Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

npm VS Webpack

Compare npm VS Webpack and see what are their differences

npm logo npm

npm is a package manager for Node.

Webpack logo Webpack

Webpack is a module bundler. Its main purpose is to bundle JavaScript files for usage in a browser, yet it is also capable of transforming, bundling, or packaging just about any resource or asset.
  • npm Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-03
  • Webpack Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-13

npm features and specs

  • Large Ecosystem
    npm boasts an extensive library of packages, making it easier for developers to find existing solutions for a wide array of tasks.
  • Active Community
    A vibrant and active community ensures continuous updates, support, and improvements for various packages.
  • Integration with Node.js
    Seamless integration with Node.js, which makes it the default package manager for Node.js projects.
  • Version Control
    Provides robust version control, enabling developers to specify and manage dependencies precisely.
  • Scripts
    Allows automation of tasks through custom scripts defined in the package.json file, enhancing development workflow.

Possible disadvantages of npm

  • Security Issues
    The open nature can potentially lead to dependency on unvetted or insecure packages, posing security risks.
  • Deprecation and Abandonment
    Packages may be deprecated or abandoned by their maintainers, which can disrupt projects that depend on them.
  • Complex Dependency Management
    Managing complex dependencies and resolving conflicts between them can sometimes be challenging and time-consuming.
  • Performance Overhead
    The sheer size of the node_modules directory can lead to performance overhead and large project sizes.
  • Quality Variability
    The quality of packages on npm can vary widely, with some lacking sufficient documentation or tests.

Webpack features and specs

  • Modular Bundling
    Webpack efficiently bundles all your modules (JavaScript, CSS, images, etc.) into manageable chunks, minimizing HTTP requests and enhancing load performance.
  • Code Splitting
    It allows splitting your codebase into 'chunks' which can be loaded on demand. This leads to faster initial page loads as only necessary chunks are loaded initially.
  • Hot Module Replacement (HMR)
    HMR allows you to update modules without needing a full refresh. This improves development speed and efficiency as live changes are instantly reflected in the application.
  • Advanced Configuration
    Webpack is highly configurable, accommodating various needs from simple setups to complex, custom configurations, making it versatile for different projects.
  • Strong Plugin Ecosystem
    There is a rich ecosystem of plugins available to extend Webpack's capabilities, such as minification, asset management, and more.
  • Tree Shaking
    Webpack supports tree shaking, a method to eliminate dead code from your bundle, resulting in more efficient, smaller output files.
  • Dependency Management
    It handles dependencies among modules effectively, automatically managing module load order and avoiding conflicts.

Possible disadvantages of Webpack

  • Complex Configuration
    Its extensive configuration options can be overwhelming, particularly for beginners, leading to a steep learning curve.
  • Build Time
    Complex configurations and large projects can result in slower build times, impacting development speed.
  • Documentation Issues
    Despite improvements, there are instances where Webpack's documentation might lack clarity, making it harder to find solutions for specific configurations.
  • Overhead for Simple Projects
    For small and simple projects, Webpack might be overkill, adding unnecessary complexity and setup time.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Occasionally, Webpack updates can lead to breaking changes, which may require significant adjustments to your configuration and codebase.

Analysis of npm

Overall verdict

  • npm is generally considered good, especially for developers working within the Node.js ecosystem. It simplifies package management, supports extensive version control, and fosters a collaborative environment through its community-driven platform.

Why this product is good

  • npm (Node Package Manager) is a crucial tool for JavaScript developers. It allows for easy installation, management, and sharing of packages, which can significantly accelerate development time. With a vast repository of open-source libraries, npm provides solutions for countless tasks, reducing the need to build everything from scratch.

Recommended for

  • JavaScript developers
  • Node.js developers
  • Front-end developers using modern JavaScript frameworks
  • Back-end developers building scalable applications

npm videos

Artis bus NPM Mr marcha sopir ny ramah,Review detail bus baru yang berangkat dari Payakumbuh~Jakarta

More videos:

  • Review - Review bus baru NPM,, V15 Mr marcha ft kru kece,, berangkat Payakumbuh menuju Jakarta
  • Review - Analysis of an Exploited NPM Package || Jarrod Overson

Webpack videos

Learn Webpack - Full Tutorial for Beginners

More videos:

  • Review - Core Concepts of Webpack
  • Review - Learn Webpack Pt. 6: Cache Busting and Plugins

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to npm and Webpack)
Front End Package Manager
Web Application Bundler
0 0%
100% 100
JS Build Tools
23 23%
77% 77
Package Manager
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare npm and Webpack

npm Reviews

Repository Management Tools
There are three components to npm, they are the website, registry and the cli. The npm website is the place where developers discover packages, set up their profiles and also manage the other aspects of npm. The npm registry is the huge database that contains all the dependencies and stuff whereas the npm cli is the one that is used by most of the developers to interact with...
Source: mindmajix.com
What is Artifactory?
All packages are organized so that you can keep track of all of the dependencies and their various versions. The registry, website, and command-line interface, or CLI, are the three components of npm. The npm website is where developers can find packages, create profiles, and manage other elements of the npm project. The npm registry is an extensive database that holds all...

Webpack Reviews

Rollup v. Webpack v. Parcel
Tool Prod Build Time One Prod Build Time Two Prod Build Time Three Prod Build Time Avg Parcel 738.509 s 35.364 s 35.592 s 269.82 avg s Rollup 0.712 s 0.665 s 0.714 s 0.697 avg s Webpack 3.636 s 3.805 s 4.305 s 3.915 avg s
Source: x-team.com
If youโ€™ve ever configured Webpack, Parcel will blow yourย mind!
document.body.className = document.body.className.replace(/(^|\s)is-noJs(\s|$)/, "$1is-js$2")HomepageHomepageJavascriptBecome a memberSign inGet startedIf youโ€™ve ever configured Webpack, Parcel will blow your mind!And how to hit the ground running with Parcel.Ibrahim ButtBlockedUnblockFollowFollowingMar 16, 2018Click here to share this article on LinkedIn ยปZero...
Source: medium.com
First impressions with Parcelย JS
From first impressions and experience, my take currently would be as follows. Webpack is generally going to be more flexible. It also places a bit more power in the developers hands to make bundling happen exactly as desired. That isnโ€™t to say you shouldnโ€™t use Parcel though. Where Parcel excels is the fact you donโ€™t configure it. You will still need to configure plugins for...
Source: codeburst.io
Parcel vs webpack - Jakob Lind
Webpack is the stable choice. You will not get fired for picking webpack. But you donโ€™t get as much stuff for free such as optimized bundles, and code splitting.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Webpack should be more popular than npm. It has been mentiond 248 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

npm mentions (68)

  • Some thoughts on personal Git hosting
    > But we still don't have a solution to search projects on potentially thousands of servers, including self-hosted ones. We do. https://mvnrepository.com/repos/central https://npmjs.com https://packagist.org/ https://pypi.org/ https://www.debian.org/distrib/packages#search_packages https://pkg.go.dev/ https://elpa.gnu.org/packages/ And many others. And we still have forums like this one and Reddit where... - Source: Hacker News / 27 days ago
  • Protecting Yourself from Spear Phishing Attacks Such as the One Targeting NPM Maintainers with 2FA Update
    A rather official looking message was sent to maintainers of packages hosted on npmjs.com that they were overdue for a two-factor update. - Source: dev.to / 26 days ago
  • Maintainers of ESLint Prettier Plugin Attacked via npm Supply Chain Malware
    Publishing packages to the official npmjs.com registry requires an account with a valid e-mail address. When npm packages are published, this information is openly and widely available to anyone to review. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • How to Publish Your First NPM Package: A Complete Guide
    Check on NPM website: Visit https://npmjs.com/package/your-package-name. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • A Gentle Introduction to WebAssembly in Rust (2025 Edition)
    If your WASM code is self contained in Rust, you can build it in production mode and publish it on npmjs.com right now. The wasm-pack tool creates all the TypeScript types, package.json skeleton and anything else needed for a complete package. It is recommended that you review and update your package.json file prior to publishing. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
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Webpack mentions (248)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing npm and Webpack, you can also consider the following products

Ender - Frontend Development

rollup.js - Rollup is a module bundler for JavaScript which compiles small pieces of code into a larger piece such as application.

Yarn - Yarn is a package manager for your code.

Babel - Babel is a compiler for writing next generation JavaScript.

GNU Make - GNU Make is a tool which controls the generation of executables and other non-source files of a program from the program's source files.

Parcel - Blazing fast, zero configuration web application bundler