utc – Underscore Template Compiler (CLI)

0.1.0 verified Fri May 01 auth: no javascript deprecated

utc is a CLI tool that compiles Underscore.js-style templates into AMD-compatible JavaScript functions. Version 0.1.0 (released 2012) is the only release. It precompiles templates to avoid runtime parsing, suitable for build-time optimization. No active maintenance or updates exist. The tool converts template strings containing <%= ... %> into compiled functions that use with() and concatenated output.

Common errors

error require('utc') is not a function ↓

cause utc is a CLI tool only; no module exports.

fix

Use the global command utc, e.g., from terminal: utc -d ./templates -s Template -f Str

error ENOENT: no such file or directory, open '...'? ↓

cause The -d directory path does not exist or contains no files matching the suffix.

fix

Ensure directory exists and file suffix matches: e.g., -s Template looks for *Template.js files.

error TypeError: Cannot read property '1' of null ↓

cause Template file does not follow the expected AMD pattern shown in the readme.

fix

Template must be a function that returns an object with methods containing Underscore template strings.

Warnings

deprecated Package has not been updated since 2012; no support for modern ECMAScript features or module systems beyond AMD. ↓

fix Use modern alternatives like Lodash _.template, handlebars precompilation, or EJS.

gotcha CLI modifies files in-place! Use version control or backups before running. ↓

fix Copy templates to a build directory first, or use a different build tool that outputs to a separate folder.

gotcha Only works with AMD-style modules (define). No CommonJS, ES module, or global export support. ↓

fix Write templates in AMD format or use a wrapper script to convert output.

breaking Uses with(obj) statement in compiled code, which is forbidden in strict mode and may cause performance issues or errors in modern JS environments. ↓

fix Use a template engine that avoids with(), like Lodash (with option) or Handlebars.

gotcha CLI arguments must exactly match: -d (directory), -s (suffix), -f (function suffix). No configuration file support. ↓

fix Wrap in a shell script or npm script to avoid repeated typing.

Install

npm install utc

yarn add utc

pnpm add utc

Imports

utc CLI

wrong

Trying to require('utc') in Node.js code

correct

Run globally: utc -d "templates" -s "Template" -f "Str"

utc is a CLI tool, not a library. No Node.js API is exported.

Quickstart

Shows installation, creating a template file, and compiling it with utc CLI to convert Underscore templates into precompiled functions.

# Install globally
npm install -g utc@0.1.0

# Create a template file
echo '(function () {
    define(function () {
        return {
            getListTemplateStr: function () {
                return this._helper() + ": <%= name %>";
            },
            _helper: function () {
                return "hello";
            }
        };
    });
}).call(this);' > templates/sampleTemplate.js

# Run the compiler
utc -d "templates" -s "Template" -f "Str"