callbag-basics
A tiny, fast reactive/iterable programming library implementing the callbag spec for unified stream processing.
What is callbag-basics?
Callbag-basics is a lightweight JavaScript library that implements the callbag specification for reactive and iterable programming. It provides a unified set of operators to handle both push-based streams (like events) and pull-based sequences (like iterables) in a consistent way. The library solves the problem of managing asynchronous data flows with a minimal, performant, and extensible approach.
JavaScript developers working with asynchronous data streams, event handling, or iterable sequences who need a small, fast alternative to larger reactive libraries. It's particularly suited for those who value modularity and want to avoid monolithic dependencies.
Developers choose callbag-basics for its tiny size (7kB), performance advantages over libraries like RxJS, and its extensible, spec-based design that allows custom operators without a core library dependency.
Overview
👜 Tiny and fast reactive/iterable programming library
Use Cases
Best For
- Handling DOM events with reactive operators like map and filter
- Processing iterable data sources such as generators or arrays
- Building lightweight reactive systems without heavy dependencies
- Creating custom stream utilities that follow the callbag spec
- Unifying push and pull-based data flows with the same API
- Performance-critical applications where library size and speed matter
Not Ideal For
- Teams requiring a comprehensive reactive library with extensive built-in operators and official framework integrations
- Projects where strong community support, abundant tutorials, and frequent updates are critical without relying on custom forks
- Developers needing advanced features like automatic error handling or hot/cold observables out of the box
- Enterprise applications with large teams that prefer standardized tooling over DIY approaches
Pros & Cons
Pros
At only 7kB, it's lightweight, and benchmarks show it outperforms libraries like xstream and RxJS in performance-critical scenarios.
Same operators like map and filter work for both reactive streams (e.g., DOM events) and iterable sequences (e.g., generators), simplifying code across paradigms.
Implemented entirely as utility functions with no monolithic core, allowing easy customization and avoidance of heavy dependencies.
Follows the callbag spec, enabling seamless integration with other callbag-compliant utilities and encouraging a modular ecosystem.
Cons
Offers fewer operators compared to RxJS; for advanced needs like error handling or complex combinations, custom implementations are often required.
The 'build it yourself' approach means more development effort for teams lacking time or expertise to create and maintain custom utilities.
With a niche community, finding third-party libraries, detailed documentation, or troubleshooting support is harder than with mainstream alternatives like RxJS.
Open Source Alternative To
callbag-basics is an open-source alternative to the following products:
Frequently Asked Questions
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