Q: Is there interest in adding more assertion libraries?

[wooorm]

Background

I’m using assertions in micromark. It’s a complex parser using state machines. It’s also extendable with plugins. So assertions makes it much easier to reason about.

I’m using an export map to differentiate between code that does have assertions, and code that doesn’t: https://github.com/micromark/micromark/blob/a03a08ce677b91a2960be2f4fcaacd64b3b8ec18/packages/micromark/package.json#L55-L58. Most people will get unasserted files. With node --conditions development, code with assertions is loaded. This is very useful when making plugins.

Problem

• However, some browser bundlers (Vite, webpack), don’t load assert normally. While users can configure their bundlers, micromark is often used through many other packages, and I’d rather have everything just work by default
• power-assert contains tons of code and also doesn’t bundle well in at least webpack.

Solution

• I could either create a new, small, typed assert library, or perhaps use something like uvu/assert
• Is unassert interested in adding support for more libraries, and if so, what are the requirements?

I can do the work on adding one.

/cc @twada

Related-to: micromark/micromark#87, micromark/micromark#95.

[falsandtru]

Have you tried to change the options?

https://github.com/unassert-js/unassert#options

[wooorm]

Ah. Thanks and sorry.

My question is most specifically about https://github.com/unassert-js/babel-plugin-unassert/blob/210a5c6e45c0c3d6d963f6f21efcf9d0094f177e/index.js#L29, because I’m using that, and I don’t think it has such an option. I posted it here as this was more a question for the whole unassert org

[wooorm]

But if there’s an option here already, then there could perhaps also be an option there to allow other values than ['assert', 'node:assert', 'power-assert']?

[twada]

Hello @wooorm, and thanks to @falsandtru. That's a nice suggestion and relatively easy add some import/require options to babel-plugin-unassert. I'll work on it.

[falsandtru]

Can you support options also with gulp-unassert?

[twada]

@falsandtru Yes. I'll support it. (maybe after #21 or before it since #21 is a little difficult one)

[falsandtru]

Thanks.

[wooorm]

This is a very pressing issue for me btw, so I can do the work to support it in the babel plugin if that means it can then be released soonish?

[twada]

@wooorm I mean adding options to babel-plugin-unassert is reatively easy, so it will be released soon. Adding options to gulp-unassert is slightly difficult (due to the blocking issue).

[wooorm]

ah okay, thanks <3

[twada]

@wooorm babel-plugin-unassert v3.2.0 is out. Thank you for your suggestion!

Release v3.2.0: customization options (2021-10-09)

[wooorm]

That's awesome! Thank you! 🌸