Blessed JavaScript

Sometimes you need an npm package. This list of "blessed" JavaScript npm packages (and other tools) helps you quickly find the best one for common use cases.

📚 Check out sindresorhus/awesome-nodejs and sorrycc/awesome-javascript for more comprehensive lists.

General

Random numbers	`crypto.getRandomValues()` [docs] Use to generate cryptographic random numbers. If you're not sure, use this. `Math.random()` [docs] Use to generate pseudo-random numbers
Time and date	Temporal API [docs] The new comprehensive builtin time, date, and calendar API for JS. Not yet available in all environments. temporal-polyfill [docs] The best drop-in polyfill for the Temporal API. Use this until the native Temporal API is widely supported.
UUIDs	`crypto.randomUUID()` [docs] Use this builtin if you only need to generate v4 UUIDs uuid [docs] Use this if you need to generate more than just v4 UUIDs or do more than just generate UUIDs
Temporary files	tempy [docs] Most popular temporary file & directory package for Node.js See also `Deno.makeTempFile()` [docs] Use the native Deno API instead of importing an npm package if you're using Deno
Compression & decompression	Compression Streams API [docs] Use this builtin if it supports your format `node:zlib` [docs] Use this Node.js builtin if it supports your format as a second choice
Logging	TODO

Tooling

Desktop JavaScript runtimes	Node.js [docs] The most popular desktop JavaScript runtime. If you're not sure, use this. Deno [docs] A comprehensive alternative JavaScript toolchain to Node.js & npm Bun [docs] A faster Node.js & npm alternative with more features
Toolchain management	nvm [docs] Use this to manage Node.js versions for Linux & macOS. Officially recommended by https://nodejs.org/en/download. fnm [docs] Fast cross-platform Node.js manager. Officially recommended by https://nodejs.org/en/download. See also `deno upgrade` [docs] Prefer always using the latest Deno version `bun upgrade` [docs] Prefer always using the latest Bun version
Code formatting	@biomejs/biome [docs] The faster alternative to Prettier that also does linting. Use this in modern projects. prettier [docs] The most popular JavaScript code formatter See also `deno fmt` [docs] Use the builtin Deno formatter if you're using Deno
Type checking	typescript [docs] De-facto standard type checker for JavaScript See also `deno check` [docs] Use Deno's TypeScript checking service if you're using Deno
Linting	@biomejs/biome [docs] The faster linter that also does formatting. Use this if you don't need custom plugins. eslint [docs] The most popular JavaScript linter. Use this if you need to use plugins. See also `deno lint` [docs] Deno's builtin linter toolkit. Supports plugins. Use this if you're using Deno.
Package managers	npm [docs] The bundled package manager that comes with Node.js. Use this if you're undecided. pnpm [docs] Use this if you need its extra features like dependency patching See also `deno add` [docs] Use the Deno package manager if you're using Deno `bun pm` [docs] Use the Bun package manager if you're using Bun
Testing	`node:test` [docs] The included Node.js test toolkit. Use this if possible. May use `node:assert` for assertions. Also works with Deno and Bun. vitest [docs] Vite's accompanying testing tool. Use this if you're using Vite or need its extra features like browser testing. See also `Deno.test()` [docs] Deno's builtin testing toolkit. Use this if you're using only Deno. `bun:test` [docs] Bun's builtin testing toolkit. Use this if you're using only Bun.

Math & science

Big decimal	TODO
Linear algebra	TODO
DataFrames	TODO

FFI & interop

C/C++ to JS

C/C++ to JS	ffi-rs [docs] Runtime `dlopen()` with types for Node.js and friends. Use this on existing `.so`/`.dylib`/`.dll` dynamic libraries.
Rust to JS	napi-rs [docs] Use `#[napi]` annotations to expose Rust functions to JavaScript via the C Node-API. wasm-bindgen [docs] Use `#[wasm_bindgen]` annotations to expose Rust functions to JavaScript via WebAssembly

ffi-rs [docs]
Runtime dlopen() with types for Node.js and friends. Use this on existing .so/.dylib/.dll dynamic libraries.

Rust to JS

napi-rs [docs]
Use #[napi] annotations to expose Rust functions to JavaScript via the C Node-API.

wasm-bindgen [docs]
Use #[wasm_bindgen] annotations to expose Rust functions to JavaScript via WebAssembly

Networking

HTTP client	Fetch API [docs] Node.js has `fetch()` builtin now. Use it.
HTTP server	hono [docs] Rising standards-based web server framework express [docs] The most popular Node.js HTTP framework
WebSocket client	`WebSocket` [docs] Basic WebSocket client available in Node.js & friends and browsers. Single event stream. Use this for basic tasks. socket.io [docs] Comprehensive popular WebSocket wrapper for servers and clients. Supports multiplexing. Use this if your server uses socket.io.
WebSocket server	socket.io [docs] Comprehensive popular WebSocket wrapper for servers and clients. Supports multiplexing.

CLIs

Argument parsing

Argument parsing	`util.parseArgs()` [docs] Basic builtin argument parsing. Use this for local project scripts. TODO
Globbing	`fs.promises.glob()` [docs] Node.js now has builtin globbing support. Use this unless you need more features. globby [docs] Globber that deals with `.gitignore` too.
File watching	watcher [docs] The most complete file & directory watcher.

util.parseArgs() [docs]
Basic builtin argument parsing. Use this for local project scripts.

TODO

Globbing

fs.promises.glob() [docs]
Node.js now has builtin globbing support. Use this unless you need more features.

globby [docs]
Globber that deals with .gitignore too.

File watching

watcher [docs]
The most complete file & directory watcher.

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