rollup vs webpack vs vite vs next vs nuxt vs nitropack vs parcel vs snowpack
JavaScript Build Tools and Frameworks Comparison
1 Year
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What's JavaScript Build Tools and Frameworks?

JavaScript build tools and frameworks are essential for modern web development, providing developers with the means to bundle, transpile, and optimize code for production. These tools streamline the development process by automating tasks such as code minification, hot module replacement, and asset management. They help improve performance, maintainability, and scalability of web applications, allowing developers to focus on writing code rather than managing configurations and build processes.

Package Weekly Downloads Trend
Github Stars Ranking
Stat Detail
Package
Downloads
Stars
Size
Issues
Publish
License
rollup30,316,22125,6052.69 MB5906 hours agoMIT
webpack28,588,99565,0725.21 MB23716 days agoMIT
vite22,019,64471,0132.85 MB5854 days agoMIT
next8,733,294129,792111 MB3,2013 days agoMIT
nuxt739,89356,275724 kB902a month agoMIT
nitropack628,1726,713495 kB3834 months agoMIT
parcel216,78943,68743.9 kB6192 months agoMIT
snowpack8,69719,459-3894 years agoMIT
Feature Comparison: rollup vs webpack vs vite vs next vs nuxt vs nitropack vs parcel vs snowpack

Build Speed

  • rollup:

    Rollup focuses on optimizing the build process for libraries, resulting in smaller and faster bundles, though it may not be as fast for large applications compared to others.

  • webpack:

    Webpack can have longer build times due to its extensive configuration options, but it offers powerful optimizations for production builds, making it suitable for large applications.

  • vite:

    Vite provides an incredibly fast development experience with its native ES module support, allowing for instant updates and minimal build times during development.

  • next:

    Next.js optimizes build speed with a hybrid approach, allowing for both static and server-rendered pages. It leverages caching and incremental static regeneration to minimize build times.

  • nuxt:

    Nuxt.js provides a balance between build speed and performance, with features like automatic code splitting and pre-fetching that enhance the user experience without lengthy build processes.

  • nitropack:

    Nitropack is designed for speed, utilizing a caching mechanism that serves pre-rendered pages quickly, significantly reducing load times for users.

  • parcel:

    Parcel is known for its lightning-fast builds due to its zero-configuration setup and parallel processing capabilities, making it ideal for rapid development cycles.

  • snowpack:

    Snowpack offers instant builds by serving files directly from the filesystem during development, resulting in near-instant feedback and build times.

Ecosystem and Community

  • rollup:

    Rollup has a dedicated community focused on library development, providing excellent resources for optimizing package distribution.

  • webpack:

    Webpack has one of the largest communities in the JavaScript ecosystem, with extensive documentation and a plethora of plugins available for various use cases.

  • vite:

    Vite has quickly built a strong community and ecosystem, with many plugins and integrations available, making it a popular choice for modern web development.

  • next:

    Next.js benefits from a strong community and extensive documentation, making it easy to find resources and support for development.

  • nuxt:

    Nuxt.js has a vibrant community and a rich ecosystem of plugins and modules, providing developers with a wealth of resources and tools to enhance their applications.

  • nitropack:

    Nitropack is newer and has a smaller community, but it is growing rapidly as developers seek high-performance solutions for their applications.

  • parcel:

    Parcel has a supportive community and is known for its simplicity, making it accessible for beginners and quick to adopt for small projects.

  • snowpack:

    Snowpack is gaining traction with a growing community, especially among developers looking for modern build tools that leverage ES modules.

Learning Curve

  • rollup:

    Rollup may have a steeper learning curve for those unfamiliar with module bundling concepts, but it is straightforward for library developers aiming for optimized builds.

  • webpack:

    Webpack has a steep learning curve due to its complex configuration options and vast ecosystem, making it more suitable for experienced developers.

  • vite:

    Vite is designed to be easy to learn, especially for those familiar with modern JavaScript frameworks, offering a straightforward setup and fast feedback loops.

  • next:

    Next.js has a moderate learning curve, especially for those familiar with React. Its conventions and features are well-documented, making it easier to get started.

  • nuxt:

    Nuxt.js has a moderate learning curve, particularly for those already familiar with Vue.js. Its structure and conventions help streamline the development process.

  • nitropack:

    Nitropack has a relatively gentle learning curve, focusing on performance optimizations without overwhelming developers with complex configurations.

  • parcel:

    Parcel is designed for simplicity, making it easy for beginners to pick up and start building applications without extensive configuration knowledge.

  • snowpack:

    Snowpack is beginner-friendly, leveraging modern JavaScript features and providing an intuitive setup process that minimizes complexity.

Configuration and Customization

  • rollup:

    Rollup is highly configurable, allowing developers to customize the build process extensively, making it suitable for library development.

  • webpack:

    Webpack is the most configurable of all, allowing for extensive customization of the build process, but this can lead to complexity and a steeper learning curve.

  • vite:

    Vite provides a straightforward configuration system that allows for easy customization while maintaining a focus on speed and simplicity.

  • next:

    Next.js offers sensible defaults with the ability to customize configurations as needed, providing a balance between ease of use and flexibility.

  • nuxt:

    Nuxt.js provides a structured configuration system that allows for extensive customization while maintaining sensible defaults for rapid development.

  • nitropack:

    Nitropack requires minimal configuration, focusing on performance optimizations, but allows for some customization to fit specific needs.

  • parcel:

    Parcel requires zero configuration to get started, making it ideal for quick prototypes, but it offers limited customization options for larger applications.

  • snowpack:

    Snowpack offers a simple configuration model that allows for quick setup and customization, focusing on modern development practices.

Performance Optimization

  • rollup:

    Rollup excels at producing optimized bundles with tree-shaking capabilities, ensuring that only the necessary code is included in the final build.

  • webpack:

    Webpack offers extensive performance optimization options, including code splitting, tree shaking, and plugin support, making it suitable for large-scale applications.

  • vite:

    Vite provides fast performance during development with hot module replacement and optimized builds for production, enhancing the overall developer experience.

  • next:

    Next.js includes built-in performance optimizations such as automatic code splitting, image optimization, and static site generation, enhancing overall application performance.

  • nuxt:

    Nuxt.js offers performance optimizations like server-side rendering and static site generation, improving load times and SEO capabilities for Vue applications.

  • nitropack:

    Nitropack focuses on delivering high performance through advanced caching strategies and optimized resource delivery, ensuring fast load times.

  • parcel:

    Parcel automatically optimizes assets during the build process, providing a good level of performance without requiring manual configuration.

  • snowpack:

    Snowpack leverages native ES modules for faster development and includes optimizations for production builds, ensuring efficient resource loading.

How to Choose: rollup vs webpack vs vite vs next vs nuxt vs nitropack vs parcel vs snowpack
  • rollup:

    Choose Rollup if you need a module bundler that excels at optimizing libraries and packages for distribution. It is particularly effective for projects that focus on tree-shaking and producing smaller bundle sizes.

  • webpack:

    Choose Webpack if you need a highly configurable and powerful module bundler suitable for complex applications. It is best for large-scale projects that require extensive customization and control over the build process.

  • vite:

    Use Vite for a fast and modern development experience with hot module replacement and optimized builds. It is perfect for projects that prioritize speed and simplicity, especially those using Vue or React.

  • next:

    Choose Next.js if you need a framework that supports server-side rendering and static site generation out of the box. It is ideal for building SEO-friendly applications and offers a great developer experience with features like file-based routing and API routes.

  • nuxt:

    Opt for Nuxt.js if you are developing a Vue.js application that requires server-side rendering or static site generation. It provides a robust structure for building applications and comes with powerful features like automatic routing and Vuex integration.

  • nitropack:

    Select Nitropack if you are looking for a high-performance server-side framework that optimizes the delivery of your web applications. It is particularly useful for applications that require fast response times and efficient resource management.

  • parcel:

    Use Parcel for projects that require zero configuration and fast builds. It is an excellent choice for smaller applications or prototypes where ease of use and speed are priorities.

  • snowpack:

    Select Snowpack if you want a modern build tool that leverages native ES modules for faster development. It is ideal for projects that require quick feedback loops and a simplified setup process.

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