Babel command not found

Question

I have installed the babel-cli tool as explained by the Babel 'getting started' page.

From a terminal inside my project folder:

npm install --save-dev babel-cli

After this, there is a node_modules directory with a babel-cli folder, but there is no package.json created. npm also shows the following error:

npm WARN enoent ENOENT: no such file or directory, open '/Users/MyName/Sites/Tutorials/Babel2/package.json

When trying to run babel, I get this:

babel src -d lib
-bash: babel: command not found

I have the latest version of nodejs/npm installed. I have run npm update -g, and I have edited my .bash_profile file to include:

export PATH=$PATH:/Users/MyName/npm/bin
export PATH=/usr/local/share/npm/bin:$PATH

I have not experienced this with other npm tools such as browserify. Why is babel not recognized?

You can see how to get started with babel-cli here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/34483748/running-babel-cli-from-npm-script-not-working/34484065 — James Hibbard, Dec 28 '15 at 14:51
If you're using fish, try https://github.com/oh-my-fish/plugin-node-binpath — onmyway133, Sep 08 '16 at 19:37
In my case I had to reinstall my node_modules: `rm -rf ./node_modules && npm i` — Richard, Feb 20 '20 at 17:30

score 99 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 10:31

99

There are two problems here. First, you need a package.json file. Telling npm to install without one will throw the npm WARN enoent ENOENT: no such file or directory error. In your project directory, run npm init to generate a package.json file for the project.

Second, local binaries probably aren't found because the local ./node_modules/.bin is not in $PATH. There are some solutions in How to use package installed locally in node_modules?, but it might be easier to just wrap your babel-cli commands in npm scripts. This works because npm run adds the output of npm bin (node_modules/.bin) to the PATH provided to scripts.

Here's a stripped-down example package.json which returns the locally installed babel-cli version:

{
  "scripts": {
    "babel-version": "babel --version"
  },
  "devDependencies": {
    "babel-cli": "^6.6.5"
  }
}

Call the script with this command: npm run babel-version.

Putting scripts in package.json is quite useful but often overlooked. Much more in the docs: How npm handles the "scripts" field

edited May 23 '17 at 10:31

Community

1
1

answered Mar 10 '16 at 16:01

joemaller

19,579
7
67
84

2

After considering the other answers, and exploring messing with my `~/.profile` file to ensure I can call the packages in the local `node_modules`, I've concluded the `scripts` area of `package.json` is the best option. You won't need to tell your co-workers to change their profiles or make alias, your scripts will just work. – Jared Egan Jul 05 '16 at 15:25
I'm using Yarn (work requirement) and most fixes I've seen for this issue use npx. The "./node_modules/.bin is not in $PATH" fixed it for me. Thanks! – Chris DiPiero Apr 22 '21 at 17:43
If you're running in docker, then after npm install, the files might not end up in the node_modules (known linux weirdness, UID/GID??). Then, ofc, the binaries aren't found in node_modules/bin. – JWCS May 01 '23 at 22:25

score 46 · Answer 2 · edited Dec 06 '17 at 00:13

46

When I found this question, I was looking for

$ npm install -g babel-cli

edited Dec 06 '17 at 00:13

JBaczuk

13,886
10
58
86

answered Sep 04 '17 at 13:58

Martin Thoma

124,992
159
614
958

2

You should never have to use sudo with npm. Try using nvm to manage your node versions. – John Franke Nov 17 '17 at 16:20
1

```npm install -g babel-cli``` Will work without sudo. – John Franke Dec 01 '17 at 20:53
3

you should use `sudo` with `npm install -g babel-cli` to access this file /usr/local/lib/node_modules, else you'll be denied. – Ericgit Jul 20 '19 at 22:41
The @babel/cli docs recommends against installing babel-cli globally (to avoid conflicts with other projects using different versions of babel, and to improve portability) – 7hibault Jun 29 '20 at 10:23

lmiguelvargasf · Answer 3 · 2019-10-18T20:11:55.403

Installing babel globally solves this issue:

npm install -g @babel/core @babel/cli

However, it is not encourage to install dependencies globally because they won't have their versions managed on a per-project basis.

You should install your dependencies locally, as suggested on babel's documentation:

npm install --save-dev @babel/core @babel/cli

The downside is that this gives you no fast/convenient way to invoke local binaries interactively (in this case babel). npx gives you a great solution:

npx babel --version

This will run your local installation of babel. Additionally, if you want to avoid typing npx, you can configure the shell auto fallback, and then just run:

babel --version

Note: it is important to create a file .babelrc, at your project's root, in which you specify your babel configuration. As a starting point you can use env-preset to transpile to ES2015+:

npm install @babel/preset-env --save-dev

In order to enable the preset you have to define it in your .babelrc file, like this:

{
  "presets": ["@babel/preset-env"]
}

As suggested by the [documentation](https://babeljs.io/docs/en/babel-cli#install) you need to install @babel/core and @babel/cli irrespective of their versions. — guneetgstar, Mar 31 '21 at 20:52

score 12 · Answer 4 · edited Jan 30 '17 at 16:40

This is common issue and its looking for .cmd file from your root directory where you installed babel-cli. Try the below command.

./node_modules/.bin/babel.cmd

Once you are able to see your source code in the command prompt. Your next step is to install one more npm module babel-preset-es2015.

Follow the below answer to install babel-preset-es2015 and see why babel need this.

babel-file-is-copied-without-being-transformed

score 12 · Answer 5 · answered Apr 10 '19 at 21:37

12

To install version 7+ of Babel run:

npm install -g @babel/cli
npm install -g @babel/core

answered Apr 10 '19 at 21:37

sean2078

5,131
6
32
32

That's what helped me! – JavaRunner Dec 15 '19 at 22:24

score 6 · Answer 6 · answered Apr 06 '16 at 14:49

6

This is what I've done to automatically add my local project node_modules/.bin path to PATH. In ~/.profile I added:

if [ -d "$PWD/node_modules/.bin" ]; then 
    PATH="$PWD/node_modules/.bin"
fi

Then reload your bash profile: source ~/.profile

answered Apr 06 '16 at 14:49

Yega

356
5
10

score 3 · Answer 7 · edited Mar 01 '17 at 10:52

3

I had the same issue. Deleted the nodemodules folder and opened command prompt as administrator and then ran npm install.

All packages installed fine.

edited Mar 01 '17 at 10:52

DimaSan

12,264
11
65
75

answered Mar 01 '17 at 01:44

Madhav

41
1

score 2 · Answer 8 · answered Dec 21 '18 at 13:16

2

Worked for me e.g.

./node_modules/.bin/babel --version
./node_modules/.bin/babel src/main.js

answered Dec 21 '18 at 13:16

Mandakini

31
1

score 1 · Answer 9 · answered Jan 08 '17 at 12:44

1

You will need to add quotes around the path to your babel file as below

"./node_modules/.bin/babel" --help

answered Jan 08 '17 at 12:44

Mahtab Alam

1,810
3
23
40

score 1 · Answer 10 · answered Aug 01 '18 at 04:53

1

Actually, if you want to use cmd commands,you have two ways. First, install it at gloabl environment. The other way is npm link. so, try the first way: npm install -g babel-cli.

answered Aug 01 '18 at 04:53

YinPeng.Wei

552
3
9

score 1 · Answer 11 · answered Sep 19 '19 at 20:47

One option is to install the cli globally.

Since Babel 7 was released the namespace has changed from babel-cli to @babel/cli, hence:

npm install --global @babel/cli

You'll likely still encounter errors for @babel/core so:

npm install --global @babel/core

bakke2ooo · Answer 12 · 2018-10-19T00:06:30.027

0

I ran into the very same problem, tried out really everything that I could think of. Not being a fan of installing anything globally, but eventually had to run npm install -g babel-cli, which solved my problem. Maybe not the answer, but definitely a possible solution...

edited Oct 19 '18 at 00:06

answered Oct 18 '18 at 22:34

bakke2ooo

1
2

score 0 · Answer 13 · answered May 23 '19 at 21:58

0

For those using Yarn as their package manager instead of npm:

yarn global add babel-cli

answered May 23 '19 at 21:58

Cody Pinto

101
1
6

ariel guzman · Answer 14 · 2020-01-29T03:02:23.463

This worked for me inside package.json as an npm script but it does seem to take to long grabbing the packages even though I have them as dev dependancies. It also seems too long.

"babel": "npx -p @babel/cli -p @babel/core babel --version"

What end up solving it was much simpler but funny too

npm install

I thought I ran that already but I guess somethings needed to be rebuilt. Then just:

"babel": "babel --version"

Babel command not found

14 Answers14

Linked