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Babel VS DevDocs

Compare Babel VS DevDocs and see what are their differences

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Babel logo Babel

Babel is a compiler for writing next generation JavaScript.

DevDocs logo DevDocs

Open source API documentation browser with instant fuzzy search, offline mode, keyboard shortcuts, and more
  • Babel Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-02
  • DevDocs Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-10-12

Babel features and specs

  • JavaScript Version Compatibility
    Babel allows developers to write code using the latest JavaScript features and syntax, and transpile it into a version of JavaScript that can run on older browsers. This ensures greater compatibility across different environments.
  • Future-Proof Code
    With Babel, developers can start using upcoming JavaScript features today. This means that codebases can stay modern and developers can take advantage of new functionalities without waiting for full browser support.
  • Ecosystem and Plugins
    Babel has a rich ecosystem of plugins and presets that can extend its capabilities, making it highly adaptable to different project needs. This modularity allows for customization and enhancement of the build process.
  • Integration with Modern Development Tools
    Babel integrates well with various development tools such as Webpack, making it easier to include in existing build processes and workflows. This helps streamline development and maintain efficient workflows.
  • Community and Support
    Babel has a large and active community, which means extensive documentation, tutorials, and support forums. This can be particularly useful for troubleshooting and staying updated with best practices.

Possible disadvantages of Babel

  • Performance Overhead
    Transpiling code with Babel introduces a performance overhead during the build process. This can slow down development workflows, especially for large codebases with many files.
  • Configuration Complexity
    Setting up Babel can be complex, particularly for beginners. The numerous options and plugins available can sometimes be overwhelming and require significant time to configure correctly.
  • Source Map Issues
    Generating accurate source maps can sometimes be tricky with Babel, leading to difficulties in debugging. Misconfigured source maps can make it harder to track down issues within the original source code.
  • Dependency Bloat
    Including Babel in a project can add a significant number of dependencies. This dependency bloat can increase the size of the project and potentially introduce maintenance challenges or security vulnerabilities.
  • Learning Curve
    There is a learning curve associated with Babel, especially for developers who are new to modern JavaScript tooling. Understanding how Babel works and how to effectively use its features can take time and effort.

DevDocs features and specs

  • Comprehensive Documentation
    DevDocs offers a wide array of documentation for various programming languages, libraries, and frameworks, making it a one-stop resource for developers.
  • Offline Access
    Users can download documentation for offline use, which is beneficial for work in environments without consistent internet connectivity.
  • Fast Search
    DevDocs features a lightning-fast search functionality, allowing developers to quickly find the information they need.
  • Integrations
    DevDocs can integrate with various editors and tools, enhancing the workflow for developers.
  • Free and Open Source
    DevDocs is free to use and open source, allowing developers to contribute and improve the platform.

Possible disadvantages of DevDocs

  • Limited Customization
    The platform offers limited customization options for user interface preferences compared to some other documentation tools.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may face a learning curve to get accustomed to the interface and find the documentation they need.
  • Dependency on Contributions
    As an open-source project, DevDocs relies heavily on community contributions to keep documentation up to date, which might lead to inconsistencies.
  • No User Accounts
    DevDocs does not support user accounts, meaning there is no way to save personalized settings or bookmarks across different devices.
  • Limited Mobile Optimization
    While it is accessible on mobile devices, DevDocs is not specifically optimized for mobile use, which might affect the user experience on smaller screens.

Analysis of Babel

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Babel is widely considered a good tool for modern JavaScript development. It eases the use of cutting-edge JavaScript features and ensures broader compatibility, which is crucial for many projects. Its active community and continuous updates reflect its standing as a reliable and well-supported choice.

Why this product is good

  • Babel is a popular JavaScript compiler that allows developers to use the latest JavaScript features while maintaining compatibility with older environments that may not support these features natively. It transforms modern JavaScript code into a version that can run in current and older browsers or environments. Babel is highly configurable and has a rich ecosystem of plugins and presets that enable developers to tailor it to their specific needs, making development smoother and more efficient.

Recommended for

    Babel is recommended for web developers who want to write modern JavaScript but need to ensure that their code remains functional across different environments and older browsers. It is also valuable for projects where developers aspire to use the latest ECMAScript features without waiting for broad native support.

Analysis of DevDocs

Overall verdict

  • Yes, DevDocs is generally considered a valuable tool for developers who need quick and easy access to documentation across various programming languages and technologies.

Why this product is good

  • DevDocs is widely regarded as a great resource for developers because it offers an extensive collection of API documentation in a single, searchable interface. It consolidates various languages and frameworks, allowing for quick access and offline availability, which can significantly speed up development workflows.

Recommended for

  • Software developers
  • Web developers
  • Programmers who frequently switch between languages
  • Developers working with multiple frameworks
  • Students learning programming
  • Anyone needing quick access to tech documentation

Babel videos

+ Add

Babel - Movie Review

More videos:

  • Review - Day 16 | Babel Review | 365 Films
  • Review - Worth The Hype? - BABEL Review
  • Review - Book CommuniTEA: Is BABEL a rac1st mani!fest0? [you should know the answer]
  • Review - Babel is a Masterpiece, And Here's Why

DevDocs videos

+ Add

DevDocs - An API Documentation Browser

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Babel and DevDocs)

Babel

DevDocs

Development Tools
100 100%
Development Tools
0% 0
Cryptocurrencies
0 0%
Cryptocurrencies
100% 100
Javascript UI Libraries
100 100%
Javascript UI Libraries
0% 0
Blockchain
0 0%
Blockchain
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Babel might be a bit more popular than DevDocs. We know about 147 links to it since March 2021 and only 129 links to DevDocs. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Babel mentions (147)

  • Valentine’s Day Breakup: React Dumps Create React App
    Create React App (CRA) is a command-line interface tool that allows developers to set up a React project easily. It primarily serves as a project scaffolding tool, allowing you to create a new project with a single command: npx create-react-app . CRA comes with tools like Webpack and Babel, which handle the bundling and transpiling of code. The tools are pre-configured. It comes with a development server that... - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • #wecode Landing Page - WeCoded Challenge March 2025
    @vitejs/plugin-react uses Babel for Fast Refresh. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • You Don’t Know JS Yet: My Weekly Journey Through JavaScript Mastery
    For new and incompatible syntax, the solution is transpiling—converting newer JS syntax to older syntax that can run on older engines. The most popular transpiler? Babel. This process ensures modern JS code can still reach a wide audience, even on legacy systems. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Desktop apps for Windows XP in 2025
    Fortunately we have tools like PostCSS and Babel, that let you target your specific Browser version, and they'll do their best to transpile and polyfill your code to work with that version. This alone will do a lot of the heavy lifting for you if you are working with a lot of code. However, if you are just writing out a few HTML, CSS, and JS files, then that would be overkill and you can just figure out what code... - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • The Tools and APIs That Made My GeoGuessr 🌍 Project Possible
    Cross-Browser Compatibility: Some features worked differently across browsers. I used Babel to transpile my JavaScript code, ensuring it worked consistently everywhere. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
View more

DevDocs mentions (129)

  • 10 more Exciting Resources for Devs
    ID: i26 Tags: Programming, API, Documentation Description: Fast, offline, and free documentation browser for developers. GitHub Link | Website Link. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • 11 Must-Know Websites Every Developer Should Bookmark
    Search API documentation effortlessly with DevDocs. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Review: Boost Your Django DX by Adam Johnson
    The book has twelve chapters. It starts with documentation, the source of truth, and explores how to access documentation offline (DevDocs) or online. It then progresses towards creating your own System Checks. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
  • intro to web development in the era of genAI
    I use devdocs.io for a one place for many libraries and languages. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
  • 12 Essential Websites Every Coder Should Know
    DevDocs is a fast, offline-capable documentation browser that covers a wide range of programming languages and tools. No matter what technical documentation you need to look up, DevDocs can quickly find and display it for you. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Babel and DevDocs, you can also consider the following products

jQuery - The Write Less, Do More, JavaScript Library.

Zeal - Zeal is an API Documentation Browser.

React Native - A framework for building native apps with React

Dash for macOS - Dash is an API Documentation Browser and Code Snippet Manager. Dash searches offline documentation of 200+ APIs and stores snippets of code. You can also generate your own documentation sets.

Composer - Composer is a tool for dependency management in PHP.

DASH - DASH is a secure, blockchain-based global financial network which offers private transactions.

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