DEV Community

Pacharapol Withayasakpunt
Pacharapol Withayasakpunt

Posted on • Updated on • Originally published at polv.cc

Deno might not kill Node, but something else

#deno #javascript #typescript #discuss

Due to vast popularity of NOT Node.js, but JavaScript itself, and web browsers, I see Deno as a scripting language platform for JavaScript and WASM. It also supports JSDOM, therefore all web browser methods.

It makes JavaScript and WASM comparable to JVM bytecode; but rather for dynamic typing.

It is also comparable to Java's JBang, but I don't see JBang as getting very popular.

Of course, you can also use Python for this as well.

Surprisingly, Golang or Kotlin is just not yet ready for scripting with heavy external dependencies.

Node.js might not be good enough for scripting, because

  • /package.json and /node_modules are required. You cannot simply use global filesystem's.
  • eslint, and probably also prettier and typescript, are often recommendly installed. You don't need these in Deno.
  • Javascript packages with only JSDoc, no .d.ts, when you already use TypeScript.

In short, I will kill other scripting languages.

It probably cannot kill Node.js

It cannot replace Node mainly because it can only replace frontend libraries just as fast as other non-Node.js frontend libs. (Such as Golang's esbuild, and the associated Hugo.)

Node.js is just too popular. And Deno is not yet ready for front-end compilers.

// This is a false comparison.
'node'.split('').sort().join('')
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode

Top comments (8)

Collapse
 
mzaini30 profile image
Zen •

The cons of Deno is not available for Termux. I usually coding in smartphone than desktop

Collapse
 
maan2003 profile image
Maan2003 •

have you tried building it yourself

Collapse
 
mzaini30 profile image
Zen •

How?

Thread Thread
 
maan2003 profile image
Maan2003 •

This should work

pkg install rust
cargo install deno
Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode
Thread Thread
 
mzaini30 profile image
Zen •

Thanks. I'll try this

Collapse
 
mzaini30 profile image
Zen •

/package.json and /node_modules are required. You cannot simply use global filesystem's.

You can use PNPM

Collapse
 
patarapolw profile image
Pacharapol Withayasakpunt • • Edited

The problem is not size, but ease of use. Why do I always need /package.json? Why cannot be exactly single file?

As well as, this is still required.

# echo 'shamefully-hoist=true' >> .npmrc (or ~/.npmrc)
# As you can see, global store doesn't always have first class support.
pnpm i
Collapse
 
mzaini30 profile image
Zen •

It's not bug. It's feature 😂

Read next

jroycodes profile image

How To Get Started With "DOM" in JavaScript.

Jonathan R. Mugisha -

davidomisakin profile image

The Power of console.log() in JavaScript Debugging

David Omisakin -

dariusc16 profile image

Express

Darius Cooper -

kutt27 profile image

Difference between var and let in Javascript

Amal Satheesan -