babel-preset-env is an essential component of babel: https://babeljs.io/docs/plugins/preset-env
babel is a sort of "compiler" that translates from bleeding-edge javascript to older, more widespread standard versions (such as the javascript that runs in a browser). It's a very successful project at the moment, see for example: https://tomdale.net/2017/09/compilers-are-the-new-frameworks/ It is written in javascript itself so it makes sense that it must be bootstrapped like gcc. For sure the javascript ecosystem culture is different from debian's, and that ecosystem is just starting to stabilize. Bur there is already a lot of valuable open-source stuff in there. Such as a number of server-oriented tools that it would be nice to have in debian: - etherpad-lite (ITP: https://bugs.debian.org/576998) - gitlab - gitea - buildbot 0.9.x (if we want to keep the web client) - ... - <put your own here> Also if only debian were kind enough with front-end developers to provide the tools they need, there is potential to attract quite a few new debian (and derivatives) desktop users. What matters most now is to get the tooling required to package stuff. So please let's find a way to get babel-preset-env in. Paolo
