You don’t need Babel with Node

Babel, initially a side project, has become a significant tool for Node.js developers, allowing them to transform and develop applications using modern JavaScript features. Despite its popularity, Babel introduces complexities such as the need for a build system and compatibility issues with ECMAScript specifications and existing tools. Recent Node.js versions have incorporated many features once exclusive to Babel, such as ECMAScript modules, modern async control flow, and syntactic sugar, reducing the need for Babel in some scenarios. This shift allows developers to remove unnecessary dependencies, enhance application security, and improve maintainability by deploying more readable and straightforward code. However, Babel remains relevant for using the latest JavaScript features, TypeScript integration, and web browser compatibility, especially when dealing with newer browser features or library enhancements like React. As Node.js continues to evolve, the need for Babel may diminish, offering developers a more streamlined and efficient development experience.