Modern JavaScript/TypeScript development with Bun runtime. Covers package management, bundling, testing, and migration from Node.js. Use when working with Bun, optimizing JS/TS development speed, or migrating from Node.js to Bun.
Fast, modern JavaScript/TypeScript development with the Bun runtime, inspired by oven-sh/bun.
When to Use This Skill
Use this skill when:
Starting new JS/TS projects with Bun
Migrating from Node.js to Bun
Optimizing development speed
Using Bun's built-in tools (bundler, test runner)
Troubleshooting Bun-specific issues
1. Getting Started
1.1 Installation
# macOS / Linux
brew install oven-sh/bun/bun
# Alternative: download the official installer, inspect it, then execute it
tmpdir="$(mktemp -d)"
trap 'rm -rf "$tmpdir"' EXIT
curl -fsSLo "$tmpdir/bun-install.sh" https://bun.sh/install
cat "$tmpdir/bun-install.sh" # review the full installer before executing
bash "$tmpdir/bun-install.sh"
# Windows
powershell -NoProfile -Command "Invoke-WebRequest https://bun.sh/install.ps1 -OutFile $env:TEMP\\bun-install.ps1; Get-Content $env:TEMP\\bun-install.ps1 -TotalCount 120; powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File $env:TEMP\\bun-install.ps1"
# Homebrew
brew tap oven-sh/bun
brew install bun
# npm (if needed)
npm install -g bun
# Upgrade
bun upgrade
1.2 Why Bun?
Feature
Bun
Node.js
Startup time
~25ms
~100ms+
Package install
10-100x faster
Baseline
TypeScript
Native
Requires transpiler
JSX
Native
Requires transpiler
Test runner
Built-in
External (Jest, Vitest)
Bundler
Built-in
External (Webpack, esbuild)
2. Project Setup
2.1 Create New Project
# Initialize project
bun init
# Creates:
# ├── package.json
# ├── tsconfig.json
# ├── index.ts
# └── README.md
# With specific template
bun create <template> <project-name>
# Examples
bun create react my-app # React app
bun create next my-app # Next.js app
bun create vite my-app # Vite app
bun create elysia my-api # Elysia API
# Install from package.json
bun install # or 'bun i'
# Add dependencies
bun add express # Regular dependency
bun add -d typescript # Dev dependency
bun add -D @types/node # Dev dependency (alias)
bun add --optional pkg # Optional dependency
# From specific registry
bun add lodash --registry https://registry.npmmirror.com
# Install specific version
bun add [email protected]
bun add react@latest
bun add react@next
# From git
bun add github:user/repo
bun add git+https://github.com/user/repo.git
3.2 Removing & Updating
# Remove package
bun remove lodash
# Update packages
bun update # Update all
bun update lodash # Update specific
bun update --latest # Update to latest (ignore ranges)
# Check outdated
bun outdated
3.3 bunx (npx equivalent)
# Execute package binaries
bunx prettier --write .
bunx tsc --init
bunx create-react-app my-app
# With specific version
bunx -p [email protected] tsc --version
# Run without installing
bunx cowsay "Hello from Bun!"
3.4 Lockfile
# bun.lockb is a binary lockfile (faster parsing)
# To generate text lockfile for debugging:
bun install --yarn # Creates yarn.lock
# Trust existing lockfile
bun install --frozen-lockfile
4. Running Code
4.1 Basic Execution
# Run TypeScript directly (no build step!)
bun run index.ts
# Run JavaScript
bun run index.js
# Run with arguments
bun run server.ts --port 3000
# Run package.json script
bun run dev
bun run build
# Short form (for scripts)
bun dev
bun build
4.2 Watch Mode
# Auto-restart on file changes
bun --watch run index.ts
# With hot reloading
bun --hot run server.ts
4.3 Environment Variables
// .env file is loaded automatically!
// Access environment variables
const apiKey = Bun.env.API_KEY;
const port = Bun.env.PORT ?? "3000";
// Or use process.env (Node.js compatible)
const dbUrl = process.env.DATABASE_URL;
# Run with specific env file
bun --env-file=.env.production run index.ts
# Run all tests
bun test
# Run specific file
bun test math.test.ts
# Run matching pattern
bun test --grep "adds"
# Watch mode
bun test --watch
# With coverage
bun test --coverage
# Timeout
bun test --timeout 5000
# Bundle for production
bun build ./src/index.ts --outdir ./dist
# With options
bun build ./src/index.ts \
--outdir ./dist \
--target browser \
--minify \
--sourcemap
# Create standalone executable
bun build ./src/cli.ts --compile --outfile myapp
# Cross-compile
bun build ./src/cli.ts --compile --target=bun-linux-x64 --outfile myapp-linux
bun build ./src/cli.ts --compile --target=bun-darwin-arm64 --outfile myapp-mac
# With embedded assets
bun build ./src/cli.ts --compile --outfile myapp --embed ./assets
8. Migration from Node.js
8.1 Compatibility
// Most Node.js APIs work out of the box
import fs from "fs";
import path from "path";
import crypto from "crypto";
// process is global
console.log(process.cwd());
console.log(process.env.HOME);
// Buffer is global
const buf = Buffer.from("hello");
// __dirname and __filename work
console.log(__dirname);
console.log(__filename);
8.2 Common Migration Steps
# 1. Install Bun
brew install oven-sh/bun/bun
# 2. Replace package manager
rm -rf node_modules package-lock.json
bun install
# 3. Update scripts in package.json
# "start": "node index.js" → "start": "bun run index.ts"
# "test": "jest" → "test": "bun test"
# 4. Add Bun types
bun add -d @types/bun
8.3 Differences from Node.js
// ❌ Node.js specific (may not work)
require("module") // Use import instead
require.resolve("pkg") // Use import.meta.resolve
__non_webpack_require__ // Not supported
// ✅ Bun equivalents
import pkg from "pkg";
const resolved = import.meta.resolve("pkg");
Bun.resolveSync("pkg", process.cwd());
// ❌ These globals differ
process.hrtime() // Use Bun.nanoseconds()
setImmediate() // Use queueMicrotask()
// ✅ Bun-specific features
const file = Bun.file("./data.txt"); // Fast file API
Bun.serve({ port: 3000, fetch: ... }); // Fast HTTP server
Bun.password.hash(password); // Built-in hashing
// Don't: Express/Fastify (overhead)
import express from "express";
const app = express();
// Do: Bun.serve (native, 4-10x faster)
Bun.serve({
fetch(req) {
return new Response("Hello!");
},
});
// Or use Elysia (Bun-optimized framework)
import { Elysia } from "elysia";
new Elysia().get("/", () => "Hello!").listen(3000);
9.3 Bundle for Production
# Always bundle and minify for production
bun build ./src/index.ts --outdir ./dist --minify --target node
# Then run the bundle
bun run ./dist/index.js