TC39 JavaScript Updates, TypeScript 5.7 Beta, Node.js V20.18.0 and More

Welcome to a new edition of "This Week in JavaScript"!

Today, we’ve got some HUGE new updates for the JavaScript language from TC39, Deno 2’s Official Release, TypeScript 5.7 Beta and a lot more, so let’s get right into it!

TC39 Updates: What's Coming to JavaScript?

The recent TC39 meeting in Tokyo brought some great updates that will make working with JavaScript even better. JavaScript features go through six different "stages" before becoming available, and here are some highlights:

• Iterator Helpers: Just reached stage 4! These will make handling large data sets a breeze, adding more tools to process data.
• Import Attributes & JSON Modules: This update will make importing JSON files smoother, improving performance and flexibility.
• Promise.try: Now in stage 4, it simplifies error handling in promises, reducing the need for extra code.
• Other cool updates include Math.sumPrecise and Shared Structs, both aimed at enhancing JavaScript's efficiency.

Deno 2 Official Release

Deno 2just dropped, and it's packed with new features!

Built to simplify JavaScript and TypeScript development, Deno 2 is now backward compatible with Node.js, which means you can run your existing Node projects smoothly.

Some standout features include:

• 90% faster package manager: With a hot cache, Deno’s package manager is much quicker than npm, so no more waiting around for installs.
• Workspaces and Monorepos: Managing large projects is now easier, especially when working with both Deno and Node.
• JSR (JavaScript Registry): Makes sharing TypeScript modules across environments seamless.

TypeScript 5.7 Beta

TypeScript 5.7 Beta has landed, bringing with it some helpful updates:

• New check for never-initialized variables: A handy feature to catch bugs early.
• Path rewrites for relative imports: Simplifies building and running code across Deno, Bun, and Node.js.

TypeScript 5.7 is nearly feature-stable, so expect bug fixes and performance improvements in the final release.

New Tools and Releases

• Bun v1.1.30: Now supports bundling multiple CSS files, introduces a new bun publish command, and offers faster startup times.
• Node.js v20.18.0: Features experimental network inspection, helping you monitor network activity in real time.
• DOCX 9.0: Allows easy generation and editing of Word files via JavaScript or TypeScript.
• TinyJS: A lightweight library for DOM manipulation, perfect for simplifying HTML elements in your projects.

If you found these JavaScript updates useful, give this post an upvote to help others discover it. Don’t forget to share it with your fellow developers and keep an eye out for more insights in the JavaScript world.

Until next time, keep coding and stay curious!