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Deno

A runtime for running JavaScript and TypeScript programs, with secure defaults.

GitHub Download v2.9.8
Stars
109k
Forks
6.5k
Licence
MIT
Language
Rust
Last update
8 days ago
Type
App

What it is

Deno is a runtime that runs JavaScript, TypeScript, and WebAssembly programs outside a web browser. It is built on V8, Rust, and Tokio, and the README says it is designed with secure defaults and a strong developer experience. The README shows it most often used to build web servers.

  • Run a TypeScript file directly with deno run
  • Start a local HTTP server using Deno.serve
  • Grant specific permissions such as network access with flags like --allow-net
  • Use the Deno Standard Library and JSR packages in your programs

Great for

  • Developers who want to run TypeScript without a separate build setup
  • Developers building small web servers or APIs
  • Teams looking for a runtime with permission-based security
  • Students learning server-side JavaScript or TypeScript

Not ideal for

  • People who only need to build a website for browsers, since this is a runtime rather than a front-end tool (the README does not cover front-end workflows)
  • Teams that need a runtime with no migration effort from Node.js, since the README does not compare compatibility with Node.js
Step-by-step guide: how to use DenoInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs
Deno vs ts-node

How to get it

  1. 1

    Download the app

    Install on Mac or Linux (shell)

    curl -fsSL https://deno.land/install.sh | sh

    Install on Windows (PowerShell)

    irm https://deno.land/install.ps1 | iex

    Install with Homebrew (Mac)

    brew install deno
  2. 2

    Run it

    • Create a file called server.ts with the Deno.serve example from the README
    • Run it with: deno run --allow-net server.ts
    • Open http://localhost:8000 in a browser to see Hello, world!
  3. 3

    Get the most out of it

    • Read the official docs at docs.deno.com for the runtime manual and guides
    • Use the Deno Standard Library (jsr.io/@std) for common utilities
    • Use JSR (jsr.io) to find and publish open-source packages
    • Grant only the permissions your program needs, such as --allow-net, to keep it secure

Downloads

Source code (.zip)main branch · straight from GitHubRelease v2.9.88 files incl. deno-x86_64-pc-windows-msvc.from-2.9.7.bsdiff.sha256sumOfficial website & docsdeno.com

Strengths

  • The README describes secure defaults, with permissions granted by flags
  • Supports TypeScript directly, as shown in the first-program example
  • Open source under the MIT license with an active project and large community

Trade-offs

  • The README is truncated and gives little detail on compatibility or limitations
  • Building from source requires following a separate contributing guide
  • Learning the permission model adds a small step compared with simpler runtimes

How it compares

ProjectStarsTypeLevelUpdatedBest for
deno (this)109kAppbeginner8 days agoDevelopers who want to run TypeScript without a separate build setup
pretty-ts-errors14.1kAppbeginner5 days agoDevelopers working in VS Code on TypeScript projects with complex or generic types
Baileys11.5kLibraryintermediate5 days agoDevelopers who want to script WhatsApp message handling in TypeScript or JavaScript
hono32.8kLibrarybeginner5 days agoDevelopers writing TypeScript or JavaScript HTTP APIs
kysely14.3kLibraryintermediate4 days agoTypeScript developers who want SQL control without losing compile-time type checks

Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.