ES6 Module Support in Chrome 62 and Chrome Canary 64, Due to the CORS Error
If you've been encountering CORS errors while trying to work with ES6 modules in Chrome 62 or Chrome Canary 64, you're not alone. This can be a frustrating issue, but don't worry! In this article, we'll discuss why you might be facing this problem and how you can work around it to get your ES6 modules up and running locally.
First off, let's break down what ES6 modules are and why they're so popular among developers. ES6 modules, also known as ECMAScript 6 modules, allow you to organize your code into separate files, making it easier to manage and maintain your projects. They also provide a way to share code between different parts of your application without polluting the global namespace.
The CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) error you're seeing when trying to work with ES6 modules locally in Chrome 62 or Chrome Canary 64 is because of how the browser handles file:// and http:// protocols. In essence, when you try to fetch an ES6 module using a file:// protocol, Chrome enforces CORS restrictions as if it were a cross-origin request.
To work around this limitation and get your ES6 modules working locally, you can follow these steps:
1. Run a Local Server: The most straightforward way to overcome the CORS error is to serve your files through a local server rather than directly opening them in the browser. There are many tools available that can help you set up a local server quickly, such as Python's SimpleHTTPServer or npm packages like http-server.
2. Use a Development Environment: Another approach is to use a development environment like Visual Studio Code with the Live Server extension. This extension will automatically launch a local server for you, making it easy to work with ES6 modules without running into CORS issues.
3. Update Chrome Flags: You can also tweak some Chrome flags to disable the CORS policy for local file access. In your browser, navigate to chrome://flags and search for the "Allow invalid certificates for resources loaded from localhost" flag. Enable this flag to relax the security restrictions on local file access.
By following these simple steps, you should be able to bypass the CORS error and start working with ES6 modules in Chrome 62 or Chrome Canary 64 without any issues. Remember to always consider the security implications of disabling CORS restrictions, especially when working on production projects.
In conclusion, while running into CORS errors can be frustrating when working with ES6 modules in Chrome, there are simple workarounds available to help you overcome this obstacle and continue developing your projects smoothly. Happy coding!