The End of npm: Why Bun and Deno are Gaining Ground

Introduction

When it comes to managing dependencies in JavaScript projects, npm is the industry giant. With over 1.5 million packages available, it is the largest open-source repository in the world. However, over time, npm has been facing chronic issues that affect the speed, security, and stability of projects. Here, I will outline the problems with npm and how two new players, Bun and Deno, are gaining traction in the market.

The npm logo, the world's largest package registry.
The npm logo, the world's largest package registry. — Image: Npm-logo.svg by Boboss74 — Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons

npm and Its Problems

npm is a package manager that allows developers to install and manage dependencies in their projects. However, over time, npm has faced issues with speed, security, and stability. One of the main problems is the speed of package installation. As the number of available packages increases, installing dependencies can take a long time, which affects developer productivity.

Another problem is security. With npm, it is common for packages to be installed with root permissions, which can be a security risk. Additionally, npm does not have a strict security policy, which can allow malicious packages to be published.


Yarn and pnpm as an answer

To address the issues with npm, two new package managers have emerged: Yarn and pnpm. Yarn is a package manager created by Facebook to resolve npm's speed and security issues. Yarn is faster than npm and has a more stringent security policy.

Pnpm, on the other hand, is a package manager created to address npm's stability and security issues. Pnpm is more stable than npm and has a more stringent security policy.


Bun: JS runtime + package manager

Bun is a new player in the package manager market. Bun is a JavaScript runtime that also functions as a package manager. Bun is faster than npm and has a more rigorous security policy. Additionally, Bun is easier to use than npm and has a simpler syntax.

An example of how to use Bun is as follows:

bun install react

This will install the react package and its dependencies.


The Deno logo, a JavaScript/TypeScript runtime secure by default.
The Deno logo, a JavaScript/TypeScript runtime secure by default. — Image: Deno.svg by Kevin Qian — MIT · via Wikimedia Commons

Deno: security by default

Deno is another new player in the package manager market. Deno is a JavaScript runtime that was created to be more secure than npm. Deno has a security-by-default policy, which means that packages are installed with limited permissions.

An example of how to use Deno is as follows:

deno install react

This will install the react package and its dependencies with limited permissions.


Will npm still last?

With the rise of Bun and Deno, it's natural to wonder if npm will still last. The answer is yes. npm is still the largest open-source repository in the world and has a very large community of developers. However, it's important to note that npm needs to improve its speed, security, and stability to continue being relevant.

Conclusion

In summary, npm is a package manager that has chronic issues with speed, security, and stability. Bun and Deno are two new players in the market that are gaining traction with their stricter security policies and simpler syntax. However, npm is still the largest open-source repository in the world and has a very large community of developers.

Practical takeaways:

  • Npm has chronic issues with speed, security, and stability.
  • Bun and Deno are two new players in the market that are gaining traction with their stricter security policies and simpler syntax.
  • Npm is still the largest open-source repository in the world and has a very large community of developers.
  • It is essential to choose the right package manager for your project, depending on your needs for speed, security, and stability.

Post glossary

javascript
The programming language that runs in browsers (and on servers via Node.js), responsible for web page interactivity.
npm
Node.js's default package manager, used to install and publish JavaScript libraries.
react
A JavaScript library for building user interfaces from reusable components, maintained by Meta.
typescript
Microsoft's statically typed superset of JavaScript that adds compile-time types, catching errors before the code runs.
Ismael Douglas

About the author

Ismael Douglas

Full Stack developer passionate about building fast, well-crafted web products. I write about what I learn along the way — code, infra and best practices.

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