Alright, let's get this out of the way: if you're into JavaScript/TypeScript like me, you've likely played with all sorts of runtimes, frameworks, and libraries. Recently, I've been hanging out with Bun.js and it's been an interesting experience—one that even has me leaning towards it instead of Deno. This is not to knock Deno (I still think Deno is a great runtime), but there's something about Bun that just works. So here’s my two cents on the perks of using Bun over Deno, told from a humble developer's perspective.
- It's Blazing Fast… Like Really Fast 🏎️
I know we hear this a lot—every tool seems to boast "speed," right? But Bun really feels like it put on turbo boosters. The reason is pretty straightforward: Bun is written in Zig, which makes it super-efficient and close to the metal. For those of us who don't exactly know Zig from zigzagging, this essentially means it’s wicked fast and memory-friendly. Scripts load quicker, which makes for faster builds, testing, and overall development. So when Bun says it's fast, it's not kidding around.
- Built-in Package Manager: No More NPM, Yarn, or PNPM Drama 🎭
If I had a dime for every time I wondered which package manager to use… Bun has its own package manager built-in, so it's one less decision. And let’s be real, having fewer package-lock.json files is the dream. With Bun, we avoid the dreaded node_modules bloat and version mismatch headaches. This has saved me more than a few sanity points, and it works really well out of the box.
- CommonJS & ESM: The Compatibility Godsend 😇
Deno is great, but it can be a bit picky with CommonJS modules. Bun, on the other hand, seamlessly supports both CommonJS and ESM. This compatibility means I can finally use all those legacy packages without rewriting half of my codebase (I mean, I’m not that brave). For anyone with a mixed-stack project or existing dependencies, Bun keeps things smooth and painless.
- Fetch API, Finally Untangled 🕸️
Deno's built-in fetch support was a welcome change from Node.js, but let's admit it, Bun's fetch implementation just feels… lighter. Maybe it’s the fewer permissions or the overall simplicity, but Bun's fetch works great right out of the box without needing extensive permissions configuration. It’s a small detail, but one that keeps the focus on writing code rather than wrangling permissions. And hey, the fewer pop-ups asking me for permissions, the better!
- Simple, Familiar Syntax for Both Node Devs and Newcomers 🎒
If you’re coming from Node.js, getting started with Bun is a breeze—it’s designed with a very Node-like syntax in mind. And if you’re new to JavaScript runtimes, it’s even easier. Bun keeps things minimalistic and developer-friendly, and since its runtime is tailored for performance, you won’t feel like you need to rewrite your whole app from scratch.
- Testing in Style with Bun's Built-in Test Runner 📊
Bun comes with its own built-in test runner, which, I’ll be honest, was a breath of fresh air. Setting up tests in Bun felt like a smooth ride compared to juggling external testing frameworks. It’s straightforward and just works—perfect for smaller projects and proof-of-concept stuff. Plus, it saved me the hassle of adding a bunch of testing dependencies, which I really appreciated.
In Conclusion: A Happy, Humbly-Bun-ny Developer 🐰
So there you have it—Bun.js has genuinely surprised me with its speed, simplicity, and little conveniences. I’m not saying Deno isn’t fantastic; it’s got a solid ecosystem and a focus on security that's much needed. But if you're looking for a runtime that’s fast, easy to set up, and comes with a bunch of helpful built-in features, Bun might just be worth a try. After all, sometimes it’s the little things that make development more enjoyable—and Bun definitely delivers on those.
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