New JavaScript Runtime “Deno 1.0” Released, created by Node.js developer
May 13, the developer team of “Deno”, a JavaScript runtime engine, released “Deno 1.0”.
Deno is a runtime environment based on V8 JavaScript engine. It is a modern and secure runtime. Built-in with a TypeScript transpiler, it lets users run TypeScript code outside a browser.
Deno was developed by Ryan Dahl, who is also known as a developer of Node.js, and the name “Deno” was coined by rearranging the order of the letters in “Node”. He explained how he came about developing Deno. Node was “designed in 2009 when JavaScript was a much different language.” “Due to the large number of users that Node has, it is difficult and slow to evolve the system.” “The landscape of JavaScript and surrounding software infrastructure has changed enough that it was worthwhile to simplify.”
Just like Node.js, it can execute JavaScript code outside a web browser, but it is different from Node.js in several ways. First, it can’t get access to file system, network, and environment unless it is explicitly enabled. Second, it uses import syntax to install modules and doesn’t support required(). Third, it is not provided with a package management mechanism that uses a package manager or package.json files. Fourth, a module is referenced using a URL or file path. Fifth, it allows users to directly execute Web Assembly (wasm) binary. It is built-in with dependency inspector and code formatter, and has a set of standard modules as well.
As Deno is written in Rust, it is not a monolithic program, but more like a collection of Rust crates. Deno 1.0 is available on the project web site. It is licensed under the MIT License.