# Misunderstanding ES6 Modules, Upgrading Babel, Tears, and a Solution

DevFeed: [Misunderstanding ES6 Modules, Upgrading Babel, Tears, and a Solution](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/misunderstanding-es6-modules-upgrading-babel-tears-and-a-solution-51836.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://kentcdodds.com/blog/misunderstanding-es6-modules-upgrading-babel-tears-and-a-solution>)

Author: Kent C Dodds

Published: 2015-12-23T00:00:00Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [Kent C. Dodds Blog](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/kent-c-dodds-blog.md>)

Topics: [Babel](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/babel.md>), [es6](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/es6.md>), [modules](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/modules.md>), [Front end](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/frontend.md>), [Tooling](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/tooling.md>), [upgrade](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/upgrade.md>)

Tags: [babel](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/babel.md>), [code](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/code.md>), [developers](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/developers.md>), [es6](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/es6.md>), [export](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/export.md>), [frontend](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/frontend.md>), [import](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/import.md>), [javascript](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/javascript.md>), [major](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/major.md>), [modules](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/modules.md>), [release](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/release.md>), [upgrade](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/upgrade.md>)

## AI overview

This article explains how Babel 6's stricter handling of ES6 module imports and exports exposed incorrect assumptions in an application. It describes the author's upgrade difficulties and the role of static module analysis in understanding the breaking change.

## Source excerpt

On October 29th, 2015, Sebastian McKenzie, James Kyle, and the rest of the Babel team dropped a huge major release for frontend developers...