JavaScript runtime Deno 2.0 takes on Node.js

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After a release candidate, the final release Deno 2.0 is now available. The runtime for JavaScript and TypeScript is now compatible with Node.js and npm and stabilizes the standard library after four years. The Deno team is also giving the runtime a new logo and introducing a long-term support (LTS) release channel.

Compatible with Node.js and npm

Deno has existed since 2018 and was created by Node.js developer Ryan Dahl. It is intended to iron out the bugs of the older runtime and is now compatible with Node.js and the package manager npm. According to the Deno team, this makes it possible not only to use Deno in current projects, but also to introduce it incrementally into projects.

Compatibility with Node.js and npm is considered robust. Deno 2.0 can handle package.json and the node_modules folder as well as npm workspaces, which means that Deno can be used in any project using ECMAScript modules. If minor syntax changes are necessary, these can be made with deno lint --fix.

Using npm: specifiers, npm packages can be imported directly. Deno then installs these in the global cache without using package.json and the node_modules folder. This creates programs with npm dependencies in a single file, without dependency manifest, configuration files or node_modules. This new option allows the import of over two million npm modules into Deno – including gRPC, ssh2, Prisma and polars.

Developers also have a choice of JavaScript frameworks: Deno 2.0 can handle Next.js, Astro, Remix, Angular, SvelteKit, QwikCity and more.

JavaScript conference enterJS

The enterJS 2025 enterprise JavaScript conference will take place in Mannheim on May 7 and 8. The organizers dpunkt.verlag and iX are looking for proposals for presentations and workshops. Developers can participate in the Call for Proposals until November 8, 2024.

Blind-bird tickets are already available – for a discounted ticket until the program goes online.

Long-term support for six months

With the new release, Deno is launching a long-term support (LTS) release channel. Starting with Deno 2.1, the development team will backport critical bug fixes for this channel for six months. After these six months, a new LTS branch will be created based on the latest stable version. All LTS releases will be freely available and MIT-licensed.

Deno is offering a new enterprise program for companies. The offer includes prioritized support, direct access to Deno engineers, guaranteed response times and priority for feature requests. The Deno team does not state the price for this, but provides a contact form.

Dino is no longer left out in the cold

The Deno logo has already undergone changes in the past, as can be seen from a pull request on GitHub when the logo was updated in 2021. The runtime no longer uses a dinosaur in the rain. The development team decided to take this step because the rainy background did not scale well and was too restless. The updated logo shows a simplified white dinosaur head on a monochrome black background.

To celebrate Deno 2.0, a Deno dinosaur can be customized on the website – its headgear and other accessories can be selected and changed in color.

All further information on the new main version can be found in the Deno blog.

(mai)