<div id="readability-page-1" class="page"><div><p><img src="https://devstarsj.github.io/assets/https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1542831371-29b0f74f9713?w=1200&amp;q=80"></p><h2 id="introduction">Introduction</h2><p>The JavaScript runtime landscape has never been more competitive. Node.js, the dominant server-side JavaScript runtime for over a decade, now faces serious competition from Deno 2.0 and Bun — two runtimes that challenge Node’s core assumptions about performance, developer experience, and security.</p><p>In 2026, all three runtimes are production-viable with mature ecosystems. The question isn’t “should I use something other than Node?” anymore — it’s “which runtime is right for my workload?”</p><p><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1555066931-4365d14bab8c?w=900&amp;q=80" alt="Code editor with JavaScript on screen"> <em>Photo by Fotis Fotopoulos on Unsplash</em></p><hr><h2 id="the-contenders">The Contenders</h2><h3 id="nodejs-24-lts">Node.js 24 (LTS)</h3><p>The incumbent. Node.js 24 (released early 2026) continues the modernization path:</p><ul><li>Native ESM support fully stabilized</li><li>Built-in test runner matured (replaces Jest for many projects)</li><li><code>--experimental-strip-types</code> for TypeScript support (no transpilation)</li><li>Web Streams API fully stable</li><li>Improved startup performance (~15% faster than Node 22)</li></ul><p>Node’s greatest asset remains its ecosystem: <strong>npm with 2.4 million packages</strong> and decades of production experience.</p><h3 id="deno-20">Deno 2.0</h3><p>Deno made its boldest move yet with version 2.0: <strong>full npm compatibility</strong>. The <code>deno:</code> specifiers remain, but you can now use any npm package natively. This removed the biggest barrier to Deno adoption.</p><p>Key Deno 2.0 additions:</p><ul><li><code>deno compile</code> produces truly standalone binaries (no runtime required)</li><li>Built-in formatter, linter, test runner, and bundler</li><li>Secure by default (explicit permission grants)</li><li>Native TypeScript — zero configuration</li></ul><h3 id="bun-1x">Bun 1.x</h3><p>Bun launched as a performance-first runtime built on JavaScriptCore (Safari’s engine) and Zig. In 2026, it has:</p><ul><li>A drop-in Node.js replacement with 97%+ compatibility</li><li>The fastest package manager in the ecosystem (10x+ faster than npm)</li><li>Built-in bundler, transpiler, and test runner</li><li>SQLite bindings out of the box</li><li>Hot reload with <code>--hot</code></li></ul><hr><h2 id="performance-benchmarks-2026-q1">Performance Benchmarks (2026 Q1)</h2><h3 id="http-server-throughput">HTTP Server Throughput</h3><p>Requests per second, hello-world HTTP server:</p><table><thead><tr><th>Runtime</th><th>RPS</th><th>Latency P99</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Bun (native HTTP)</td><td>312,000</td><td>1.2ms</td></tr><tr><td>Node.js 24 (uws)</td><td>178,000</td><td>2.1ms</td></tr><tr><td>Deno 2.0 (native)</td><td>165,000</td><td>2.3ms</td></tr><tr><td>Node.js 24 (http)</td><td>98,000</td><td>4.1ms</td></tr></tbody></table><p><em>Note: Bun’s advantage shrinks with real application logic</em></p><h3 id="startup-time">Startup Time</h3><table><thead><tr><th>Runtime</th><th>Cold Start</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Bun</td><td>4ms</td></tr><tr><td>Deno</td><td>8ms</td></tr><tr><td>Node.js 24</td><td>45ms</td></tr></tbody></table><h3 id="package-install-1000-packages">Package Install (1000 packages)</h3><table><thead><tr><th>Tool</th><th>Time</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Bun</td><td>1.2s</td></tr><tr><td>pnpm</td><td>8.4s</td></tr><tr><td>npm</td><td>24.1s</td></tr><tr><td>yarn</td><td>22.3s</td></tr></tbody></table><hr><h2 id="developer-experience-deep-dive">Developer Experience Deep Dive</h2><h3 id="typescript-support">TypeScript Support</h3><div><pre><code><span># Node.js 24 — experimental strip-types (no type checking)</span>
node <span>--experimental-strip-types</span> server.ts

<span># Deno — native, full type checking</span>
deno run server.ts

<span># Bun — native, full transpilation (fastest)</span>
bun run server.ts
</code></pre></div><p>Deno wins on TypeScript correctness (it actually type-checks). Bun wins on speed. Node’s <code>--experimental-strip-types</code> is a pragmatic middle ground that avoids a build step but doesn’t catch type errors.</p><h3 id="built-in-tooling-comparison">Built-in Tooling Comparison</h3><table><thead><tr><th>Feature</th><th>Node 24</th><th>Deno 2.0</th><th>Bun 1.x</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Test runner</td><td>✅ (built-in)</td><td>✅ (built-in)</td><td>✅ (built-in)</td></tr><tr><td>TypeScript</td><td>⚠️ (strip only)</td><td>✅ (full)</td><td>✅ (full)</td></tr><tr><td>Formatter</td><td>❌ (use Prettier)</td><td>✅ (deno fmt)</td><td>❌ (use Prettier)</td></tr><tr><td>Linter</td><td>❌ (use ESLint)</td><td>✅ (deno lint)</td><td>❌ (use ESLint)</td></tr><tr><td>Bundler</td><td>❌ (use esbuild)</td><td>✅ (deno bundle)</td><td>✅ (built-in)</td></tr><tr><td>Package manager</td><td>npm</td><td>jsr/npm</td><td>bun</td></tr></tbody></table><p><img src="https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1461749280684-dccba630e2f6?w=900&amp;q=80" alt="Developer working on laptop with multiple monitors"> <em>Photo by Ilya Pavlov on Unsplash</em></p><hr><h2 id="security-model">Security Model</h2><h3 id="denos-permission-system">Deno’s Permission System</h3><p>Deno’s security model remains its most distinctive feature:</p><div><pre><code><span># Must explicitly grant permissions</span>
deno run <span>--allow-net</span> <span>--allow-read</span><span>=</span>./data server.ts

<span># Production: lock down what you need</span>
deno run <span>\</span>
  <span>--allow-net</span><span>=</span>api.example.com:443 <span>\</span>
  <span>--allow-read</span><span>=</span>/app/data <span>\</span>
  <span>--allow-env</span><span>=</span>DATABASE_URL,PORT <span>\</span>
  server.ts
</code></pre></div><p>This is genuinely valuable for:</p><ul><li><strong>Third-party scripts</strong>: You know exactly what a script can access</li><li><strong>Security-sensitive deployments</strong>: Principle of least privilege enforced by the runtime</li><li><strong>Auditing</strong>: Permission denials are logged</li></ul><h3 id="nodejs-permission-model">Node.js Permission Model</h3><p>Node 24 has a permission model too, but it’s less mature:</p><div><pre><code>node <span>--experimental-permission</span> <span>\</span>
  <span>--allow-fs-read</span><span>=</span>/app <span>\</span>
  <span>--allow-net</span> <span>\</span>
  server.js
</code></pre></div><p>Still experimental, and the ecosystem wasn’t designed with it in mind.</p><h3 id="bun">Bun</h3><p>No permission model. Bun prioritizes compatibility and performance over Deno’s security-first philosophy. Fine for controlled environments; concerning for running untrusted code.</p><hr><h2 id="ecosystem-compatibility">Ecosystem Compatibility</h2><h3 id="npm-package-support">npm Package Support</h3><table><thead><tr><th>Runtime</th><th>npm Compatibility</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Node.js 24</td><td>100% (reference)</td></tr><tr><td>Bun 1.x</td><td>~97%</td></tr><tr><td>Deno 2.0</td><td>~94%</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The remaining incompatibilities are typically packages that use native Node addons (<code>.node</code> files) or deeply rely on Node internals. Most web/backend packages work fine on all three.</p><h3 id="framework-support">Framework Support</h3><table><thead><tr><th>Framework</th><th>Node</th><th>Bun</th><th>Deno</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Express</td><td>✅</td><td>✅</td><td>✅</td></tr><tr><td>Fastify</td><td>✅</td><td>✅</td><td>✅</td></tr><tr><td>Next.js</td><td>✅</td><td>✅</td><td>✅</td></tr><tr><td>Hono</td><td>✅</td><td>✅</td><td>✅</td></tr><tr><td>NestJS</td><td>✅</td><td>✅</td><td>⚠️</td></tr><tr><td>Prisma</td><td>✅</td><td>✅</td><td>⚠️</td></tr></tbody></table><hr><h2 id="real-world-use-cases-what-to-choose">Real-World Use Cases: What to Choose</h2><h3 id="use-nodejs-24-when">Use Node.js 24 When</h3><ul><li>You have an existing Node.js codebase</li><li>You rely on native addons or complex npm packages</li><li>Your team is already expert in Node/npm tooling</li><li>You need maximum ecosystem support and stability guarantees</li></ul><h3 id="use-bun-when">Use Bun When</h3><ul><li><strong>Performance is critical</strong>: API servers with high throughput requirements</li><li><strong>Monorepo workspaces</strong>: Bun’s package manager transforms DX</li><li><strong>Scripting/CLIs</strong>: Ultra-fast startup + single binary compilation</li><li>You’re starting a new project and want maximum speed</li></ul><div><pre><code><span>// Bun's native HTTP API is delightfully simple</span>
<span>Bun</span><span>.</span><span>serve</span><span>({</span>
  <span>port</span><span>:</span> <span>3000</span><span>,</span>
  <span>fetch</span><span>(</span><span>request</span><span>)</span> <span>{</span>
    <span>const</span> <span>url</span> <span>=</span> <span>new</span> <span>URL</span><span>(</span><span>request</span><span>.</span><span>url</span><span>);</span>
    <span>if</span> <span>(</span><span>url</span><span>.</span><span>pathname</span> <span>===</span> <span>"</span><span>/health</span><span>"</span><span>)</span> <span>{</span>
      <span>return</span> <span>new</span> <span>Response</span><span>(</span><span>"</span><span>OK</span><span>"</span><span>);</span>
    <span>}</span>
    <span>return</span> <span>new</span> <span>Response</span><span>(</span><span>"</span><span>Hello World!</span><span>"</span><span>,</span> <span>{</span> 
      <span>headers</span><span>:</span> <span>{</span> <span>"</span><span>Content-Type</span><span>"</span><span>:</span> <span>"</span><span>text/plain</span><span>"</span> <span>}</span>
    <span>});</span>
  <span>},</span>
<span>});</span>
</code></pre></div><h3 id="use-deno-20-when">Use Deno 2.0 When</h3><ul><li><strong>Security matters</strong>: Running third-party code, processing untrusted inputs</li><li><strong>TypeScript-first</strong>: Best-in-class TS support with zero config</li><li><strong>Edge deployments</strong>: Deno Deploy has first-class support</li><li><strong>All-in-one tooling</strong>: Formatter, linter, test runner, bundler without configuration</li></ul><div><pre><code><span>// Deno's web-standard APIs are clean and portable</span>
<span>Deno</span><span>.</span><span>serve</span><span>({</span> <span>port</span><span>:</span> <span>3000</span> <span>},</span> <span>(</span><span>request</span><span>:</span> <span>Request</span><span>)</span> <span>=&gt;</span> <span>{</span>
  <span>const</span> <span>url</span> <span>=</span> <span>new</span> <span>URL</span><span>(</span><span>request</span><span>.</span><span>url</span><span>);</span>
  
  <span>if</span> <span>(</span><span>url</span><span>.</span><span>pathname</span> <span>===</span> <span>"</span><span>/health</span><span>"</span><span>)</span> <span>{</span>
    <span>return</span> <span>new</span> <span>Response</span><span>(</span><span>"</span><span>OK</span><span>"</span><span>);</span>
  <span>}</span>
  
  <span>return</span> <span>new</span> <span>Response</span><span>(</span><span>"</span><span>Hello, Deno!</span><span>"</span><span>,</span> <span>{</span>
    <span>headers</span><span>:</span> <span>{</span> <span>"</span><span>Content-Type</span><span>"</span><span>:</span> <span>"</span><span>text/plain</span><span>"</span> <span>},</span>
  <span>});</span>
<span>});</span>
</code></pre></div><hr><h2 id="the-big-picture-is-nodejs-dying">The Big Picture: Is Node.js Dying?</h2><p>Not even close. Node.js downloads continue to grow in absolute terms. But its <strong>market share among new projects</strong> is declining, particularly:</p><ul><li>Greenfield APIs and microservices → Bun is gaining fast</li><li>Edge/serverless functions → Deno Deploy and Bun are strong competitors</li><li>CLI tools → Bun dominates for new projects</li><li>Enterprise monoliths → Node retains the vast majority</li></ul><p>The more interesting story is <strong>convergence</strong>: all three runtimes are adopting Web-standard APIs (Fetch, ReadableStream, WebCrypto). Code written against these standards increasingly <strong>runs everywhere</strong>.</p><hr><h2 id="conclusion">Conclusion</h2><p>In 2026, the JavaScript runtime decision is nuanced:</p><ul><li><strong>No wrong choice</strong> — all three are production-ready with strong communities</li><li><strong>Bun</strong> is the best choice for raw performance and DX in new projects</li><li><strong>Deno 2.0</strong> is the best choice when security and TypeScript are priorities</li><li><strong>Node.js 24</strong> remains the safe default for teams with existing investments</li></ul><p>The competition is making all three better. Node.js has improved its startup time, TypeScript support, and built-in tooling specifically because Bun and Deno raised the bar. Everyone benefits.</p><hr><h2 id="resources">Resources</h2><ul><li><a href="https://nodejs.org/en/blog/release/">Node.js 24 Release Notes</a></li><li><a href="https://deno.com/blog">Deno 2.0 Announcement</a></li><li><a href="https://bun.sh/docs">Bun 1.x Documentation</a></li><li><a href="https://github.com/nicolo-ribaudo/js-runtime-benchmarks">Runtime Benchmarks (2026)</a></li></ul><br><div><p>이 글이 도움이 되셨다면 공감 및 광고 클릭을 부탁드립니다 :) </p></div></div></div>

Dev Note

Introduction
The JavaScript runtime landscape has never been more competitive. Node.js, the dominant server-side JavaScript runtime for over a decade, now faces serious competition from Deno 2.0 and Bun — two runtimes that challenge Node’s core assumptions about performance, developer experience, and security.
In 2026, all three runtimes are production-viable with mature ecosystems. The question isn’t “should I use something other than Node?” anymore — it’s “which runtime is right for my workload?”
Photo by Fotis Fotopoulos on Unsplash
The Contenders
Node.js 24 (LTS)
The incumbent. Node.js 24 (released early 2026) continues the modernization path:
Native ESM support fully stabilized
Built-in test runner matured (replaces Jest for many projects)
--experimental-strip-types for TypeScript support (no transpilation)
Web Streams API fully stable
Improved startup performance (~15% faster than Node 22)
Node’s greatest asset remains its ecosystem: npm with 2.4 million packages and decades of production experience.
Deno 2.0
Deno made its boldest move yet with version 2.0: full npm compatibility. The deno: specifiers remain, but you can now use any npm package natively. This removed the biggest barrier to Deno adoption.
Key Deno 2.0 additions:
deno compile produces truly standalone binaries (no runtime required)
Built-in formatter, linter, test runner, and bundler
Secure by default (explicit permission grants)
Native TypeScript — zero configuration
Bun 1.x
Bun launched as a performance-first runtime built on JavaScriptCore (Safari’s engine) and Zig. In 2026, it has:
A drop-in Node.js replacement with 97%+ compatibility
The fastest package manager in the ecosystem (10x+ faster than npm)
Built-in bundler, transpiler, and test runner
SQLite bindings out of the box
Hot reload with --hot
Performance Benchmarks (2026 Q1)
HTTP Server Throughput
Requests per second, hello-world HTTP server:
Runtime
      RPS
      Latency P99
    
Bun (native HTTP)
      312,000
      1.2ms
    
Node.js 24 (uws)
      178,000
      2.1ms
    
Deno 2.0 (native)
      165,000
      2.3ms
    
Node.js 24 (http)
      98,000
      4.1ms
    
Note: Bun’s advantage shrinks with real application logic
Startup Time
Runtime
      Cold Start
    
Bun
      4ms
    
Deno
      8ms
    
Node.js 24
      45ms
    
Package Install (1000 packages)
Tool
      Time
    
Bun
      1.2s
    
pnpm
      8.4s
    
npm
      24.1s
    
yarn
      22.3s
    
Developer Experience Deep Dive
TypeScript Support
# Node.js 24 — experimental strip-types (no type checking)
node --experimental-strip-types server.ts
# Deno — native, full type checking
deno run server.ts
# Bun — native, full transpilation (fastest)
bun run server.ts
Deno wins on TypeScript correctness (it actually type-checks). Bun wins on speed. Node’s --experimental-strip-types is a pragmatic middle ground that avoids a build step but doesn’t catch type errors.
Built-in Tooling Comparison
Feature
      Node 24
      Deno 2.0
      Bun 1.x
    
Test runner
      ✅ (built-in)
      ✅ (built-in)
      ✅ (built-in)
    
TypeScript
      ⚠️ (strip only)
      ✅ (full)
      ✅ (full)
    
Formatter
      ❌ (use Prettier)
      ✅ (deno fmt)
      ❌ (use Prettier)
    
Linter
      ❌ (use ESLint)
      ✅ (deno lint)
      ❌ (use ESLint)
    
Bundler
      ❌ (use esbuild)
      ✅ (deno bundle)
      ✅ (built-in)
    
Package manager
      npm
      jsr/npm
      bun
    
Photo by Ilya Pavlov on Unsplash
Security Model
Deno’s Permission System
Deno’s security model remains its most distinctive feature:
# Must explicitly grant permissions
deno run --allow-net --allow-read=./data server.ts
# Production: lock down what you need
deno run \
  --allow-net=api.example.com:443 \
  --allow-read=/app/data \
  --allow-env=DATABASE_URL,PORT \
  server.ts
This is genuinely valuable for:
Third-party scripts: You know exactly what a script can access
Security-sensitive deployments: Principle of least privilege enforced by the runtime
Auditing: Permission denials are logged
Node.js Permission Model
Node 24 has a permission model too, but it’s less mature:
node --experimental-permission \
  --allow-fs-read=/app \
  --allow-net \
  server.js
Still experimental, and the ecosystem wasn’t designed with it in mind.
Bun
No permission model. Bun prioritizes compatibility and performance over Deno’s security-first philosophy. Fine for controlled environments; concerning for running untrusted code.
Ecosystem Compatibility
npm Package Support
Runtime
      npm Compatibility
    
Node.js 24
      100% (reference)
    
Bun 1.x
      ~97%
    
Deno 2.0
      ~94%
    
The remaining incompatibilities are typically packages that use native Node addons (.node files) or deeply rely on Node internals. Most web/backend packages work fine on all three.
Framework Support
Framework
      Node
      Bun
      Deno
    
Express
      ✅
      ✅
      ✅
    
Fastify
      ✅
      ✅
      ✅
    
Next.js
      ✅
      ✅
      ✅
    
Hono
      ✅
      ✅
      ✅
    
NestJS
      ✅
      ✅
      ⚠️
    
Prisma
      ✅
      ✅
      ⚠️
    
Real-World Use Cases: What to Choose
Use Node.js 24 When
You have an existing Node.js codebase
You rely on native addons or complex npm packages
Your team is already expert in Node/npm tooling
You need maximum ecosystem support and stability guarantees
Use Bun When
Performance is critical: API servers with high throughput requirements
Monorepo workspaces: Bun’s package manager transforms DX
Scripting/CLIs: Ultra-fast startup + single binary compilation
You’re starting a new project and want maximum speed
// Bun's native HTTP API is delightfully simple
Bun.serve({
  port: 3000,
  fetch(request) {
    const url = new URL(request.url);
    if (url.pathname === "/health") {
      return new Response("OK");
    }
    return new Response("Hello World!", { 
      headers: { "Content-Type": "text/plain" }
    });
  },
});
Use Deno 2.0 When
Security matters: Running third-party code, processing untrusted inputs
TypeScript-first: Best-in-class TS support with zero config
Edge deployments: Deno Deploy has first-class support
All-in-one tooling: Formatter, linter, test runner, bundler without configuration
// Deno's web-standard APIs are clean and portable
Deno.serve({ port: 3000 }, (request: Request) => {
  const url = new URL(request.url);
  
  if (url.pathname === "/health") {
    return new Response("OK");
  }
  
  return new Response("Hello, Deno!", {
    headers: { "Content-Type": "text/plain" },
  });
});
The Big Picture: Is Node.js Dying?
Not even close. Node.js downloads continue to grow in absolute terms. But its market share among new projects is declining, particularly:
Greenfield APIs and microservices → Bun is gaining fast
Edge/serverless functions → Deno Deploy and Bun are strong competitors
CLI tools → Bun dominates for new projects
Enterprise monoliths → Node retains the vast majority
The more interesting story is convergence: all three runtimes are adopting Web-standard APIs (Fetch, ReadableStream, WebCrypto). Code written against these standards increasingly runs everywhere.
Conclusion
In 2026, the JavaScript runtime decision is nuanced:
No wrong choice — all three are production-ready with strong communities
Bun is the best choice for raw performance and DX in new projects
Deno 2.0 is the best choice when security and TypeScript are priorities
Node.js 24 remains the safe default for teams with existing investments
The competition is making all three better. Node.js has improved its startup time, TypeScript support, and built-in tooling specifically because Bun and Deno raised the bar. Everyone benefits.
Resources
Node.js 24 Release Notes
Deno 2.0 Announcement
Bun 1.x Documentation
Runtime Benchmarks (2026)

Deno 2.0 vs Bun vs Node.js: The JavaScript Runtime War in 2026

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