babel-plugin-undebug

3.0.0 verified Sat Apr 25 auth: no javascript

A Babel plugin that strips `debug` function calls from production code to reduce bundle size and eliminate debug overhead. Version 3.0.0 is ESM-only, requires Node.js 18+, and ships TypeScript types. It handles both CommonJS (`require('debug')`) and ESM (`import debug from 'debug'`) imports, removing all debug calls including side-effectful expressions like `d(value++)`. Unlike manual removal, it automates stripping without source code changes.

Common errors

error Error: Cannot find module 'babel-plugin-undebug' ↓

cause Package not installed or named incorrectly in Babel config

fix

Run npm install --save-dev babel-plugin-undebug and ensure plugins array uses full name: 'babel-plugin-undebug'

error Error [ERR_REQUIRE_ESM]: require() of ES Module /node_modules/babel-plugin-undebug/index.js from ... not supported. ↓

cause Using require() to load the plugin in a CommonJS context with v2/v3

fix

Use ESM import, or switch to dynamic import(). If you need CJS, downgrade to v1.x.

error TypeError: babelPluginUndebug is not a function ↓

cause Attempting to use a named export instead of default export

fix

Change import from import { babelPluginUndebug } to import babelPluginUndebug

Warnings

breaking Dropped support for Node 16 in v3.0.0 ↓

fix Upgrade to Node.js 18+ or use babel-plugin-undebug@^2.0.0

breaking Conversion to ESM-only in v2.0.0: require() is no longer supported ↓

fix Use ESM import or dynamic import(). If using CommonJS, pin to version 1.x.

deprecated TypeScript types now use @import JSDoc syntax (v3). May affect older TypeScript versions or tooling ↓

fix Update TypeScript to >=4.5 or configure skipLibCheck

gotcha Removes entire debug() call including side-effect expressions like debug(obj.x++) – be aware of side effects being dropped ↓

fix Refactor side effects out of debug arguments before running the plugin.

Install

npm install babel-plugin-undebug

yarn add babel-plugin-undebug

pnpm add babel-plugin-undebug

Imports

babelPluginUndebug

wrong

import { babelPluginUndebug } from 'babel-plugin-undebug'

correct

import babelPluginUndebug from 'babel-plugin-undebug'

Default export only; named export does not exist. ESM-only since v2.

babelPluginUndebug
wrong
```
const babelPluginUndebug = require('babel-plugin-undebug')
```
correct
```
module.exports = { plugins: [['babel-plugin-undebug', options]] }
```
CJS require is not supported in v3 (ESM-only). Use dynamic import or configure via babel config file.
babel-plugin-undebug
wrong
```
plugins: ['undebug']
```
correct
```
plugins: ['babel-plugin-undebug']
```
Babel plugin name must be the full npm package name when using string shorthand. Version mismatch can cause undefined plugin errors.

Quickstart

Demonstrates installing, configuring, and running babel-plugin-undebug to strip debug calls from a Node.js script, preserving other statements.

// Install: npm install --save-dev babel-plugin-undebug @babel/core @babel/cli

// babel.config.json
{
  "plugins": ["babel-plugin-undebug"]
}

// example.js
const debug = require('debug')('myapp');
let count = 0;
debug('Count is %d', count++);
count++;
debug('Now count is %d', count);
console.log('Final', count);

// Run: npx babel example.js --out-file output.js
// output.js:
// let count = 0;
// count++;
// console.log('Final', count);

debug('Unreachable after removal');