I tried to benchmark bun, but I think my testing was bad

TL;DR

Bun shows faster response times than Node but lacks stability.

Transcript

all right how's it going everyone so i want to have a little video to talk about bun and kind of talk about how much faster is bun than using node there's a lot of hype on youtube right now about this library um or sorry this runtime and i just wanted to kind of verify is this actually that much faster or is there just a lot of hype going on so i k... Read More

Key Insights

• 😒 Bun is currently in beta and has not yet proven to be reliable for production use.
• 💨 The author's tests suggest that while Bun can be faster in some response time scenarios, Node.js generally performs better under sustained load.
• 😥 The video points out discrepancies in error rates, with Node experiencing fewer failures than Bun when subjected to heavy traffic.
• 🤨 Bun's dependency on the JavaScript core runtime rather than the V8 engine raises compatibility questions, especially with well-established frameworks.
• 🌍 Performance claims surrounding Bun may be exaggerated, and further testing is necessary to validate its real-world capabilities.
• 😮 The exploration of Bun's benchmarking is crucial for developers considering new technologies amidst the rise of numerous high-performance runtimes.
• ❓ Future improvements and developments in Bun could enhance JavaScript performance, but its current state suggests caution.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is Bun, and why is it generating buzz?

Bun is a JavaScript runtime that claims to provide better performance than Node.js. It has gained attention for its promise of faster code bundling and module handling. However, as it is still in beta, its capabilities and reliability remain in question, prompting developers to compare it extensively with existing technologies like Node.

Q: How did the author conduct their performance testing between Bun and Node?

The author used Artillery, a load-testing tool, to simulate requests against both a Bun and a Node server, each set up to return a simple "hello world" response. Through running different scenarios, they monitored the servers' ability to handle requests and compared metrics such as response times and error rates.

Q: What were the key findings regarding response times between Bun and Node?

The author found that Bun has a median response time of about 13.1 milliseconds, slightly faster than Node's 15 milliseconds. However, when looking at percentiles for higher loads (p95, p99), Node showed better performance and fewer errors, indicating more stability under pressure.

Q: Should developers use Bun for production applications right now?

Developers are advised against using Bun for production environments, as it is still in beta with many bugs and compatibility issues, particularly with popular libraries like Express. It is recommended that beginners focus on established technologies such as Node.js until Bun matures further.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The video examines the performance of the Bun runtime compared to Node.js, exploring current benchmarks and results from load tests.

• The author highlights concerns about Bun's readiness for production, emphasizing that it is still in beta and may have many bugs.

• Despite some speed advantages in response times, Node.js demonstrates better stability and lower failure rates under load tests.