Babel and SWC: JavaScript Transpilation and Build Speed

Learn how Babel and SWC transpile modern JavaScript, JSX and TypeScript, target browsers and Node, and speed up builds. For front-end and tooling developers.

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What you'll learn

  • Explain transpilation, ASTs and the difference between Babel, SWC and bundlers.
  • Configure presets, plugins and targets for browsers and Node.js.
  • Compile JSX and TypeScript and add polyfills only where needed.
  • Configure SWC and migrate a project from Babel to SWC.
  • Debug transpilation issues and choose between Babel, SWC and newer tools.

Syllabus

Module 1: Getting Started

  1. What are Babel and SWC?
  2. When Do You Need a Transpiler?
  3. Brief History and Evolution

Module 2: Setup & Core Concepts

  1. Installing and Configuring Babel
  2. Installing and Configuring SWC
  3. Abstract Syntax Trees (AST)

Module 3: Babel Basics

  1. @babel/preset-env: Smart Targeting
  2. Other Essential Presets
  3. Understanding Plugins

Module 4: Presets & Plugins Deep Dive

  1. JSX Transformation
  2. TypeScript Compilation
  3. Decorators and Advanced Features

Module 5: Target Environments & Transform Strategies

  1. Targeting Modern vs Legacy Browsers
  2. Targeting Node.js Versions
  3. Output Module Formats

Module 6: Modern JavaScript & Polyfills

  1. Transpiling Modern Features
  2. Polyfills and Core-js
  3. Loose Mode and Edge Cases

Module 7: Performance & Optimization

  1. Babel Performance Tuning
  2. SWC: The Speed Alternative
  3. Transpilation vs Minification

Module 8: SWC Deep Dive

  1. SWC Configuration and Options
  2. SWC Plugins and Ecosystem
  3. SWC in Webpack, Vite, and Next.js

Module 9: Migration & Advanced Topics

  1. Migrating from Babel to SWC
  2. Debugging Transpilation Issues
  3. Best Practices
  4. Modern Alternatives: esbuild, Oxc & Native TypeScript

Module 10: Interview Prep & Cheat Sheet

  1. Common Interview Questions
  2. Real-World Scenarios
  3. Quick Reference & Cheat Sheet