esbuild is a fast and efficient JavaScript bundler and minifier that focuses on speed and simplicity. It is written in Go and is known for its blazing-fast build times, making it a popular choice for optimizing and bundling JavaScript code. esbuild supports modern JavaScript features like ES6 modules and JSX, and can also bundle CSS and JSON files.
WMR (Webpack Module Reloader) is a zero-config development tool that aims to simplify the modern web development workflow. It provides a fast and efficient way to bundle and reload modules during development, allowing for quick iteration and feedback. WMR focuses on speed and simplicity, offering features like hot module replacement and automatic code splitting without the need for complex configuration.
Both esbuild and wmr have gained popularity in the JavaScript community, but esbuild has a larger user base and is more widely adopted. It has been praised for its exceptional performance and has gained a lot of attention due to its speed and simplicity.
Build Speed
Esbuild is known for its incredibly fast build speed, making it one of the fastest bundlers available. It leverages Go's concurrency model to parallelize work, resulting in significantly reduced build times. Wmr also focuses on fast development feedback, but it may not be as performant as esbuild in terms of build speed.
Configuration
Esbuild aims to be zero-config and provides sensible defaults, making it easy to get started without much configuration. It supports JSX, TypeScript, and many other modern JavaScript features out of the box. Wmr also aims for simplicity and ease of use, but it offers more configuration options for customization.
Developer Experience
Both esbuild and wmr provide a good developer experience. Esbuild's simple API and fast build times make it a pleasure to work with, especially for small to medium-sized projects. Wmr focuses on a zero-configuration setup and provides a smooth development experience with features like hot module replacement and automatic reloading.
Integration
Esbuild can be used as a standalone bundler or integrated into existing build systems. It has plugins available for popular frameworks like React and Vue.js. Wmr, on the other hand, is a development server and bundler specifically designed for modern web applications, providing a seamless integration experience.
Community Support
Esbuild has a growing community and active development, with regular updates and bug fixes. It has gained a lot of attention and support from developers due to its performance. Wmr is relatively newer but has been well-received by developers looking for a lightweight and fast development server.
