Bun or Node.js for Web Apps

Web Applications are powered by a range of tools and technologies, from frontend frameworks and libraries to backend services, working together to create an intuitive and interactive interface with functional and high-performing features that provide a quality user experience.

A runtime environment is one of the key components that make web applications work. It enables code execution in the browser and on the server, allowing web apps to integrate with tools and frameworks.

In this article, we'll compare two popular Runtime tools, Node.js and Bun, which allow developers to build web applications on both the client and server sides.

In this article, we'll evaluate each based on its characteristics and implementation.

The JavaScript runtime environment is what determines how JavaScript code is executed, providing the necessary components for JavaScript to run and interact with the browser or the system.

A runtime includes a JavaScript engine, such as V8 (used in Chrome and Node.js) or SpiderMonkey (used in Firefox), which executes code. In the web browser, these engines enable us to view and interact with web pages.

Tools like NodeJS and Bun allow us to extend JavaScript beyond the browser, allowing developers to run JavaScript code in external environments like servers.

Node.js is a popular and powerful open-source JavaScript runtime environment that makes it possible to run JavaScript code outside the web browser. Node.js extends the capabilities of JavaScript, which makes it possible for developers to create both front-end and back-end applications.

Node is built on the V8 JavaScript engine developed by Google for Chrome, which compiles JavaScript into machine code at runtime.

The features of Node.js include the following;

• Cross-Platform Compatibility
• Single-Threaded Architecture
• Asynchronous and Event-driven Architecture
• Large Ecosystem and Node Package Manager

Node.js uses a single-threaded model to execute tasks, similar to how JavaScript runs in browsers. This model determines how tasks are executed and managed.

Single-thread execution means that tasks are handled one at a time; In other words, one task must finish before the next begins, unlike a multiple-threaded model, which executes tasks concurrently.

JavaScript uses the call stack to keep track of function execution, so when a function is called, it's added to the stack, and once it returns, it is removed.

However, if one task takes time to complete, it can block other tasks from running, causing delays. Everything must wait until the ongoing tasks finish, which can slow down the application.

Most traditional servers employ a multi-threaded model to fix this limitation, assigning every incoming request its own thread to prevent them from blocking each other. This works well for small applications, but as traffic grows, managing multiple threads can lead to high memory usage and performance bottlenecks.

NodeJS takes a different approach to execution using a single-threaded model. It doesn't create a new thread for every request. Instead, it relies on an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model that allows it to handle multiple concurrent operations without getting stuck waiting for slow tasks.

At the core of Node.js is the event loop, a mechanism that enables it to process multiple requests simultaneously. The event loop efficiently switches between tasks, delegating tasks instead of waiting for one task to finish before moving to the next.

To handle multiple, I/O(Input/Output) operations simultaneously, Node.js utilizes an event demultiplexer. When it receives a request involving I/O tasks, such as fetching data from an API, it doesn't block the event loop. Instead, it delegates the task to the event demultiplexer, which acts like a manager that assigns tasks to background workers.

Node.js also relies on the Libuv C++ library to execute the I/O operations in the background.

Here’s an article that explores Node.js, components, and benefits. including Node Package Manager.

Bun is a JavaScript Runtime created by Jarred Summer and released on September 8, 2023. It is an all-in-one JavaScript runtime and toolkit that includes a bundler, a test runner, and a package manager.

Bun is built with Zig, a low-level systems language known for its speed, efficiency, and simplicity.

Bun is designed for high performance in mind, offering elegant APIs and a cohesive developer experience. Its tools are tightly integrated, making development faster and smoother by bringing features like runtime, bundler, test runner, and package manager in one environment.

The design goals of Bun include;

• Speed: Bun starts and runs quickly.
• Elegant APIs: It provides a minimal set of powerful APIs for performing tasks
• Cohesive DX (Developer Experience): It's an efficient toolkit for building JavaScript apps that promotes a smooth developer experience

Features of Bun

Bun's core features include:

Bundler: Bun is a bundler, like Vite or Webpack. It can handle both server-side and client code with a single command. On the client side, it bundles files such as JavaScript, TypeScript, and CSS so that the browser can load them quickly.

On the server side, it bundles backend code (server logic) so it runs without extra tools like Webpack. Instead of using external bundlers, Bun comes with a built-in bundler as part of its runtime, so developers don't need additional configuration.

Test Runner: Bun has a built-in test runner that works similarly to Jest. This means you can write test functions like expect(), which checks if a value in your code matches the expected result, without installing an external library. It is faster than Jest because it's integrated into the runtime and doesn't require extra transpilation.

Package Manager: Bun has a superfast, Node.js compatible package manager that manages dependencies in JavaScript projects. It supports the same features as npm or yarn and efficiently inspects the project's package.json file to organize the node_modules directory.

Benefits of Bun

There are several benefits of Bun time, including;

Lightweight Design: Bun was created with performance and efficiency in mind. It is fast and uses fewer resources, running JavaScript and Typescript very fast, making it better than other runtimes.

Native Support: Bun offers native support for many common tasks without the need for additional packages.

For example, working with APIs, there's no need to install node-fetch because Bun includes a built-in fetch() API. You also don't need nodemon to watch for file changes. Bun includes a watch flag that supports hot reloading, meaning the process automatically restarts when a file changes.

Built-in SQLite: Bun includes a built-in SQLite database, so there's no need to install an external package. It also runs queries faster because of its native integration.

Native API: Bun provides a set of native, highly optimized APIs for server-side tasks available through the Bun global object. The APIs handle operations like file reading, hashing, etc, without external packages, which makes performing server-side tasks faster.

JSX and TSX Support: Bun has built-in support for JSX and TSX, which allows developers to write React and Typescript code without external transpilers. It compiles JSX and Typescript syntax directly within its runtime using JavaScript core, which is a built-in JavaScript engine; it doesn't need tools like Babel to interpret and run jsx/tsx files.

There are certain factors to consider before choosing which Runtime to work with. Let’s look at a few;

Node.js

• Node.js is supported by the OpenJS Foundation, which provides regular security checks, long-term support, and a large ecosystem of tools and libraries, which makes it a good choice for large-scale projects.

• If your project relies on a database and performance is more important than speed, Node.js is still a great choice. It handles database operations efficiently, is reliable, and can process large amounts of data with ease.

• If you have an already large project with a lot of code that works, switching from Node.js can be time-consuming because you have to rewrite thousands of lines of code and all their dependencies. In this case, it's better to stick to Node.js because the codebase is battle-tested.

• Node.js is a better choice if your project relies on native npm modules because it supports the npm ecosystem without compatibility issues.

Bun

• If you're already familiar with Node.js and don't mind trying out new technology, Bun is a good choice. Its ecosystem is small, but frequent updates have shown that it's actively growing and improving.

• If you want an integrated tool kit, Bun is an all-in-one toolchain with a built-in installer, bundler, and test runner. It removes the need for separate tools like webpack, jest, and npm, reducing maintenance overhead and setup effort.

• Bun is a good choice for serverless deployment because it starts up quickly. Meaning when the serverless function is triggered, it reduces delay(cold start), improving the user experience.

Let's look at a few differences between Bun and Node.js

Both NodeJS and Bun are great runtimes with distinct strengths. Node.js is battle-tested and known for its stability and reliability, while Bun is newer but offers faster performance.

Bun is evolving fast, with frequent updates and new features, and Node.js has a mature ecosystem, strong community support, and consistent security updates.