What is @swc/core-linux-x64-musl?
The @swc/core-linux-x64-musl package is a precompiled version of SWC (Speedy Web Compiler) specifically for Linux x64 systems using the musl libc. SWC is a super-fast compiler written in Rust that allows for transforming ECMAScript 2015+ code into a backward-compatible version of JavaScript that can be run in older browsers. It's also capable of handling JSX, TypeScript, and producing source maps.
What are @swc/core-linux-x64-musl's main functionalities?
JavaScript/TypeScript Compilation
This feature allows for the compilation of modern JavaScript or TypeScript code into a version compatible with older browsers. The code sample demonstrates how to synchronously compile a simple ES6 const declaration into ES5.
require('@swc/core-linux-x64-musl').transformSync('const x = 1;', { jsc: { target: 'es5' } });
JSX Transformation
This feature enables the transformation of JSX syntax into JavaScript, making it possible to use React or similar libraries. The code sample shows how to transform a simple JSX element into JavaScript.
require('@swc/core-linux-x64-musl').transformSync('<div>Hello, world!</div>', { jsc: { parser: { syntax: 'typescript', tsx: true }, target: 'es5' }, filename: 'file.tsx' });
Source Map Generation
This feature generates source maps for the transformed code, facilitating debugging by mapping the transformed code back to the original source code. The code sample demonstrates generating a source map for a simple piece of code.
require('@swc/core-linux-x64-musl').transformSync('const x = 1;', { sourceMaps: true });
Other packages similar to @swc/core-linux-x64-musl
babel-core
Babel is a widely used JavaScript compiler that also allows for transforming modern JavaScript into backward-compatible versions. Compared to @swc/core-linux-x64-musl, Babel is more established but generally slower because it is written in JavaScript.
typescript
The TypeScript compiler can convert TypeScript code into JavaScript, including handling JSX and generating source maps. While it offers similar functionality for TypeScript, it does not focus on the same performance optimization as SWC.
esbuild
Esbuild is a super-fast JavaScript bundler and minifier that also compiles TypeScript and JSX. It is similar to SWC in terms of speed and efficiency because it is also written in a compiled language (Go), making it a strong alternative for certain use cases.