babel-cli

6.26.0 verified Sat Apr 25 auth: no javascript deprecated

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 This package is part of the legacy Babel 6 ecosystem and has been superseded by @babel/cli in Babel 7+.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+.

Common errors

error Error: Cannot find module 'babel-core' ↓

cause 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

error ReferenceError: regeneratorRuntime is not defined ↓

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

cause 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

error babel: command not found ↓

cause 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

Warnings

deprecated babel-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

breaking Babel 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.

gotcha Requires babel-core to be installed separately (not a dependency of babel-cli). ↓

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

gotcha babel-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.

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

fix Use babel-preset-env and configure targets.

Install

npm install babel-cli

yarn add babel-cli

pnpm add babel-cli

Imports

CLI command
wrong
```
babel script.js (requires global install)
```
correct
```
npx babel script.js
```
Use npx or install locally; global install is discouraged.
babel-node
wrong
```
node script.js (without transpilation)
```
correct
```
npx babel-node script.js
```
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.

Quickstart

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))"