import path does not include subfolders (unless using plugin subpaths like /gulp).

TypeError: compiler.compiler is not a constructor

Using named import { compiler } which is deprecated; should use default import.

fix

Replace `import { compiler }` with `import compiler` and use new compiler.compiler().

Error: Cannot find module './out/Debug/compiler.jar'

Native binary/platform package not installed or incorrectly configured.

fix

Install the appropriate platform package: npm install @google-closure-compiler-linux-x64 (or -darwin-x64, -win32-x64).

Upgrade

Version history

20260602.0.0latest on npm

Audit

Dependencies

javaoptionalRequired for the Java jar version of the compiler; must be installed and in PATH.

Agent activity

4 hits · last 30 days

node

Resources

githubhttps://github.com/ChadKillingsworth/closure-compiler-npm ↗

packagegoogle-closure-compiler ↗

homepagehttps://developers.google.com/closure/compiler/ ↗