Luca Casonato, a Software Engineer at Deno, shares exciting insights about Deno 2.0's significant updates, including enhanced compatibility with Node.js and npm. He discusses the introduction of a new JavaScript package registry, JSR, which supports TypeScript and improves security. The chat also dives into the development of Fresh, a web framework focused on performance through minimal JavaScript and server-side rendering. Casonato emphasizes Deno's commitment to sustainability while innovating in server-side JavaScript runtimes.
Deno 2.0 improves compatibility with Node.js by allowing incremental migration through features like native support for package.json and node_modules.
The WinterCG initiative promotes standardization of server-side APIs among different JavaScript runtimes, fostering collaboration to modernize server-side development.
Deep dives
Introduction to Dino 2.0
Dino 2.0 represents a major update to the JavaScript runtime that aims to enhance compatibility with existing Node.js projects while integrating significant developer feedback from the community. Key features include backwards compatibility with Node.js, native support for package.json, and the ability to use Node modules, allowing developers to migrate their projects to Dino incrementally rather than overnight. The built-in tooling, such as linter, formatter, and test runner, remains intact, ensuring users do not have to compromise on functionality. By streamlining the transition process, Dino 2.0 positions itself as a robust alternative that maintains simplicity for developers.
Community and API Standardization
The podcast discusses the WinterCG initiative, a collaborative effort between Cloudflare, Dino, and Node.js to establish a standard set of server-side APIs that facilitate interoperability among various JavaScript runtimes. This effort aims to transition from legacy Node APIs toward more modern web APIs, reflecting a broader evolution in server-side JavaScript development. While progress has been made in agreeing upon foundational APIs, challenges remain in harmonizing newer functionalities and achieving widespread adoption across the ecosystem. This collaborative approach emphasizes community involvement in shaping the future of server-side JavaScript.
Exploring JSR and Package Management
JSR (JavaScript Registry) has been introduced as a new package management system designed to overcome limitations posed by NPM, particularly in relation to TypeScript support and documentation generation. JSR enables developers to publish their packages as TypeScript directly without the additional complexities of managing JavaScript and type definition files. The integration allows JSR packages to interact seamlessly with existing NPM packages, promoting backward compatibility while enhancing developer experience. By simplifying package creation and offering modern features, JSR aims to redefine the JavaScript ecosystem's approach to module management.
Fresh: A New Approach to Web Development
Fresh is a new web framework that utilizes an islands architecture to optimize server-side rendering and minimize the amount of unnecessary JavaScript sent to the client. This approach allows developers to render static content while selectively enabling interactivity on specific components, enhancing performance and user experience. As an open-source project built on Preact, Fresh supports TypeScript and aims to provide a seamless development experience without extensive configuration. By prioritizing simplicity and performance, Fresh seeks to become a compelling option for modern web applications.
Deno is a free and open source JavaScript runtime built on Google’s V8 engine, Rust, and Tokio. It’s designed to offer a more secure and standardized alternative to Node.js, with native TypeScript support. Deno 2.0 just released and it’s a significant update, focusing on improved compatibility with Node.js and addressing developer feedback. Some of the key features are backwards compatibility with Node.js and npm, native support for package.json and node_modules, and a stabilized standard library.
Luca Casonato is a Software Engineer for Deno and he spoke about the project on Software Engineering Daily in 2023. We’re excited to have Luca join the show again to talk about the many changes introduced in Deno 2.0.
Kevin Ball or KBall, is the vice president of engineering at Mento and an independent coach for engineers and engineering leaders. He co-founded and served as CTO for two companies, founded the San Diego JavaScript meetup, and organizes the AI inaction discussion group through Latent Space.