transpilation

Code language translation

Transpilation is converting source code from one programming language to another at a similar level of abstraction—unlike compilation, which typically transforms high-level code into low-level machine code.

A transpiler might convert TypeScript to JavaScript, or modern JavaScript to older versions for browser compatibility: The build process transpiles ES6 to ES5.

process

source-to-source

Converting between programming languages

compilerSource-to-machine-code translator
parsingGrammatical structure extraction
tokenizationConverting input into discrete units

emit · preprocessing · static-analysis · type-checking · frontend · backend · polyfill · transformation

optimization

bundling

Grouping items as one

uglifyMake unattractive
terserMore concise in expression
profilingCharacterizing by patterns

caching · performance · compression · obfuscation

languages

babel

Chaotic din of voices

dartHandheld pointed projectile
elmGenus Ulmus tree
flowUnbroken forward movement

sass · less · stylus

tooling

babel

Chaotic din of voices

rollupCoil something flat
parcelWrapped item for shipping
gulpHasty, large swallow

grunt · plugin · preset · loader · config · pipeline

Opposites

compilation target

transpilationcompilation

Gathered works assembled together

assembly · linking

code transformation direction

transpilationinterpretation

Assigned meaning

decompilation · disassembly · reverse engineering

human readability of output

transpilationobfuscation

Deliberate concealment through confusion

Family

compilation, compile, compiling, recompile, recompiled, recompiling, decompiling

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