On the current typescript / anti-typescript internet drama I saw someone mention javascript without a build step.
Do you think we’re already there?
Last time I attempted it:
- there were too many libraries I couldn’t import
- JSX (using babel) had a warning saying you shouldn’t do it in the browser for production
- there was some advice against not using a bundler, because several requests for different .js files is slower and bigger than a bundled package
Isn’t Babel part of the build step? I might not be misunderstanding with what you mean by build step here.
In general, you probably can’t avoid a bundler for the browser without significant compromises on performance and developer experience.
I’m asking mostly out of curiosity, but I had a use case that I would like to completely avoid a build step. At work we have a very old web interface, that when I attempt to sell the idea of any major improvement the answer is “this is end of life, we are rewriting it”. But the rewrite will take a long time, and it is easier to make gradual improvements without introducing new tooling. This one is from the 90s, there the JS is in a folder and is shipped as is.