gulp-babel-external-helpers

2.2.2 verified Sat Apr 25 auth: no javascript maintenance

A gulp plugin that replaces gulp-babel by transpiling files with Babel while automatically collecting external helpers into a separate module. Version 2.2.2 is the latest stable release, with sporadic updates. It avoids polluting the global scope with babel helpers by generating a shared helpers file and injecting require statements into each transpiled file. Unlike gulp-babel or manual babel setup, it automates external helper management without global pollution.

Common errors

error Error: Cannot find module 'gulp-babel-helpers' ↓

cause Package not installed or missing in node_modules

fix

Run 'npm install gulp-babel-helpers --save-dev'

error TypeError: babelHelpers is not a function ↓

cause Incorrect import style (e.g., using destructured named import)

fix

Use 'import babelHelpers from ...' or 'const babelHelpers = require(...).default'

error Error: Babel config must specify 'externalHelpers' option ↓

cause Missing externalHelpers configuration in babel options

fix

Add 'externalHelpers: true' to your babel config object

error Error: ENOENT: no such file or directory, open '.../helpers.js' ↓

cause Imaginary location path does not match the generated file stream

fix

Ensure the second argument to babelHelpers matches the filename that will be created in the dest

Warnings

gotcha The 'imaginaryLocationInSrc' parameter must be a relative path as if it existed in the source directory. Using an absolute path or incorrect relative path will cause broken require statements in the output. ↓

fix Ensure the second argument is a relative path from the source root, e.g., './helpers.js' for a file at src/helpers.js.

gotcha If the babel config does not include 'externalHelpers: true' or the necessary plugins, helpers may not be extracted correctly. ↓

fix Set '@babel/plugin-external-helpers' or 'externalHelpers: true' in your babel config.

deprecated Package is no longer actively maintained; consider using '@babel/preset-env' with 'useBuiltIns' or 'babel-plugin-external-helpers' directly with gulp-babel. ↓

fix Switch to gulp-babel + babel-plugin-external-helpers or a more modern setup.

Install

npm install gulp-babel-helpers

yarn add gulp-babel-helpers

pnpm add gulp-babel-helpers

Imports

babelHelpers

wrong

const babelHelpers = require('gulp-babel-helpers')

correct

import babelHelpers from 'gulp-babel-helpers'

ESM default export; the package does not export named symbols

babelHelpers (as transform)

wrong

const { babelHelpers } = require('gulp-babel-helpers')

correct

import babelHelpers from 'gulp-babel-helpers'; const transform = babelHelpers;

Common mistake: trying to destructure a non-existent named export

Require in CommonJS

wrong

const babelHelpers = require('gulp-babel-helpers')

correct

const babelHelpers = require('gulp-babel-helpers').default || require('gulp-babel-helpers')

In CJS, default export is on .default in some Node versions; use the fallback pattern

Quickstart

Transpile JavaScript files with Babel and collect external helpers into a separate helpers.js file.

import gulp from 'gulp';
import babelHelpers from 'gulp-babel-helpers';

gulp.task('scripts', () => {
  return gulp.src('./src/**/*.js')
    .pipe(babelHelpers(
      {
        presets: ['@babel/preset-env'],
        plugins: ['@babel/plugin-transform-runtime']
      },
      './helpers.js'
    ))
    .pipe(gulp.dest('./dist'));
});