Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

rollup.js VS Vorpal

Compare rollup.js VS Vorpal and see what are their differences

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rollup.js logo rollup.js

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

Vorpal logo Vorpal

Build mature, immersive command-line apps in JavaScript
  • rollup.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-09
  • Vorpal Landing page
    Landing page //
    2019-08-22

rollup.js features and specs

  • Tree Shaking
    Rollup.js performs treeshaking to eliminate dead code, resulting in smaller bundle sizes. It analyzes the dependency tree and includes only the parts of the code that are actually used.
  • Output Formats
    Supports multiple output formats including ES modules, CommonJS, AMD, UMD, and IIFE. This makes it versatile for different use cases.
  • Plugins
    Rollup.js has a rich ecosystem of plugins that extend its functionality, such as code transformation, minification, and support for various types of modules.
  • Code Splitting
    Supports code splitting, allowing you to break your code into smaller chunks that can be loaded on demand. This improves performance for larger projects.
  • Efficient Bundling
    Offers efficient bundling by removing duplicates and ensuring that each module gets included only once, which contributes to reduced bundle size.
  • Minimal Configuration
    Generally requires minimal configuration to get started, focusing on simplicity and ease of use.

Possible disadvantages of rollup.js

  • Learning Curve
    Although relatively simple to use, there is still a learning curve associated with understanding its configuration and the plugin system.
  • Initial Build Time
    The initial build time can be slower compared to some other bundlers, particularly for larger projects.
  • Limited Built-in Features
    Rollup.js focuses on being a minimalist tool, so it lacks some of the built-in features that other bundlers may have. Often, additional functionality needs to be added via plugins.
  • Plugin Compatibility
    Not all plugins work seamlessly with Rollup.js, and there may be occasional compatibility issues, especially with plugins originally designed for other bundlers.
  • Node.js Ecosystem
    While Rollup.js excels in bundling for browsers, it is not as commonly used for Node.js applications compared to other tools like Webpack.
  • Community Size
    The community size is smaller compared to other bundling tools like Webpack, which can sometimes make finding solutions to issues more challenging.

Vorpal features and specs

  • Command Line Interaction
    Vorpal allows developers to easily create interactive command-line applications, which can greatly enhance the user experience compared to traditional command-line tools.
  • Extensibility
    The framework is highly extensible, allowing developers to add new commands and features quickly, making it adaptable to various project needs.
  • Rich Features
    Vorpal comes built-in with features such as command history, tabbed auto-completion, and input validation, which streamline the development process.
  • Integration with Node.js
    As Vorpal is built on Node.js, it easily integrates with other Node.js modules and npm packages, allowing for a robust ecosystem of tools and libraries.
  • Community Support
    Vorpal has a supportive community that actively contributes with plugins and helps maintain the project, providing additional resources and help for developers.

Possible disadvantages of Vorpal

  • Inactive Maintenance
    Vorpal has not been actively maintained, which may lead to compatibility issues with newer versions of Node.js and other dependencies over time.
  • Scaling Limitations
    For more complex and high-scale applications, Vorpal may not be the best choice as it is primarily designed for smaller CLI projects.
  • Limited Documentation
    The documentation for Vorpal is less comprehensive than some other command-line frameworks, which might make it harder for new developers to learn and utilize all features effectively.
  • Dependency Management
    As with many Node.js-based projects, managing dependencies can become complex, especially when integrating Vorpal into larger projects with various modules.
  • Learning Curve
    Although Vorpal aims to simplify command-line app creation, there can still be a learning curve for those unfamiliar with JavaScript or Node.js development.

Analysis of rollup.js

Overall verdict

  • Rollup.js is a highly recommended choice for projects where ES6 modules are extensively used, and the goal is to produce compact and clean output. It's particularly beneficial for library authors aiming to provide their libraries in multiple formats.

Why this product is good

  • Rollup.js is good due to its efficient bundling process that helps in creating smaller and faster JavaScript files. It uses ES6 modules which enable better tree shaking and helps in removing unused code, leading to cleaner and more optimized builds. Additionally, Rollup has a simple and modular architecture that can be extended with plugins to support various build processes and features.

Recommended for

  • JavaScript library authors
  • Developers prioritizing ES6 module syntax
  • Projects that require efficient tree shaking
  • Those needing a customizable and streamlined bundling process

rollup.js videos

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Vorpal videos

Vorpal Board Overview

More videos:

  • Review - CGRundertow VORPAL for Xbox 360 Video Game Review
  • Review - Tokyo Marui Gas Blowback Airsoft Vorpal Bunny Review (English subtitle version)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to rollup.js and Vorpal)
Web Application Bundler
100 100%
0% 0
Technical Computing
0 0%
100% 100
JS Build Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Numerical Computation
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare rollup.js and Vorpal

rollup.js Reviews

Rollup v. Webpack v. Parcel
Rollup provides much simpler configuration over webpack 4 and has a host of pre-configured plugins that are a breeze to incorporate into your project. Rollup's also the fastest of the build tools period.
Source: x-team.com

Vorpal Reviews

We have no reviews of Vorpal yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, rollup.js seems to be a lot more popular than Vorpal. While we know about 62 links to rollup.js, we've tracked only 3 mentions of Vorpal. 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.

rollup.js mentions (62)

  • JavaScript is so redundant
    Why are there so many JavaScript build tools? Gulp, Grunt, Webpack, Laravel Mix, Rollup.js, and now Vite. And these are just the ones that I've worked with. Haven't we solved this problem? And why build a new tool? Why not improve existing tools? - Source: dev.to / 4 days ago
  • ⚔️ Vite vs. Turbopack in 2025: Which One to Choose?
    Vite (pronounced veet) was created by Evan You (Vue's creator) and launched in 2020. It uses native ES modules in the browser and esbuild for lightning-fast dev servers and Rollup for optimized production builds. - Source: dev.to / 8 days ago
  • Valentine’s Day Breakup: React Dumps Create React App
    Vite is a modern frontend build tool used to develop fast and super efficient web applications. It serves files instantly and ensures that changes are updated immediately after they are implemented. It makes use of Rollup for optimized builds and has support for when you want to build a Javascript library (instead of a full app). - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Advanced Guide to Using Vite with React in 2025
    In 2025, mastering Vite for your React projects means leveraging powerful configurations, intelligent optimizations, and a robust plugin ecosystem. By understanding Vite’s modern architecture—native ES modules (ESM) during development and optimized Rollup bundling for production—you can significantly streamline your workflow, improve developer experience, and deliver fast, performant applications at scale. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Optimizing React Development with Vite🤩.
    6. Production-Ready Code Vite uses Rollup for production builds, which optimizes the code by bundling it efficiently, performing tree shaking, and minifying JavaScript. This results in smaller, optimized production builds that are ready for deployment. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
View more

Vorpal mentions (3)

  • Use GNU Emacs
    I occasionally try that as well and it sometimes helps but not for things like node apps that use https://vorpal.js.org REPLs. They just aren't usable in shell-mode. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • google/zx: write shell scripts in JavaScript
    Got it, so more about the general idea of using Node to interact with a shell. Fair points but I'm not sure that's where zx falls. I'm looking at it in relation to projects like commander, oclif, and vorpal— frameworks for authoring and packaging local-use CLI tools written in JS, typically aimed at people who know JS and work in a terminal but don't know shell scripting. Those have the overhead of learning a... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Ask a question before a git commit when committing to a certain folder
    Assuming the project uses node, and admittedly it's a lil overkill, but you could use vorpal. Source: almost 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing rollup.js and Vorpal, you can also consider the following products

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.

CST MICROWAVE STUDIO - Dassault Systèmes®' SIMULIA delivers realistic simulation applications that enable users to explore real-world behaviour of product, nature and life.

Parcel - Blazing fast, zero configuration web application bundler

MATLAB - A high-level language and interactive environment for numerical computation, visualization, and programming

npm - npm is a package manager for Node.

FARADAY - Reducing design costs and development times is an ever-increasing challenge.