Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Snowpack VS Webpack

Compare Snowpack VS Webpack and see what are their differences

Snowpack logo Snowpack

Snowpack is a lightning-fast frontend build tool, designed for the modern web. Snowpack leverages JavaScript's native module system (known as ESM) to avoid unnecessary work and stay fast no matter how big your project grows.

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.
  • Snowpack Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-24
  • Webpack Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-06-13

Snowpack features and specs

No features have been listed yet.

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.

Snowpack videos

Thule SnowPack Review and How To Transport Skis/Snowboards

More videos:

  • Review - Thule SnowPack Ski & Snowboard Carrier Overview And Installation
  • Review - Thule SnowPack Extender Ski + Snowboard Carrier Overview And Install

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 Snowpack and Webpack)
Developer Tools
7 7%
93% 93
Web Application Bundler
JS Build Tools
4 4%
96% 96
Web Frameworks
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using Snowpack and Webpack. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

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

Snowpack Reviews

20 Next.js Alternatives Worth Considering
To cap it off, thereโ€™s Snowpack, the modern build tool thatโ€™s rethinking how we build web applications. Itโ€™s leveraging native browser features to serve up modules only when theyโ€™re changed, cutting down on build times and streamlining the whole development process.

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 seems to be a lot more popular than Snowpack. While we know about 248 links to Webpack, we've tracked only 2 mentions of Snowpack. 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.

Snowpack mentions (2)

  • Is running a CommonJS runtime a viable solution for bundler-free development? Has anyone tried this?
    I know there's Snowpack (though it is no longer maintained), which takes a different, a bit more complex approach. The CJS runtime approach seems way simpler, almost too good to be true? Is there something I'm missing? Source: about 3 years ago
  • Astro and the move to MDX
    This is somewhat reminiscent of the Astro devsโ€™ decision late last year to transition Astro from their own Snowpack platform to Vite. It wasnโ€™t easy, but the performance win was significant. - Source: dev.to / about 3 years ago

Webpack mentions (248)

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What are some alternatives?

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

Vite - Next Generation Frontend Tooling

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

Svelte - Cybernetically enhanced web apps

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

Hugo - Hugo is a general-purpose website framework for generating static web pages.

Parcel - Blazing fast, zero configuration web application bundler