Nub
Nub is a free, open-source Rust toolkit for running TypeScript, JSX, and JavaScript on the stock Node binary without a separate build step.
What Nub is
Nub is a free, open-source Rust toolkit for running TypeScript, JSX, and JavaScript on the stock Node binary without a separate build step. It manages project-pinned Node versions, loads environment files, restarts apps when watched files change, and includes a script runner and package installer. The installer can work with npm, pnpm, or Bun lockfiles; Yarn lockfiles are read-only. Nub also denies dependency build scripts by default, checks OSV advisories, and delays releases younger than 24 hours, with an approval command for enabling skipped scripts. It supports workspaces, peer dependencies, publishing, offline package caching, and global installation. The project lists GitHub Actions, a container image, and deployment guides for several services. Augmented modes require Node 18.19 or newer, and the listed supported operating systems and architectures are macOS, Linux, and Windows on x64 and arm64.
Good
- Runs TypeScript, JSX, and JavaScript directly.
- Manages project-pinned Node versions.
- Denies dependency build scripts by default.
- Supports workspaces and peer dependencies.
- Includes a GitHub Action.
Watch out
- Augmented modes require Node 18.19 or newer.
- Yarn lockfiles are read-only.
- Skipped install scripts require approval to enable.
Who it suits
Nub may suit developers who want to run TypeScript and JavaScript directly on Node while managing project Node versions and dependencies. Its safeguards and workspace support may also appeal to teams working with package scripts and CI.
Verdict
Nub brings runtime, Node version management, and package installation into one open-source toolkit. Check its Node requirement and read-only Yarn support against your workflow.
The facts
Each one read from Nub's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- CI integration
- Nub provides a GitHub Action that installs Nub, warms the project's Node version, and caches Nub's store in CI.checked 4 Oct 2026
- CLI runner
- nubx runs local command-line tools or fetches tools that are not installed, following a local-first model like npx.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Container integration
- The documentation provides an official container image at ghcr.io/nubjs/nub.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Environment files
- It loads .env files automatically and supports variable expansion.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Environment support
- When Nub detects a Varlock .env.schema file, it disables its own environment loading and uses Varlock to load and validate the environment.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The documentation lists a GitHub Action and deployment guides for Docker, Vercel, Cloudflare, Railway, Render, AWS Lambda, and Google Cloud Run.checked 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The site links the project license as MIT.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Node compatibility
- Nub runs code on the stock Node binary and describes its file command as flag-for-flag compatible with node.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Node management
- Nub can read version pins from .node-version, .nvmrc, or engines/devEngines and download the requested Node version on demand.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Node version management
- Nub can provision the Node version pinned by a project, downloading it from nodejs.org when it is not already installed.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Package ecosystem support
- Nub documents compatibility with npm, pnpm, Yarn, and Bun package-manager workflows, while its installer writes existing npm, pnpm, or bun lockfiles and treats yarn.lock as read-only.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Package manager
- Nub install is a pnpm-compatible package manager that can round-trip npm, pnpm, and bun lockfiles; Yarn lockfiles are read-only.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Package manager compatibility
- The installer reads and writes npm, pnpm, or Bun lockfiles; Yarn lockfiles are read-only.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Product
- Nub is a Rust toolkit that runs TypeScript files and scripts, installs dependencies, and manages Node.js on stock Node.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- Augmented modes require Node 18.19 or newer and support macOS, Linux, and Windows on the listed x64 and arm64 architectures.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Runtime
- It runs TypeScript, JSX, and JavaScript files on the stock Node binary without requiring a separate build step.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Script runner
- The script runner supports package lifecycle hooks, npm_* environment variables, argument forwarding, and pnpm-style workspace filters.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Supply-chain protections
- The installer denies dependency build scripts by default, checks OSV advisories, and holds back releases younger than 24 hours.checked 4 Oct 2026
- TypeScript runtime
- Nub runs TypeScript, JSX, and modern syntax directly with support for tsconfig.json, environment files, and data-file imports.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Watch mode
- Its watch command restarts an application when its entrypoint or transitively imported files change.checked 4 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Install approval
- Users can review and enable skipped install scripts with the nub approve-builds command.checked 4 Oct 2026
