thread-stream vs worker-farm vs threads vs node-worker-threads-pool vs poolifier
Node.js Thread Pool Libraries Comparison
1 Year
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What's Node.js Thread Pool Libraries?

These libraries provide abstractions for managing worker threads in Node.js, enabling concurrent processing to improve performance for CPU-intensive tasks. They allow developers to offload heavy computations to separate threads, enhancing the responsiveness of applications. Each library offers unique features and design philosophies, catering to different use cases and developer preferences.

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thread-stream9,116,59423970 kB17a year agoMIT
worker-farm4,674,1631,743-136 years agoMIT
threads202,7183,463-1264 years agoMIT
node-worker-threads-pool35,130290-164 years agoMIT
poolifier26,043386399 kB196 months agoMIT
Feature Comparison: thread-stream vs worker-farm vs threads vs node-worker-threads-pool vs poolifier

Thread Management

  • thread-stream:

    Thread-stream focuses on managing data streams between the main thread and worker threads, providing a simple interface for sending and receiving data. It abstracts the complexities of message passing and allows for efficient data processing in a streaming manner, which is ideal for applications that handle large datasets.

  • worker-farm:

    Worker-farm simplifies the management of multiple Node.js processes, allowing developers to spawn a pool of workers that can execute tasks in parallel. It abstracts the complexities of process management and provides a simple API for distributing tasks among workers.

  • threads:

    Threads offers a high-level abstraction for thread management, simplifying the process of creating and communicating with worker threads. It includes built-in support for message passing and shared memory, making it easier to implement complex threading scenarios without dealing with low-level details.

  • node-worker-threads-pool:

    This package offers a straightforward API for managing a pool of worker threads, allowing for easy creation and destruction of threads as needed. It abstracts the complexity of the native worker threads API, making it accessible for developers who want to implement threading without deep knowledge of the underlying mechanics.

  • poolifier:

    Poolifier provides extensive control over thread management, allowing developers to configure the number of threads, manage their lifecycle, and handle task distribution efficiently. It supports both static and dynamic pool sizes, adapting to the workload automatically, which is beneficial for applications with fluctuating demands.

Performance Optimization

  • thread-stream:

    Thread-stream optimizes performance by enabling non-blocking data transfer between threads. It allows for efficient processing of data streams, ensuring that the main thread remains responsive while offloading heavy computations to worker threads.

  • worker-farm:

    Worker-farm focuses on maximizing performance by efficiently distributing tasks across multiple processes. It reduces the overhead of process management and allows for high concurrency, making it ideal for CPU-intensive tasks.

  • threads:

    Threads is built with performance in mind, providing efficient inter-thread communication and minimizing overhead. It allows for high-performance applications by leveraging shared memory and efficient message passing, making it suitable for demanding workloads.

  • node-worker-threads-pool:

    This library is optimized for performance, allowing for efficient use of system resources by reusing threads. It minimizes the overhead associated with thread creation and destruction, making it suitable for applications that require high throughput and low latency.

  • poolifier:

    Poolifier is designed for performance, offering features like dynamic thread allocation and task prioritization. It ensures that resources are utilized effectively, adapting to the workload and optimizing performance for both CPU-bound and I/O-bound tasks.

Ease of Use

  • thread-stream:

    Thread-stream is straightforward to use, especially for developers familiar with streams in Node.js. It provides a simple interface for managing data streams between threads, making it accessible for those who need to implement streaming functionality.

  • worker-farm:

    Worker-farm provides a simple and clear API for managing worker processes. It abstracts the complexities of process management, allowing developers to focus on implementing their logic without getting bogged down by the intricacies of worker management.

  • threads:

    Threads is designed with usability in mind, offering a high-level API that simplifies the process of working with worker threads. Developers can quickly set up and manage threads without dealing with low-level details, making it a good choice for those new to threading in Node.js.

  • node-worker-threads-pool:

    This package is designed to be user-friendly, providing a simple API that abstracts away the complexities of worker threads. Developers can quickly implement threading in their applications without needing extensive knowledge of the underlying mechanics.

  • poolifier:

    Poolifier offers a balance between configurability and ease of use. While it provides advanced features, its API is designed to be intuitive, allowing developers to leverage its capabilities without a steep learning curve.

Use Cases

  • thread-stream:

    Perfect for applications that deal with large data streams, such as video processing or real-time data analytics, where data needs to be processed in chunks without blocking the main thread.

  • worker-farm:

    Well-suited for CPU-intensive tasks that can be easily parallelized, such as batch processing or heavy computation tasks that benefit from distributing work across multiple processes.

  • threads:

    Great for applications that require complex inter-thread communication, such as simulations or data analysis tools that need to share data between threads efficiently.

  • node-worker-threads-pool:

    Ideal for applications that require simple concurrent processing, such as image processing or data transformation tasks where the overhead of managing threads is minimal.

  • poolifier:

    Best suited for complex applications that need to handle both CPU-bound and I/O-bound tasks efficiently, such as web servers that process numerous requests simultaneously.

How to Choose: thread-stream vs worker-farm vs threads vs node-worker-threads-pool vs poolifier
  • thread-stream:

    Opt for thread-stream if you need to handle streaming data between the main thread and worker threads seamlessly. This library is particularly useful for applications that process large amounts of data in a streaming fashion, allowing for efficient data handling without blocking the main thread.

  • worker-farm:

    Choose worker-farm if you need a simple and effective way to create a pool of Node.js processes for parallel execution. It is particularly useful for CPU-intensive tasks and provides a straightforward API for distributing work across multiple processes.

  • threads:

    Use threads if you want a robust library that provides a high-level API for creating and managing worker threads. It is designed for ease of use and includes features like message passing and shared memory, making it suitable for applications that require complex inter-thread communication.

  • node-worker-threads-pool:

    Choose node-worker-threads-pool if you need a simple and efficient way to manage a pool of worker threads with minimal configuration. It is ideal for straightforward tasks where you want to leverage the native worker threads API without much overhead.

  • poolifier:

    Select poolifier if you require a highly configurable and extensible thread pool solution that can handle various types of tasks, including both CPU-bound and I/O-bound operations. It provides a rich set of features for managing worker threads and is suitable for more complex applications.

README for thread-stream

thread-stream

npm version Build Status js-standard-style

A streaming way to send data to a Node.js Worker Thread.

install

npm i thread-stream

Usage

'use strict'

const ThreadStream = require('thread-stream')
const { join } = require('path')

const stream = new ThreadStream({
  filename: join(__dirname, 'worker.js'),
  workerData: { dest },
  workerOpts: {}, // Other options to be passed to Worker
  sync: false, // default
})

stream.write('hello')

// Asynchronous flushing
stream.flush(function () {
  stream.write(' ')
  stream.write('world')

  // Synchronous flushing
  stream.flushSync()
  stream.end()
})

In worker.js:

'use strict'

const fs = require('fs')
const { once } = require('events')

async function run (opts) {
  const stream = fs.createWriteStream(opts.dest)
  await once(stream, 'open')
  return stream
}

module.exports = run

Make sure that the stream emits 'close' when the stream completes. This can usually be achieved by passing the autoDestroy: true flag your stream classes.

The underlining worker is automatically closed if the stream is garbage collected.

External modules

You may use this module within compatible external modules, that exports the worker.js interface.

const ThreadStream = require('thread-stream')

const modulePath = require.resolve('pino-elasticsearch')

const stream = new ThreadStream({
  filename: modulePath,
  workerData: { node: 'http://localhost:9200' }
})

stream.write('log to elasticsearch!')
stream.flushSync()
stream.end()

This module works with yarn in PnP (plug'n play) mode too!

Emit events

You can emit events on the ThreadStream from your worker using worker.parentPort.postMessage(). The message (JSON object) must have the following data structure:

parentPort.postMessage({
  code: 'EVENT',
  name: 'eventName',
  args: ['list', 'of', 'args', 123, new Error('Boom')]
})

On your ThreadStream, you can add a listener function for this event name:

const stream = new ThreadStream({
  filename: join(__dirname, 'worker.js'),
  workerData: {},
})
stream.on('eventName', function (a, b, c, n, err) {
  console.log('received:', a, b, c, n, err) // received: list of args 123 Error: Boom
})

Post Messages

You can post messages to the worker by emitting a message event on the ThreadStream.

const stream = new ThreadStream({
  filename: join(__dirname, 'worker.js'),
  workerData: {},
})
stream.emit('message', message)

On your worker, you can listen for this message using worker.parentPort.on('message', cb).

const { parentPort } = require('worker_threads')
parentPort.on('message', function (message) {
  console.log('received:', message)
})

License

MIT