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wtf is reify?

olizilla/reify — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-07-18 · repo last pushed 2017-01-18

JavaScriptAudience · developerComplexity · 2/5DormantSetup · easy

TL;DR

A tool that lets you write modern JavaScript import/export syntax in Node.js by translating it into CommonJS, even on older Node versions.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((reify))
    Inputs
      Import export syntax
      Node REPL commands
    Outputs
      CommonJS code
      Live bindings
      Circular dependency support
    Use Cases
      Use modern syntax on old Node
      Ship cleaner open-source packages
      Modernize the Node REPL
    Tech Stack
      JavaScript
      Node.js
      CommonJS

Code map

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filefunction / class

Why would anyone build with this?

REASON 1

Use modern import/export syntax in a Node.js project without waiting for native support.

REASON 2

Ship an open-source package with clean, modern module syntax that still works on older Node.

REASON 3

Turn the Node REPL into a modern JavaScript environment for quick experimentation.

REASON 4

Handle circular dependencies and live bindings correctly when using import/export in Node.

What's in the stack?

JavaScriptNode.js

How it stacks up

olizilla/reify3rd-eden/ircb.ioa15n/a15n
LanguageJavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript
Last pushed2017-01-182016-11-162019-04-07
MaintenanceDormantDormantDormant
Setup difficultyeasyeasyeasy
Complexity2/52/52/5
Audiencedeveloperdevelopergeneral

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you spin it up?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min
License is not stated in the available content.

Yoink these prompts

Prompt 1
Help me add reify to my Node.js project so I can use import and export statements.
Prompt 2
Show me how to use reify in the Node REPL to test import/export syntax interactively.
Prompt 3
Explain how reify translates my import statement into CommonJS code under the hood.
Prompt 4
Walk me through how reify handles circular dependencies between two modules with live bindings.
Prompt 5
Help me convert a CommonJS package to use import/export syntax with reify's support.

Frequently asked questions

wtf is reify?

A tool that lets you write modern JavaScript import/export syntax in Node.js by translating it into CommonJS, even on older Node versions.

What language is reify written in?

Mainly JavaScript. The stack also includes JavaScript, Node.js.

Is reify actively maintained?

Dormant — no commits in 2+ years (last push 2017-01-18).

What license does reify use?

License is not stated in the available content.

How hard is reify to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 5min to a first successful run.

Who is reify for?

Mainly developer.

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