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Babel vs Gradle: What are the differences?
- Runtime: Babel is primarily a JavaScript transpiler that converts ECMAScript 2015+ code into backward-compatible versions. Gradle, on the other hand, is a build automation tool focused on Java projects but can also support other languages like C++, Python, and more.
- Purpose: Babel is used for writing next-generation JavaScript code today without worrying about compatibility issues. Gradle, however, helps with compiling, testing, and packaging Java applications efficiently.
- Language Support: Babel is specific to JavaScript and related languages, while Gradle supports a variety of languages out of the box, making it versatile for a wider range of projects.
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Configuration: Babel requires configuration through a separate file like
.babelrc, while Gradle uses Groovy or Kotlin DSL for defining project configurations within the build script. - Compatibility: Babel focuses on ensuring compatibility with older browsers and environments, while Gradle emphasizes scalability and efficiency in managing complex build processes.
- Community and Ecosystem: Babel has a strong community support focusing on JavaScript ecosystem, whereas Gradle has a robust ecosystem and plugins for integrating with various development tools and frameworks.
In Summary, Babel is a specialized JavaScript transpiler for ES6+ code, whereas Gradle is a versatile build automation tool for Java and multi-language projects with a strong ecosystem and scalability focus.
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Learn MorePros of Babel
Pros of Gradle
Pros of Babel
- Modern Javascript works with all browsers165
- Open source77
- Integration with lots of tools60
- Easy setup56
- Very active on github26
- JSX2
- Love2
- Source maps2
- Extensions1
Pros of Gradle
- Flexibility110
- Easy to use51
- Groovy dsl47
- Slow build time22
- Crazy memory leaks10
- Fast incremental builds8
- Kotlin DSL5
- Windows Support1
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Cons of Babel
Cons of Gradle
Cons of Babel
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Cons of Gradle
- Inactionnable documentation8
- It is just the mess of Ant++6
- Hard to decide: ten or more ways to achieve one goal4
- Bad Eclipse tooling2
- Dependency on groovy2
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What is Babel?
Babel will turn your ES6+ code into ES5 friendly code, so you can start using it right now without waiting for browser support.
What is Gradle?
Gradle is a build tool with a focus on build automation and support for multi-language development. If you are building, testing, publishing, and deploying software on any platform, Gradle offers a flexible model that can support the entire development lifecycle from compiling and packaging code to publishing web sites.
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What companies use Babel?
What companies use Gradle?
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What tools integrate with Babel?
What tools integrate with Gradle?
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What are some alternatives to Babel and Gradle?
Webpack
A bundler for javascript and friends. Packs many modules into a few bundled assets. Code Splitting allows to load parts for the application on demand. Through "loaders" modules can be CommonJs, AMD, ES6 modules, CSS, Images, JSON, Coffeescript, LESS, ... and your custom stuff.
TypeScript
TypeScript is a language for application-scale JavaScript development. It's a typed superset of JavaScript that compiles to plain JavaScript.
CoffeeScript
It adds syntactic sugar inspired by Ruby, Python and Haskell in an effort to enhance JavaScript's brevity and readability. Specific additional features include list comprehension and de-structuring assignment.
ESLint
A pluggable and configurable linter tool for identifying and reporting on patterns in JavaScript. Maintain your code quality with ease.
rollup
It is a module bundler for JavaScript which compiles small pieces of code into something larger and more complex, such as a library or application. It uses the new standardized format for code modules included in the ES6 revision of JavaScript, instead of previous idiosyncratic solutions such as CommonJS and AMD.