Which is Better JavaScript Compilers and Transpilers?
@babel/core vs @vue/compiler-core vs @angular/compiler
1 Year
@babel/core@vue/compiler-core@angular/compilerSimilar Packages:
What's JavaScript Compilers and Transpilers?

JavaScript compilers and transpilers are essential tools in modern web development, enabling developers to write code in higher-level languages or newer syntax and convert it into a format that is compatible with various browsers and environments. These tools enhance productivity by allowing the use of advanced language features, optimizing code for performance, and ensuring compatibility across different platforms. They play a crucial role in the development workflow, especially in frameworks like Angular and Vue, where they facilitate the compilation of templates and components into efficient JavaScript code.

NPM Package Downloads Trend
Github Stars Ranking
Stat Detail
Package
Downloads
Stars
Size
Issues
Publish
License
@babel/core51,502,49443,214865 kB7916 days agoMIT
@vue/compiler-core6,650,12747,254618 kB8935 days agoMIT
@angular/compiler3,354,13596,0249.26 MB1,5696 days agoMIT
Feature Comparison: @babel/core vs @vue/compiler-core vs @angular/compiler

Compilation Process

  • @babel/core: @babel/core focuses on transpiling modern JavaScript syntax into a version that is compatible with older environments. It does not perform template compilation but instead processes JavaScript files to ensure they can run in various browsers, making it essential for projects using ES6+ features.
  • @vue/compiler-core: @vue/compiler-core compiles Vue templates into render functions, which are then executed to create virtual DOM nodes. This process allows Vue to efficiently update the UI in response to data changes, leveraging its reactivity system.
  • @angular/compiler: @angular/compiler transforms Angular templates and components into efficient JavaScript code. It supports both Just-in-Time (JIT) and Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compilation, allowing developers to choose between development flexibility and production performance optimization.

Ecosystem Integration

  • @babel/core: @babel/core is widely used across various JavaScript frameworks and libraries, making it a versatile choice for projects that require modern JavaScript features regardless of the framework being used.
  • @vue/compiler-core: @vue/compiler-core is tailored for the Vue.js ecosystem, ensuring that the compilation process aligns with Vue's reactivity model and component lifecycle.
  • @angular/compiler: @angular/compiler is deeply integrated into the Angular framework, providing features that are specifically designed to work seamlessly with Angular's architecture, including dependency injection and routing.

Customization and Extensibility

  • @babel/core: @babel/core is highly customizable, allowing developers to use various plugins and presets to tailor the transpilation process to their specific needs. This flexibility makes Babel suitable for a wide range of projects and coding styles.
  • @vue/compiler-core: @vue/compiler-core is less customizable compared to Babel but provides essential features for compiling Vue templates. It is optimized for Vue's specific needs, ensuring efficient rendering and reactivity.
  • @angular/compiler: @angular/compiler offers limited customization options as it is designed to work within the Angular framework's conventions. However, it provides powerful features like AOT compilation that can be configured to optimize performance.

Performance Optimization

  • @babel/core: @babel/core focuses on code transformation rather than performance optimization. However, it allows developers to use modern syntax that can lead to more efficient code when combined with other optimization tools.
  • @vue/compiler-core: @vue/compiler-core optimizes the rendering process by compiling templates into efficient render functions, which minimizes the overhead during runtime and enhances the performance of Vue applications.
  • @angular/compiler: @angular/compiler's AOT compilation significantly improves application performance by pre-compiling templates during the build process, reducing the runtime overhead and improving load times.

Learning Curve

  • @babel/core: @babel/core has a relatively low learning curve, especially for developers already familiar with JavaScript. Its configuration is straightforward, and it integrates easily into existing projects.
  • @vue/compiler-core: @vue/compiler-core is designed to be intuitive for developers familiar with Vue.js. The learning curve is manageable, especially when working within the Vue ecosystem.
  • @angular/compiler: Using @angular/compiler requires familiarity with Angular's architecture and concepts, which can present a steeper learning curve for newcomers to the framework.
How to Choose: @babel/core vs @vue/compiler-core vs @angular/compiler
  • @babel/core: Choose @babel/core if you require a versatile tool for transpiling modern JavaScript (ES6+) into a backward-compatible version that can run in older browsers. Babel is highly customizable and supports a wide range of plugins and presets, making it suitable for various projects.
  • @vue/compiler-core: Choose @vue/compiler-core if you are developing with Vue.js and need to compile Vue single-file components (SFCs) and templates into render functions. This package is optimized for Vue's reactivity system and provides features like template compilation and optimization.
  • @angular/compiler: Choose @angular/compiler if you are working within the Angular ecosystem and need to compile Angular templates and components into JavaScript. It is tightly integrated with Angular's architecture and provides advanced features like Ahead-of-Time (AOT) compilation for improved performance.
README for @babel/core

@babel/core

Babel compiler core.

See our website @babel/core for more information or the issues associated with this package.

Install

Using npm:

npm install --save-dev @babel/core

or using yarn:

yarn add @babel/core --dev