Abstract
JavaScript applications have long been dealing with browser compatibility issues. Due to the variety of browsers, operational systems, and versions, not all new JavaScript features are available to users. Fortunately transpilers transform the new code syntax into an older version, making the code compatible with a large number of browsers. This study, which focuses on a largely used transpiler (Babel), aims to shed light on how new JavaScript features are used and what major challenges developers face when using them. We assess the top-1K JavaScript projects from GitHub, 108 Stack Overflow questions, and the browser compatibility related to 18 recent JavaScript features. We conclude that, without a transpiler, almost 14% of the web users could face a JavaScript bug when landing on a website that uses a new JavaScript feature.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
