async vs core-js
JavaScript Utility Libraries Comparison
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What's JavaScript Utility Libraries?

Both 'async' and 'core-js' are popular JavaScript libraries that enhance the capabilities of JavaScript in different ways. 'async' is focused on providing powerful utilities for working with asynchronous JavaScript, making it easier to manage asynchronous operations such as callbacks, promises, and control flow. On the other hand, 'core-js' is a modular standard library that provides polyfills for ECMAScript features, enabling developers to use modern JavaScript features in environments that do not support them natively. Together, these libraries help developers write cleaner, more efficient, and more compatible JavaScript code.

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async61,239,06028,238808 kB118 months agoMIT
core-js36,620,16924,9321.27 MB45a month agoMIT
Feature Comparison: async vs core-js

Asynchronous Control Flow

  • async:

    The 'async' library provides a suite of functions that simplify the management of asynchronous operations. It allows developers to execute functions in series or parallel, handle results and errors gracefully, and avoid deeply nested callbacks. This makes it easier to write and maintain complex asynchronous code.

  • core-js:

    While 'core-js' does not directly manage asynchronous control flow, it provides polyfills for modern JavaScript features like Promises and async/await syntax. This allows developers to write asynchronous code in a more readable and manageable way, but it does not offer the same level of control flow utilities as 'async'.

Polyfills and Compatibility

  • async:

    'async' does not provide polyfills but focuses on enhancing asynchronous programming patterns. It is designed for environments that already support modern JavaScript features but need better control flow management.

  • core-js:

    'core-js' is primarily a polyfill library that adds support for ECMAScript features that may not be available in older environments. It covers a wide range of features, including Array methods, Object methods, and more, ensuring that developers can use modern JavaScript syntax without worrying about compatibility.

Ease of Use

  • async:

    The 'async' library is designed to be intuitive and easy to use, providing a straightforward API for handling asynchronous operations. Its functions are well-documented, making it accessible for developers of all skill levels, especially those who struggle with callback patterns.

  • core-js:

    'core-js' is also easy to use, but its primary focus is on providing polyfills rather than utility functions. Developers can simply import the necessary polyfills to use modern JavaScript features, but understanding which features are polyfilled may require additional research.

Performance

  • async:

    The 'async' library is optimized for performance in managing asynchronous tasks. It minimizes the overhead of managing callbacks and allows for efficient execution of tasks, which can lead to better performance in applications that require heavy asynchronous processing.

  • core-js:

    Performance can vary depending on the polyfills used from 'core-js'. While it aims to provide efficient implementations of modern JavaScript features, the added overhead of polyfills can impact performance, especially in performance-critical applications. However, it allows developers to use modern features without sacrificing compatibility.

Community and Support

  • async:

    The 'async' library has a strong community and is widely used in the Node.js ecosystem. It has extensive documentation and a variety of resources available for learning and troubleshooting, making it a reliable choice for developers.

  • core-js:

    'core-js' also has a robust community and is frequently updated to include the latest ECMAScript features. Its popularity among developers ensures that there is ample support and documentation available, making it a trusted choice for polyfilling modern JavaScript features.

How to Choose: async vs core-js
  • async:

    Choose 'async' if your project heavily relies on managing asynchronous operations and you need a robust solution for handling control flow, such as series, parallel, and waterfall execution of tasks. It is particularly useful in Node.js applications where callback hell can become a problem.

  • core-js:

    Choose 'core-js' if you want to ensure your code is compatible with older JavaScript environments by using modern ECMAScript features. It is ideal for projects that need to support a wide range of browsers and environments, allowing you to write modern JavaScript without worrying about compatibility issues.

Similar Npm Packages to async

async is a utility module that provides powerful functions for working with asynchronous JavaScript. It simplifies the process of managing asynchronous operations, allowing developers to write cleaner and more maintainable code. With features like parallel execution, series execution, and control flow, async is particularly useful for handling complex asynchronous workflows. However, there are several alternatives in the JavaScript ecosystem that also provide similar functionalities. Here are a few notable ones:

  • bluebird is a fully-featured promise library that offers a wide range of utilities for working with promises. It enhances the native Promise functionality by providing additional features such as cancellation, progress tracking, and more robust error handling. bluebird is known for its performance and is a great choice for developers looking for an advanced promise library that can handle complex asynchronous tasks with ease.

  • p-map is a lightweight utility that allows you to map over an array asynchronously, executing a provided function for each element in parallel. It is particularly useful when you need to perform asynchronous operations on an array of items and want to control the concurrency level. p-map is simple to use and can be a great alternative for scenarios where you need to process multiple asynchronous tasks without the overhead of a larger library.

  • q is another promise library that focuses on providing a simple and straightforward API for working with asynchronous code. It was one of the earlier promise libraries in the JavaScript ecosystem and offers features like chaining, error handling, and more. While it may not be as feature-rich as some of the newer libraries, q is still a solid choice for developers looking for a lightweight solution for managing asynchronous operations.

To see how async compares with bluebird, p-map, and q, check out the comparison: Comparing async vs bluebird vs p-map vs q.

Similar Npm Packages to core-js

core-js is a modular standard library for JavaScript that provides polyfills for ECMAScript features, including ES6, ES7, and beyond. It allows developers to use modern JavaScript features in environments that do not support them natively, ensuring compatibility across different browsers and platforms. With its modular design, developers can selectively include only the polyfills they need, making it a lightweight and efficient choice for polyfilling JavaScript features.

While core-js is a powerful solution for polyfilling, there are alternatives available that also aim to provide similar functionality. Here are a few notable options:

  • babel-polyfill is a package that includes a full set of polyfills for ECMAScript features. It is designed to work seamlessly with Babel, a popular JavaScript compiler that allows developers to use the latest JavaScript syntax and features. babel-polyfill provides a comprehensive solution for ensuring that your code runs in older environments by including all necessary polyfills. However, it is worth noting that babel-polyfill has been deprecated in favor of using core-js directly, as it is more modular and allows for better tree-shaking.
  • es6-shim is another polyfill library that aims to provide compatibility for ECMAScript 6 features in older JavaScript environments. It extends the built-in JavaScript objects and adds support for new features such as promises, symbols, and more. While es6-shim is a solid choice for adding ES6 compatibility, it is less modular than core-js, which means it may include more polyfills than necessary, potentially increasing the bundle size.

For a detailed comparison of these packages, check out the following link: Comparing babel-polyfill vs core-js vs es6-shim.

README for async

Async Logo

Github Actions CI status NPM version Coverage Status Join the chat at https://gitter.im/caolan/async jsDelivr Hits

Async is a utility module which provides straight-forward, powerful functions for working with asynchronous JavaScript. Although originally designed for use with Node.js and installable via npm i async, it can also be used directly in the browser. An ESM/MJS version is included in the main async package that should automatically be used with compatible bundlers such as Webpack and Rollup.

A pure ESM version of Async is available as async-es.

For Documentation, visit https://caolan.github.io/async/

For Async v1.5.x documentation, go HERE

// for use with Node-style callbacks...
var async = require("async");

var obj = {dev: "/dev.json", test: "/test.json", prod: "/prod.json"};
var configs = {};

async.forEachOf(obj, (value, key, callback) => {
    fs.readFile(__dirname + value, "utf8", (err, data) => {
        if (err) return callback(err);
        try {
            configs[key] = JSON.parse(data);
        } catch (e) {
            return callback(e);
        }
        callback();
    });
}, err => {
    if (err) console.error(err.message);
    // configs is now a map of JSON data
    doSomethingWith(configs);
});

var async = require("async");

// ...or ES2017 async functions
async.mapLimit(urls, 5, async function(url) {
    const response = await fetch(url)
    return response.body
}, (err, results) => {
    if (err) throw err
    // results is now an array of the response bodies
    console.log(results)
})
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