Head-to-Head: Esbuild vs Rollup Analysis

esbuild

v0.23.0(about 13 hours ago)

This package is actively maintained.Types definitions are bundled with the npm packageNumber of direct dependencies: 0Monthly npm downloads

esbuild is a fast and lightweight JavaScript bundler and minifier that focuses on speed and efficiency. It is designed to be significantly faster than other bundlers like Webpack and Rollup, making it a great choice for optimizing build times in development workflows. esbuild supports modern JavaScript features, JSX, and TypeScript out of the box, and provides a simple and intuitive API for configuration.

Alternatives: webpack, rollup, parcel

Tags: javascriptbundlerminifierspeedefficiency

rollup

v4.18.0(about 1 month ago)

This package is actively maintained.Types definitions are bundled with the npm packageNumber of direct dependencies: 1Monthly npm downloads

Rollup is a JavaScript module bundler that focuses on providing a highly efficient and performant bundling process for modern web applications. It is known for its tree-shaking capabilities, which eliminate unused code during the bundling process, resulting in smaller bundle sizes. Rollup also supports ES module syntax natively, making it a popular choice for projects using modern JavaScript features.

Alternatives: webpack, parcel, esbuild

Tags: javascriptmodule bundlertree-shakingES moduleperformance

Fight!

Popularity

Rollup has been a popular choice for bundling JavaScript modules for a while, especially in the context of building libraries. esbuild, on the other hand, has gained significant popularity due to its blazing fast build times and performance.

Performance

esbuild is known for its exceptional speed and performance, often outperforming other bundlers like Rollup. It leverages Go for its core functionality, making it one of the fastest bundlers available. Rollup is also performant but may not match the speed of esbuild in certain scenarios.

Features

Rollup is feature-rich and offers a wide range of plugins for various tasks like code splitting, tree-shaking, and more. esbuild, while being fast, is more focused on the core bundling functionality and may not have as many plugins available as Rollup.

Configuration

Rollup is highly configurable and allows fine-tuning of the bundling process through its configuration options. esbuild follows a simpler configuration approach with sensible defaults, making it easier to set up and use out of the box.

Community Support

Rollup has been around longer and has a larger community with extensive documentation and support. esbuild, being relatively newer, is rapidly growing its community and gaining more support over time.

Use Cases

Rollup is well-suited for building libraries and applications with complex requirements, thanks to its extensive feature set and flexibility. esbuild shines in scenarios where speed and performance are critical, making it an excellent choice for large-scale projects that require fast build times.