Table of contents
Parcel
Blazing fast, zero configuration web application bundler.
As Parcel is an open source project, you can find more
open source alternatives and stats
on LibHunt.
Zero Configuration
Parcel requires minimal to no configuration to get started, making it extremely user-friendly, especially for beginners or small projects.
Fast Bundling
Parcel uses worker threads to parallelize tasks, which significantly speeds up the bundling process compared to other bundlers that do not use this approach.
Out-of-the-box support for many file types
Parcel supports many file types (e.g., JavaScript, CSS, HTML, images) right out-of-the-box without needing additional plugins or configurations.
Hot Module Replacement (HMR)
Parcel offers built-in HMR, allowing developers to see changes in real-time without needing to refresh the browser, leading to a faster development cycle.
Tree Shaking
Parcel automatically performs tree shaking, removing unused code from the production build to reduce file sizes, which can improve loading times.
Code Splitting
Parcel has automatic code splitting capabilities which help to improve performance by loading only the necessary assets.
Extensible via Plugins
Parcel’s plugin system allows developers to extend its functionality easily if custom or additional features are needed.
Promote Parcel. You can add any of these badges on your website.
Parcel is a good choice for developers looking for a hassle-free, efficient, and beginner-friendly bundler. Its minimal configuration approach and speed make it ideal for small to medium-sized projects. However, for highly complex projects that require intricate and highly customized build processes, other bundlers might be more suitable due to their advanced configuration capabilities.
We have collected here some useful links to help you find out if Parcel is good.
Check the traffic stats of Parcel on SimilarWeb. The key metrics to look for are: monthly visits, average visit duration, pages per visit, and traffic by country. Moreoever, check the traffic sources. For example "Direct" traffic is a good sign.
Check the "Domain Rating" of Parcel on Ahrefs. The domain rating is a measure of the strength of a website's backlink profile on a scale from 0 to 100. It shows the strength of Parcel's backlink profile compared to the other websites. In most cases a domain rating of 60+ is considered good and 70+ is considered very good.
Check the "Domain Authority" of Parcel on MOZ. A website's domain authority (DA) is a search engine ranking score that predicts how well a website will rank on search engine result pages (SERPs). It is based on a 100-point logarithmic scale, with higher scores corresponding to a greater likelihood of ranking. This is another useful metric to check if a website is good.
The latest comments about Parcel on Reddit. This can help you find out how popualr the product is and what people think about it.
Https://parceljs.org/ is another. It even supports languages like `` out of the box which is pretty cool. IIRC it downloads necessarily plugins on the fly. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
Parcel is another alternative that requires zero configuration and is super fast. If you want a simple React setup without any hassle, Parcel is a great choice. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
From its documentation [1] it looks a lot like a parceljs replacement [2], i.e. a zero config bundler which processes and bundles the dependencies in .html pages. So great for simple websites, not for replacing an entire Vite stack. [1] https://bun.sh/docs/bundler/fullstack [2] https://parceljs.org. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
Packagers are the ones we most frequently come into contact with, such as Webpack Vite and Parcel. The latter may not be commonly used, but it is also a well-established tool. - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
Npm packages dramatically sped up the productivity of developers by being able to leverage other developers' work. However, it had a major disadvantage: cjs was not compatible with web browsers. To solve this problem, the concept of bundlers was born. Browserify was the first bundler which essentially worked by traversing an entry point and "bundling" all the require()-ed code into a single .js file compatible... - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
You will need a web bundler. You can use parcel.js. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
To run this script, we need a web bundler like parcel js. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
While bundlers like Vite and Parcel present challenges due to our specific needs, two newer alternatives for Webpack show promise. Turbopack, the successor to Webpack created by Tobias Koppers, offers substantial performance enhancements. But, its current beta status and exclusivity for Next.js, limits its immediate usability for us. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
You forgot Parcel, which is working on v3 https://parceljs.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
We are operating within a Node environment, so our first step is to initialize our project by creating a package.json where we define dependencies and commands. Personally, I use both webpack (on top of which @wordpress/scripts is built) and Parcel. While using two different build engines may lack elegance, Parcel’s user-friendly approach compensates for this compared to webpack. Its commands are straightforward,... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
Parcel is a fast and zero-configuration web application bundler designed to simplify the build process for modern web projects. It's not limited to web applications, and it can be used to build packages targeting the browser or Node.js. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
At first we wanted to just get rid of all the helper utilities. Keep only the kernel, but this would mean a loss of backward compatibility. We needed some efficient code processing instead with recomposition and tree-shaking. We needed a bundler. But which one? Our testing approach relies on targets, not sources. We rebuilt the project frequently, speed was critical requirement. In essence, we chose a solution... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
It runs using Parcel, very simple and easy to setup. The app has 3 files:. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
In the Changelog Podcast episode referenced above, Dan Abramov alluded to Parcel working on RSC support as well. I couldn’t find much to back up that claim aside from a GitHub issue discussing directives and a social media post by Devon Govett (creator of Parcel), so I can’t say for sure if Parcel is currently a viable option for developing with RSCs. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
Once you build a simple Vite backend integration, try not to complicate Vite's configuration unless you absolutely must. Vite has become one of the most popular bundlers in the frontend space, but it wasn't the first and it certainly won't be the last. In my 7 years of building for the web, I've used Grunt, Gulp, Webpack, esbuild, and Parcel. Snowpack and Rome came-and-went before I ever had a chance to try them.... - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
I’ve tried something similar on the frontend side: I decided to build a UI for Ollama.ai using only HTML, CSS, and JS (Single-Page Application). The goal is to learn something new and have zero runtime dependencies on other projects and NPM modules. Only Node and Parcel.js (https://parceljs.org/) are needed during development for serving files, bundling, etc. The only runtime dependency is a modern browser. Here's... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
Besides Webpack, there are many other popular web bundlers available, such as Parcel, Esbuild, Rollup, and more. They all have their own unique features and strengths, and you should make your decision based on the needs and requirements of your specific project. Please refer to their official websites for details. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
In the Node.js ecosystem, bundling is typically handled by third-party tools rather than Node.js itself. Some of the most popular bundlers in the Node.js world include Webpack, Rollup, and Parcel, offering features like code splitting, tree shaking, and hot module replacement. - Source: dev.to / about 2 years ago
My first challenge here was the migration from vanilla JS to utilizing tools like Parcel and React. React, I was a bit familiar with; however, I had never heard of Parcel.js in my life. Several days were spent troubleshooting why my build process was not working on Netlify before I finally found out that I had to set up my Netlify Build Settings specifically for using a bundler like Parcel.js. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
Parcel is another popular bundler you can use to bundle Node.js applications. Unlike Webpack, you do not need to write additional configurations with Parcel since it is a zero-configuration bundler. It is capable of automatically detecting and bundling project dependencies. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
I believe so, but I've never done anything extensive with Vite, so I don't know how opinionated it really is. It certainly doesn't seem to be aiming for zero config, like Parcel. Source: over 2 years ago
Parcel is establishing itself as a noteworthy option in the landscape of web and assets bundlers, gaining particular favor among developers who value ease of use. It is frequently highlighted for its zero-configuration feature, which simplifies the setup process drastically compared to competitors like Webpack. Developers new to Parcel often express amazement at the seamless setup process, contrasting it with the complex configuration typically associated with Webpack.
A notable strength of Parcel is its handling of build times. It boasts "blazing fast" bundle times and uses sophisticated caching mechanisms that significantly reduce time consumption after the initial run. This makes Parcel an attractive choice for projects where expediency in build times is a priority, particularly in environments that require frequent small changes.
Furthermore, Parcel's capability to automatically detect necessary plugins enhances its user experience by automatically fetching and configuring resources as needed. Support for various languages and modules, like those written in Elm or utilizing HTML page dependencies, further broadens its applicability. This flexibility eliminates the necessity for excessive configuration, allowing developers to concentrate on development without becoming mired in boilerplate setup tasks.
However, Parcel is not free from criticism. One point of contention is the lack of transparency in its performance benchmarks, which have not been open-sourced. This raises questions regarding the validity of their performance claims, causing some skepticism among the community.
In terms of its positioning against competitors, Parcel is often mentioned alongside other modern bundlers like Vite and esbuild. Its zero-configuration philosophy is a clear differentiator, catering to developers seeking simplicity. Vite, for instance, while gaining popularity, is perceived as less straightforward for zero configuration due to its opinionated nature. Esbuild is recognized for its speed, which can sometimes outpace Parcel, especially in custom configurations, but requires more setup.
Beyond the frontend landscape, Parcel's capability to bundle Node.js applications showcases its versatility. Without the need for additional configuration, it provides a seamless approach to build processes across different platforms.
Parcel’s user-friendly approach compensates for the lack of elegance compared with some more extensive configurations inherent in tools like Webpack, which require multiple configuration files. This ease of use makes it a practical choice for developers focusing on speed or smaller projects with minimal configuration requirements.
Finally, while Parcel may not have the widespread adoption of Webpack or the rapid ascendancy of Vite, it remains a well-established tool recognized for its simplicity and effective performance in suitable project contexts. As the web development ecosystem evolves, whether Parcel will continue to carve out a significant niche amid newer challengers remains to be seen. However, for many, its zero-configuration capability makes it an invaluable tool in their development arsenal.
Do you know an article comparing Parcel to other products?
Suggest a link to a post with product alternatives.
Is Parcel good? This is an informative page that will help you find out. Moreover, you can review and discuss Parcel here. The primary details have not been verified within the last quarter, and they might be outdated. If you think we are missing something, please use the means on this page to comment or suggest changes. All reviews and comments are highly encouranged and appreciated as they help everyone in the community to make an informed choice. Please always be kind and objective when evaluating a product and sharing your opinion.
