modify-babel-preset

3.2.1 verified Sat Apr 25 auth: no javascript maintenance

Utility to create a modified Babel preset by cloning an existing preset and applying plugin additions, removals, or configuration overrides. Current version 3.2.1. Helps avoid manual preset duplication by flattening nested presets into a single plugin list and applying transformations. Key differentiator: plugin filtering works on resolved filenames for precise matching. Works best with npm 3. Release cadence: sporadic, last release 2017.

Common errors

error Cannot find module 'babel-preset-<name>' ↓

cause Missing installed preset as a dependency.

fix

npm install <preset-name> --save-dev

error Plugin '<name>' is not a valid plugin ↓

cause Plugin name not recognized; may need full babel-plugin- prefix or incorrect name.

fix

Use the correct plugin name (e.g., 'transform-react-jsx' or 'babel-plugin-transform-react-jsx').

error Expected a string for preset name ↓

cause The first argument to modifyBabelPreset must be a preset name string.

fix

modifyBabelPreset('es2015', {...})

Warnings

breaking In v3.0.0, plugin paths are now resolved to filenames for matching; transformations must use plugin filenames (e.g., 'babel-plugin-transform-es2015-typeof-symbol' or its short name). ↓

fix Ensure plugin names in the modifications object match the resolved filename (short name works, but avoid full relative paths).

gotcha The preset must be installed as a dependency; modification does not install the preset automatically. ↓

fix Run 'npm install <preset-name>' before using modify-babel-preset.

gotcha Nested presets are flattened into a single plugins list; if a preset has nested presets, the resulting configuration may differ from the original preset's runtime behavior. ↓

fix Verify the final plugin order and configuration matches expectations, especially for presets that depend on ordering.

deprecated This package is in maintenance mode; Babel 7+ uses @babel/preset-env and presets are less commonly modified in this way. ↓

fix Consider using babel-preset-env or write your own preset programmatically.

Install

npm install modify-babel-preset

yarn add modify-babel-preset

pnpm add modify-babel-preset

Imports

default

wrong

const modifyBabelPreset = require('modify-babel-preset')

correct

import modifyBabelPreset from 'modify-babel-preset'

ESM supported; require works in CJS contexts. Main export is a function.

default (CommonJS)
```
const modifyBabelPreset = require('modify-babel-preset')
```
CommonJS style with require. The package provides a single default function.
default (ESM named import)
```
import { modifyBabelPreset } from 'modify-babel-preset'
```
No named export; must use default import. Common mistake to destructure.

Quickstart

Creates a modified preset by removing the typeof-symbol transform and adding the React JSX transform to the es2015 preset.

const modifyBabelPreset = require('modify-babel-preset');

// Remove 'transform-es2015-typeof-symbol' and add 'transform-react-jsx' from the es2015 preset
module.exports = modifyBabelPreset('es2015', {
  'transform-es2015-typeof-symbol': false,
  'transform-react-jsx': true
});