rollup vs webpack vs @rspack/core vs parcel
JavaScript Bundlers Comparison
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What's JavaScript Bundlers?

JavaScript bundlers are tools that compile and package JavaScript files and other assets into a single file or a few files, optimizing them for performance in web applications. They help manage dependencies, reduce load times, and enhance the development experience by providing features like hot module replacement, code splitting, and tree shaking. Each bundler has its own unique features and design philosophies, catering to different project needs and developer preferences.

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rollup34,948,96725,7122.73 MB5933 days agoMIT
webpack30,084,24665,2015.28 MB2457 days agoMIT
@rspack/core1,188,09811,2992.17 MB2334 hours agoMIT
parcel244,22843,75743.9 kB59917 days agoMIT
Feature Comparison: rollup vs webpack vs @rspack/core vs parcel

Configuration

  • rollup:

    Rollup requires a configuration file but is focused on simplicity and clarity. It emphasizes ES module syntax, making it easy to understand and maintain, especially for library developers who want to create optimized bundles.

  • webpack:

    Webpack is highly configurable and requires a detailed configuration file. This flexibility allows for complex setups but can also lead to a steep learning curve for newcomers. It is best suited for projects that need extensive customization.

  • @rspack/core:

    @rspack/core offers a minimal configuration approach, allowing developers to get started quickly while still providing options for customization. It is designed to be straightforward and intuitive, reducing the complexity often associated with bundlers.

  • parcel:

    Parcel is known for its zero-configuration philosophy, automatically handling most settings and optimizations. This makes it incredibly user-friendly, especially for beginners or those who want to avoid the overhead of configuration files.

Performance Optimization

  • rollup:

    Rollup excels in tree-shaking, allowing developers to eliminate unused code from their bundles. This leads to smaller file sizes and improved performance, particularly for libraries that can benefit from modular imports.

  • webpack:

    Webpack offers various optimization techniques, such as code splitting, lazy loading, and tree shaking. However, achieving optimal performance may require manual configuration and tuning, which can be complex.

  • @rspack/core:

    @rspack/core is built for speed, utilizing modern JavaScript features and efficient algorithms to minimize build times and improve runtime performance. It focuses on delivering fast incremental builds, making it ideal for large projects.

  • parcel:

    Parcel automatically optimizes assets during the build process, including code splitting and lazy loading, without requiring additional configuration. This results in faster load times and improved performance out of the box.

Ecosystem and Plugins

  • rollup:

    Rollup has a rich ecosystem of plugins that enhance its capabilities, particularly for library development. It supports a wide range of plugins for tasks like Babel transpilation, CommonJS support, and more, making it versatile for various use cases.

  • webpack:

    Webpack boasts one of the largest ecosystems of plugins and loaders, allowing for extensive customization and integration with other tools. This makes it highly adaptable but can also lead to complexity in managing dependencies.

  • @rspack/core:

    @rspack/core is relatively new and has a growing ecosystem. While it may not have as many plugins as older bundlers, it focuses on essential features and performance, making it a strong contender for modern projects.

  • parcel:

    Parcel has a limited but sufficient plugin ecosystem, focusing on simplicity and ease of use. It provides built-in support for many common features, reducing the need for additional plugins.

Learning Curve

  • rollup:

    Rollup has a moderate learning curve, especially for those familiar with ES modules. Its focus on simplicity in configuration makes it approachable for library developers, but some concepts may require additional learning.

  • webpack:

    Webpack has a steep learning curve due to its extensive configuration options and complexity. New users may find it challenging to grasp all its features and best practices, but the investment in learning can pay off for large-scale applications.

  • @rspack/core:

    @rspack/core is designed to be user-friendly with a gentle learning curve, making it accessible for developers who are new to bundling. Its simplicity allows for quick onboarding and productivity.

  • parcel:

    Parcel's zero-configuration approach results in a very low learning curve, enabling developers to start building applications quickly without needing to understand complex configurations.

Community Support

  • rollup:

    Rollup has a strong community, especially among library developers. Its focus on ES modules and tree-shaking has garnered a dedicated following, leading to extensive resources and support.

  • webpack:

    Webpack has one of the largest and most active communities in the JavaScript ecosystem. It is well-documented, and numerous tutorials, guides, and forums are available, making it easier to find help and resources.

  • @rspack/core:

    @rspack/core is relatively new, so its community is still growing. However, it benefits from modern development practices and a focus on performance, attracting a niche audience.

  • parcel:

    Parcel has a supportive community and good documentation, making it easier for developers to find help and resources. Its simplicity attracts a diverse user base, from beginners to experienced developers.

How to Choose: rollup vs webpack vs @rspack/core vs parcel
  • rollup:

    Choose Rollup if you are building libraries or applications that benefit from tree-shaking and a focus on ES modules. It is particularly effective for optimizing the output size of JavaScript libraries.

  • webpack:

    Choose Webpack if you need a highly configurable bundler that supports complex applications with multiple entry points and extensive plugin ecosystems. It is suitable for large-scale applications requiring detailed control over the build process.

  • @rspack/core:

    Choose @rspack/core if you need a fast and modern bundler that focuses on performance and simplicity. It is particularly suitable for projects that require quick builds and hot module replacement without extensive configuration.

  • parcel:

    Choose Parcel if you prefer zero-configuration setup and automatic optimization. It is ideal for smaller projects or prototypes where speed and ease of use are prioritized over fine-tuned control.

Similar Npm Packages to rollup

rollup is a module bundler for JavaScript applications, designed to optimize the process of packaging and serving code. It is particularly well-suited for libraries and applications that utilize ES modules, as it can produce smaller and more efficient bundles by leveraging tree-shaking capabilities. Rollup allows developers to write modular code while ensuring that the final output is optimized for performance, making it a popular choice for building libraries and applications.

While Rollup is a powerful tool, there are several alternatives in the JavaScript ecosystem that serve similar purposes. Here are a few notable ones:

  • browserify is a tool that allows developers to use Node.js-style require statements in the browser. It transforms Node-style modules into a format that can be used in the browser, enabling developers to write modular code. While Browserify is effective for smaller projects, it may not be as performant as Rollup for larger applications due to its lack of tree-shaking capabilities.

  • gulp is a task runner that automates various development tasks, including file transformations, minification, and bundling. While Gulp can be used for bundling JavaScript files, it is more focused on task automation and may require additional plugins to achieve similar functionality to Rollup. Gulp is ideal for developers looking for a flexible and customizable build process.

  • parcel is a zero-configuration web application bundler that aims to simplify the development process. It automatically handles module bundling, code splitting, and asset optimization without the need for extensive configuration. Parcel is a great choice for developers who want a quick setup and an easy-to-use bundler, although it may not provide the same level of control and optimization as Rollup for library development.

  • webpack is one of the most popular module bundlers in the JavaScript ecosystem. It offers a wide range of features, including code splitting, hot module replacement, and extensive plugin support. While Webpack is highly configurable and powerful, it can also be complex to set up and manage. For larger applications that require fine-tuned control over the build process, Webpack is often the go-to choice.

To see how Rollup compares with Browserify, Gulp, Parcel, and Webpack, check out the comparison: Comparing browserify vs gulp vs parcel vs rollup vs webpack.

Similar Npm Packages to @rspack/core

@rspack/core is a modern bundler designed to optimize the build process for JavaScript applications. It focuses on speed and efficiency, leveraging Rust-based technology to deliver fast performance and a streamlined development experience. With its modular architecture, @rspack/core allows developers to customize their build pipelines easily while maintaining high performance. This makes it an attractive choice for projects that require quick builds and efficient asset management.

While @rspack/core offers a compelling solution for bundling, there are several alternatives in the ecosystem that developers can consider:

  • parcel is a zero-configuration web application bundler that aims to simplify the development process. It automatically handles file transformations, code splitting, and hot module replacement without requiring extensive configuration. Parcel is an excellent choice for developers who want to get started quickly without delving into complex setup processes. Its user-friendly approach and built-in optimizations make it suitable for small to medium-sized projects.

  • rollup is a module bundler specifically designed for JavaScript libraries and applications. It focuses on producing small, optimized bundles by leveraging ES modules. Rollup is particularly well-suited for library authors who want to create efficient builds with tree-shaking capabilities. Its plugin ecosystem allows for extensive customization, making it a powerful tool for those who need fine-grained control over their build process.

  • webpack is one of the most widely used module bundlers in the JavaScript ecosystem. It provides a robust set of features, including code splitting, hot module replacement, and a rich plugin system. Webpack is highly configurable, making it suitable for large-scale applications that require complex build setups. While it has a steeper learning curve compared to some alternatives, its flexibility and extensive community support make it a go-to choice for many developers.

To see how @rspack/core compares with parcel, rollup, and webpack, check out the comparison: Comparing @rspack/core vs parcel vs rollup vs webpack.

Similar Npm Packages to parcel

parcel is a web application bundler that aims to provide a fast and zero-configuration experience for developers. It automatically handles various tasks such as module bundling, code splitting, and asset optimization without requiring extensive configuration files. Parcel is particularly well-suited for developers looking for a straightforward setup and quick build times, making it an attractive option for both small and large projects.

While Parcel is a powerful tool, there are several alternatives in the ecosystem that cater to different needs and preferences:

  • browserify is a tool that allows developers to use Node.js-style modules in the browser. It transforms CommonJS modules into a format that can be understood by the browser, enabling developers to write modular code without worrying about compatibility issues. Browserify is particularly useful for projects that heavily rely on Node.js modules and want to maintain a modular structure in their client-side code.

  • grunt is a JavaScript task runner that automates repetitive tasks such as minification, compilation, unit testing, and linting. While it is not a bundler per se, Grunt can be configured to work with various plugins to achieve similar results. It is ideal for developers who prefer a highly customizable and extensible build process, although it may require more setup compared to other tools.

  • gulp is another task runner that uses a code-over-configuration approach, allowing developers to define tasks using JavaScript. Gulp is known for its speed and flexibility, as it streams files through a series of transformations. It is a great choice for developers who want to create a custom build process tailored to their specific needs, although it may involve more initial setup than Parcel.

  • rollup is a module bundler that focuses on optimizing the output for libraries and applications. It supports ES modules natively and provides tree-shaking capabilities, allowing developers to reduce the size of their bundles by eliminating unused code. Rollup is particularly well-suited for building libraries and applications where performance and bundle size are critical.

  • webpack is one of the most popular module bundlers in the JavaScript ecosystem. It offers a highly configurable setup and supports a wide range of features, including code splitting, hot module replacement, and asset management. While it provides great flexibility and power, it can also be complex to configure, making it more suitable for larger projects that require a tailored build process.

To compare these tools further, you can check out the following link: Comparing browserify vs grunt vs gulp vs parcel vs rollup vs webpack.

README for rollup

npm version node compatibility install size code coverage backers sponsors license Join the chat at https://is.gd/rollup_chat

Rollup

Overview

Rollup is a module bundler for JavaScript which compiles small pieces of code into something larger and more complex, such as a library or application. It uses the standardized ES module format for code, instead of previous idiosyncratic solutions such as CommonJS and AMD. ES modules let you freely and seamlessly combine the most useful individual functions from your favorite libraries. Rollup can optimize ES modules for faster native loading in modern browsers, or output a legacy module format allowing ES module workflows today.

Quick Start Guide

Install with npm install --global rollup. Rollup can be used either through a command line interface with an optional configuration file or else through its JavaScript API. Run rollup --help to see the available options and parameters. The starter project templates, rollup-starter-lib and rollup-starter-app, demonstrate common configuration options, and more detailed instructions are available throughout the user guide.

Commands

These commands assume the entry point to your application is named main.js, and that you'd like all imports compiled into a single file named bundle.js.

For browsers:

# compile to a <script> containing a self-executing function
rollup main.js --format iife --name "myBundle" --file bundle.js

For Node.js:

# compile to a CommonJS module
rollup main.js --format cjs --file bundle.js

For both browsers and Node.js:

# UMD format requires a bundle name
rollup main.js --format umd --name "myBundle" --file bundle.js

Why

Developing software is usually easier if you break your project into smaller separate pieces, since that often removes unexpected interactions and dramatically reduces the complexity of the problems you'll need to solve, and simply writing smaller projects in the first place isn't necessarily the answer. Unfortunately, JavaScript has not historically included this capability as a core feature in the language.

This finally changed with ES modules support in JavaScript, which provides a syntax for importing and exporting functions and data so they can be shared between separate scripts. Most browsers and Node.js support ES modules. However, Node.js releases before 12.17 support ES modules only behind the --experimental-modules flag, and older browsers like Internet Explorer do not support ES modules at all. Rollup allows you to write your code using ES modules, and run your application even in environments that do not support ES modules natively. For environments that support them, Rollup can output optimized ES modules; for environments that don't, Rollup can compile your code to other formats such as CommonJS modules, AMD modules, and IIFE-style scripts. This means that you get to write future-proof code, and you also get the tremendous benefits of...

Tree Shaking

In addition to enabling the use of ES modules, Rollup also statically analyzes and optimizes the code you are importing, and will exclude anything that isn't actually used. This allows you to build on top of existing tools and modules without adding extra dependencies or bloating the size of your project.

For example, with CommonJS, the entire tool or library must be imported.

// import the entire utils object with CommonJS
var utils = require('node:utils');
var query = 'Rollup';
// use the ajax method of the utils object
utils.ajax('https://api.example.com?search=' + query).then(handleResponse);

But with ES modules, instead of importing the whole utils object, we can just import the one ajax function we need:

// import the ajax function with an ES import statement
import { ajax } from 'node:utils';

var query = 'Rollup';
// call the ajax function
ajax('https://api.example.com?search=' + query).then(handleResponse);

Because Rollup includes the bare minimum, it results in lighter, faster, and less complicated libraries and applications. Since this approach is based on explicit import and export statements, it is vastly more effective than simply running an automated minifier to detect unused variables in the compiled output code.

Compatibility

Importing CommonJS

Rollup can import existing CommonJS modules through a plugin.

Publishing ES Modules

To make sure your ES modules are immediately usable by tools that work with CommonJS such as Node.js and webpack, you can use Rollup to compile to UMD or CommonJS format, and then point to that compiled version with the main property in your package.json file. If your package.json file also has a module field, ES-module-aware tools like Rollup and webpack will import the ES module version directly.

Contributors

This project exists thanks to all the people who contribute. [Contribute]. . If you want to contribute yourself, head over to the contribution guidelines.

Backers

Thank you to all our backers! 🙏 [Become a backer]

Sponsors

Support this project by becoming a sponsor. Your logo will show up here with a link to your website. [Become a sponsor]

Special Sponsor

TNG Logo

TNG has been supporting the work of Lukas Taegert-Atkinson on Rollup since 2017.

License

MIT

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