babel-helper-simplify-module

2.2.1 verified Sat Apr 25 auth: no javascript maintenance

This package provides Babel utilities to transform and simplify module structures by exploding imports and exports into a normalized form. Current stable version is 2.2.1, with low release cadence. It is intended for internal use in Babel tooling, not for direct consumption in most projects. It differs from alternatives like babel-plugin-transform-modules-commonjs by focusing on structure normalization rather than module system conversion. Typically used in conjunction with babel-explode-module.

Common errors

error TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'node') ↓

cause Passing a path that is not a Program node to simplifyModule

fix

Ensure you call simplifyModule on a Program path, e.g., traverse with Program enter.

error Module not found: Can't resolve 'babel-helper-simplify-module' ↓

cause Package not installed

fix

Run 'npm install babel-helper-simplify-module'

Warnings

gotcha simplifyModule mutates the program path in place; always call it within a Babel traversal ↓

fix Ensure you pass a valid Babel NodePath to simplifyModule.

deprecated This package is no longer actively maintained; consider using @babel/helper-module-transforms for similar functionality ↓

fix Switch to @babel/helper-module-transforms if possible.

Install

npm install babel-helper-simplify-module

yarn add babel-helper-simplify-module

pnpm add babel-helper-simplify-module

Imports

simplifyModule

wrong

import simplifyModule from 'babel-helper-simplify-module'

correct

import { simplifyModule } from 'babel-helper-simplify-module'

This package only exports named exports; no default export is available.

explodedToStatements

wrong

const { explodedToStatements } = require('babel-helper-simplify-module')

correct

import { explodedToStatements } from 'babel-helper-simplify-module'

CommonJS require is valid as the package supports both ESM and CJS.

Quickstart

Demonstrates importing simplifyModule and using it on a Babel AST program path to normalize module structure.

import { simplifyModule } from 'babel-helper-simplify-module';
import { parse, traverse } from '@babel/core';

const code = `
import foo from 'mod';
import { bar } from 'mod';
export default function() {}
export const baz = 42;
export * from 'bam';
`;

const ast = parse(code, { sourceType: 'module' });
traverse(ast, {
  Program(path) {
    simplifyModule(path);
    path.stop();
  }
});

// simplified AST is now in ast
console.log(JSON.stringify(ast, null, 2));