How do I compile a script to a standalone executable with txiki.js?

Use the `tjs compile` command built into txiki.js to bundle JavaScript files into standalone binaries. This feature is highlighted in the README and documentation, making distribution straightforward without requiring the runtime on target systems.

Is txiki.js faster or lighter than Node.js?

txiki.js is designed for minimalism, using QuickJS-ng which is smaller than Node.js's V8, leading to lower memory usage and quicker startup. However, for CPU-intensive tasks, V8's optimizations might outperform it, so it depends on the use case.

Can txiki.js run npm packages?

No, it does not natively support the npm ecosystem. It has its own module system with tjs: prefixes, so you may need to port modules or rely on its standard library, which can limit compatibility with existing Node.js code.

What platforms does txiki.js support?

According to the README, it supports GNU/Linux, macOS, Windows, and other Unixes, though testing on non-mainstream platforms is encouraged. It uses libuv for cross-platform I/O, but feature parity might vary.

How to set up an HTTP server in txiki.js?

txiki.js includes a built-in HTTP server with WebSocket support, as mentioned in the features. You can use the provided APIs to create web services, similar to Node.js but with a minimal footprint. Check the documentation for specific examples.

Is txiki.js suitable for production use?

It depends on the project's needs. For lightweight, embedded, or specialized applications, it can be viable, but its smaller ecosystem and community mean less battle-tested support compared to Node.js, so thorough testing is advised.

txiki.js — Tiny JavaScript Runtime

What is txiki.js?

txiki.js is a tiny JavaScript runtime built on the QuickJS-ng engine and libuv platform layer. It provides a lightweight environment for running JavaScript code with support for modern ECMAScript standards, Web Platform APIs, and system-level operations like networking and file I/O. It aims to be WinterTC compliant and can compile scripts into standalone executables.

Target Audience

Developers needing a minimal, embeddable JavaScript runtime for scripting, tooling, or lightweight server applications, especially those prioritizing small footprint and modern JavaScript features.

Value Proposition

It offers a compact alternative to larger runtimes like Node.js, with a focus on performance, standards compliance, and the ability to create standalone binaries, making it ideal for resource-constrained or specialized use cases.

A tiny JavaScript runtime

Use Cases

Best For

Embedding JavaScript in applications or tools as a scripting engine
Building lightweight CLI tools or utilities with JavaScript
Creating small HTTP servers or network services with WebSocket support
Developing standalone executables from JavaScript scripts for distribution
Experimenting with modern ECMAScript features in a minimal runtime
System scripting tasks requiring file I/O, child processes, or signal handling

Not Ideal For

Applications heavily dependent on the npm ecosystem for third-party libraries
Large-scale web services requiring built-in clustering, load balancing, or advanced server features
Teams needing out-of-the-box TypeScript compilation or extensive debugging tooling
Projects that rely on Node.js-specific APIs or legacy modules without alternatives

Pros & Cons

Pros

Modern ECMAScript Compliance

Built on QuickJS-ng, it supports state-of-the-art JavaScript features and aims for WinterTC compliance, as stated in the README, ensuring up-to-date language support.

Lightweight and Minimal

Described as 'tiny' and 'small', it offers a compact runtime with reduced memory footprint and faster startup times compared to larger alternatives like Node.js.

System Integration Capabilities

Includes file I/O, child processes, signal handling, and low-level networking (TCP, UDP, Unix sockets), enabling robust system scripting and integration tasks.

Standalone Executable Generation

The `tjs compile` command allows compiling JavaScript scripts into standalone binaries, simplifying deployment and distribution without external runtime dependencies.

Web Platform APIs

Provides fetch, WebSocket, Console, and other web APIs, facilitating web-like development in a minimal environment, as highlighted in the features list.

Cons

Limited Module Ecosystem

Unlike Node.js, it lacks a vast npm library, restricting access to third-party modules and potentially increasing development time for complex functionality.

Manual Build Process

Getting started requires cloning and compiling from source using make, which is more involved than installing pre-packaged binaries from package managers.

Smaller Community Support

As a niche project, it has fewer contributors and resources, leading to slower issue resolution and limited tutorials or community-driven help.

Performance Trade-offs

While efficient for I/O via libuv, QuickJS-ng may not match V8's performance in compute-heavy tasks, given its focus on minimalism over raw speed.

What is txiki.js?

Target Audience

Developers needing a minimal, embeddable JavaScript runtime for scripting, tooling, or lightweight server applications, especially those prioritizing small footprint and modern JavaScript features.

Value Proposition

Use Cases

Best For

Embedding JavaScript in applications or tools as a scripting engine
Building lightweight CLI tools or utilities with JavaScript
Creating small HTTP servers or network services with WebSocket support
Developing standalone executables from JavaScript scripts for distribution
Experimenting with modern ECMAScript features in a minimal runtime
System scripting tasks requiring file I/O, child processes, or signal handling

Not Ideal For

Applications heavily dependent on the npm ecosystem for third-party libraries
Large-scale web services requiring built-in clustering, load balancing, or advanced server features
Teams needing out-of-the-box TypeScript compilation or extensive debugging tooling
Projects that rely on Node.js-specific APIs or legacy modules without alternatives

Pros & Cons

Pros

Modern ECMAScript Compliance

Built on QuickJS-ng, it supports state-of-the-art JavaScript features and aims for WinterTC compliance, as stated in the README, ensuring up-to-date language support.

Lightweight and Minimal

Described as 'tiny' and 'small', it offers a compact runtime with reduced memory footprint and faster startup times compared to larger alternatives like Node.js.

System Integration Capabilities

Includes file I/O, child processes, signal handling, and low-level networking (TCP, UDP, Unix sockets), enabling robust system scripting and integration tasks.

Standalone Executable Generation

The `tjs compile` command allows compiling JavaScript scripts into standalone binaries, simplifying deployment and distribution without external runtime dependencies.

Web Platform APIs

Provides fetch, WebSocket, Console, and other web APIs, facilitating web-like development in a minimal environment, as highlighted in the features list.

Cons

Limited Module Ecosystem

Unlike Node.js, it lacks a vast npm library, restricting access to third-party modules and potentially increasing development time for complex functionality.

Manual Build Process

Getting started requires cloning and compiling from source using make, which is more involved than installing pre-packaged binaries from package managers.

Smaller Community Support

As a niche project, it has fewer contributors and resources, leading to slower issue resolution and limited tutorials or community-driven help.

Performance Trade-offs

While efficient for I/O via libuv, QuickJS-ng may not match V8's performance in compute-heavy tasks, given its focus on minimalism over raw speed.

txiki.js

What is txiki.js?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?

txiki.js

What is txiki.js?

Overview

Use Cases

Best For

Not Ideal For

Pros & Cons

Pros

Cons

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Projects

Found a gem we're missing?