Baby Tolk

5.0.2 verified Fri May 01 auth: no javascript

Baby Tolk (v5.0.2) is a promise-based file reader that automatically transpiles non-web assets (e.g., SCSS, Less, CoffeeScript, JSX) into web assets using available transpilers, with optional minification and sourcemaps. Unlike Tolk, it does not inline sourcemaps or autoprefix CSS. It delegates transpiler installation to the consumer, making it lightweight. Supports LiveScript, Babel, CoffeeScript, Less, node-sass, Stylus, and more. Requires manual adapter loading and optional global compiler module path setting. Actively maintained on GitHub.

Common errors

error Cannot find module 'node-sass' ↓

cause Missing optional transpiler dependency.

fix

Install the module: npm install node-sass

error Cannot read property 'then' of undefined ↓

cause Forgetting to call loadAdapters() before read().

fix

Call babyTolk.loadAdapters() before babyTolk.read().

error TypeError: babyTolk.read is not a function ↓

cause Incorrect import; using default import without require.

fix

Use const babyTolk = require('baby-tolk');

Warnings

gotcha Transpilers must be installed separately; baby-tolk does not bundle any. ↓

fix Install required transpilers like 'npm install node-sass babel' before using.

gotcha Files starting with underscore (_) are ignored by default. ↓

fix Rename file or override behavior (not configurable via API).

gotcha loadAdapters() must be called before read(); otherwise no transpilers will be detected. ↓

fix Always call babyTolk.loadAdapters() once before any read().

gotcha Library is CommonJS-only; does not support ES module imports. ↓

fix Use require() instead of import.

gotcha sourceMaps option is false by default? Check documentation; setting to true may require sourcemap support in transpilers. ↓

fix Explicitly set { sourceMaps: true } if sourcemaps are needed.

Install

npm install baby-tolk

yarn add baby-tolk

pnpm add baby-tolk

Imports

default

wrong

import babyTolk from 'baby-tolk'; // ESM not supported

correct

const babyTolk = require('baby-tolk');

Library uses CommonJS; no default ESM export.

loadAdapters

wrong

import { loadAdapters } from 'baby-tolk'; // Wrong; loadAdapters is a method on the default export

correct

babyTolk.loadAdapters();

Must be called before read() to discover transpilers.

read

wrong

babyTolk.read('file.scss', { minify: true }, callback); // Does not support callbacks

correct

babyTolk.read('file.scss', { minify: true }).then(result => ...);

Returns a promise; do not use callback pattern.

Quickstart

Loads transpilers, reads a SCSS file, outputs transpiled CSS and sourcemap.

const babyTolk = require('baby-tolk');
babyTolk.loadAdapters();
babyTolk.read('style.scss', { minify: false, sourceMaps: true })
  .then(function(result) {
    console.log('Transpiled:', result.result);
    console.log('Sourcemap:', JSON.stringify(result.sourcemap));
  })
  .catch(function(err) {
    console.error('Error:', err);
  });