BUN
BUN - The Modern JavaScript Runtime π
Bun is a fast all-in-one JavaScript runtime, bundler, transpiler, and package manager. It's designed as a drop-in replacement for Node.js, offering significant performance improvements and a streamlined developer experience.
Architecture and Concepts ποΈ
Bun's architecture is built for speed and efficiency:
β‘ JavaScriptCore Engine: Uses Apple's JavaScriptCore for faster execution
π Built-in Bundler: Native bundling capabilities for quicker builds
π¦ Package Manager: Integrated package management with npm compatibility
π§ Native Modules: Written in Zig for low-level performance
π Web Standard APIs: Implements standard web APIs for better compatibility
Key Concepts:
π Speed: Significantly faster than Node.js in many operations
π Node.js Compatibility: Runs most Node.js applications out of the box
π οΈ All-in-One Tool: Bundler, transpiler, and package manager in one
π TypeScript Support: Native TypeScript and JSX support without additional tools
Bun Architecture Diagram π

Common Bun Commands π₯οΈ
Installation:
curl -fsSL <https://bun.sh/install> | bash
Initialize a new project:
bun init
Add a dependency:
bun add [package-name]
bun add -d [package-name] # Add as dev dependency
Remove a dependency:
bun remove [package-name]
Install all dependencies:
bun install
Run a script:
bun run [script-name]
Start a development server:
bun --hot run index.ts
Code Snippets π»
Example package.json:
{
"name": "my-bun-project",
"version": "1.0.0",
"module": "index.ts",
"type": "module",
"dependencies": {
"express": "^4.17.1"
},
"devDependencies": {
"bun-types": "latest"
},
"scripts": {
"start": "bun run index.ts",
"dev": "bun --hot run index.ts",
"build": "bun build ./index.ts --outdir ./dist"
}
}
Example TypeScript file (index.ts):
import express from 'express';
const app = express();
const port = 3000;
app.get('/', (req, res) => {
res.send('Hello World from Bun!');
});
app.listen(port, () => {
console.log(`Server running at <http://localhost>:${port}`);
});
Running the application:
bun run start
Output:
Server running at <http://localhost:3000>
Deployment Commands π
Here are some common deployment commands for Bun:
Build for production:
bun run build
Run tests:
bun test
Start in production mode:
NODE_ENV=production bun run index.ts
Add these scripts to your package.json:
{
"scripts": {
"build": "bun build ./index.ts --outdir ./dist",
"test": "bun test",
"start:prod": "NODE_ENV=production bun run ./dist/index.js"
}
}
Conclusion π
Bun is a powerful and efficient JavaScript runtime and toolkit that offers significant performance improvements over traditional Node.js setups. Its all-in-one approach simplifies the development workflow, making it an attractive option for modern JavaScript and TypeScript projects. By leveraging Bun's features and commands, developers can create faster, more efficient applications with ease.
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