@babel/preset-env doesn't read .browserslistrc file (still works using targets option)

[gremo]

It seems that @babel/preset-env doesn't read the .browserslistrc anymore.

FIle .browserslistrc:

defaults
not ie 11
not ie_mob 11

When I run npm run babel -- assets/js/app.js with the following test file:

document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', () => {
  // DOM ready
  [1, 2, 3].forEach(n => console.log(n));
});

Output uses the targets is empty:

babel "assets/js/app.js"

@babel/preset-env: DEBUG option

Using targets:
{}

However, It still works if I use the targets option in .babelrc.

Babel Configuration (babel.config.js, .babelrc, package.json#babel, cli command, .eslintrc)

• Filename: .babelrc

{
  "presets": [
    ["@babel/preset-env", {
      "corejs": 3,
      "useBuiltIns": "usage",
      "bugfixes": true,
      "modules": false,
      "debug": true
    }]
  ]
}

Environment

  System:
    OS: Windows 10 10.0.19042
  Binaries:
    Node: 12.18.4 - C:\Program Files\nodejs\node.EXE       
    Yarn: 1.22.5 - C:\Program Files (x86)\Yarn\bin\yarn.CMD
    npm: 6.14.6 - C:\Program Files\nodejs\npm.CMD
  npmPackages:
    @babel/cli: ^7.12.10 => 7.12.10
    @babel/core: ^7.12.10 => 7.12.10
    @babel/preset-env: ^7.12.11 => 7.12.11
    babel-eslint: ^10.1.0 => 10.1.0
    eslint: ^7.18.0 => 7.18.0

• Babel version(s): 7.12.10 (@babel/core 7.12.10)
• Node/npm version: v12.18.4
• OS: Windows 10 x64
• How you are using Babel: CLI

[babel-bot]

Hey @gremo! We really appreciate you taking the time to report an issue. The collaborators on this project attempt to help as many people as possible, but we're a limited number of volunteers, so it's possible this won't be addressed swiftly.

If you need any help, or just have general Babel or JavaScript questions, we have a vibrant Slack community that typically always has someone willing to help. You can sign-up here for an invite."

[nicolo-ribaudo]

The problem is that for backward compatibility reasons, if you don't specify a targets option, Babel will tell to browserslist "Hey, defaults means 'transform everything' instead of your usual 'defaults' browsers".

This is tracked by #9962, and it will be fixed by #12616 (we might merge that PR soon, but the fix will only work starting from Babel 8).

[gremo]

Thanks @nicolo-ribaudo, so what's the proposed solution/workaround? Do you know which 7.x.x version introduced the problem?

[nicolo-ribaudo]

This problem has been present since babel-preset-env 1.x.
As a workaround, you can copy your browser's list query into your Babel config.

[gremo]

@nicolo-ribaudo sorry for bother you again but I'm pretty sure that some older project of mine works without problem.

Is the problem only related to the defaults keyword be present?

[nicolo-ribaudo]

Yes, it's "default" that means "every possible browser version" when Babel reads it from the browserslistrc file.