Which JavaScript build tool should you choose?

Grunt is a Node.js-based task runner, most commonly used for frontend projects. Gulp is a lightweight build tool, using Node’s stream API to speed up and simplify complex build processes.

We line up the two JavaScript build tools and reveal which you should use in your next projects.

Philosophy

Grunt builds are mostly made up of JSON-like configuration rather than code. Instead of writing a programmatic build script, you supply options to a series of pre-packaged build tasks inside a Gruntfile.

Gulp takes the opposite approach, favouring code over configuration. There are only a few simple methods you need to create a working Gulpfile. Due to its streaming API, builds are extremely fast.

Plugins

Grunt has a large, growing community surrounding it. There are currently almost 2,300 plugins available, supporting common tasks like static asset compilation and deployment.

Gulp still has a relatively young ecosystem, but there are already around 300 plugins that have been published to npm. A core benefit of Gulp’s streaming API is that plugins are small and easily connectable.

This article first appeared in The JavaScript Handbook. It's on sale now for only £14.99

This article first appeared in The JavaScript Handbook. It's on sale now for only £14.99

Speed

Tasks run synchronously by default. Each task is individually configured to interact with the file system. This I/O-heavy approach can cause performance degradation if your project grows too large. Grunt plugins try to improve the situation, but it’s not ideal.

Tasks run synchronously by default. Each task is individually configured to interact with the file system. This I/O-heavy approach can cause performance degradation if your project grows too large. Grunt plugins try to improve the situation, but it’s not ideal.

Scaffolding

Yeoman, a very popular JavaScript scaffolding tool, has first-class support for Grunt. The vast majority of Yeoman generators create a project that includes a Gruntfile. There is even a Yeoman generator the can scaffold Grunt plugins.

The Yeoman team are prototyping the use of Gulp in their official generators. Yeoman was instrumental in the creation of many Grunt plugins, so this process is likely to be repeated with Gulp. Just like Grunt, there’s a generator that can scaffold boilerplate Gulp plugins.

Verdict

The Grunt team is planning to implement similar virtual file transformations to Gulp, so the choice between the two will increasingly depend on whether you prefer configuration or code for your build process.

Unless your build is modified by frontend designers with little JavaScript experience, Gulp is likely to be a much more popular choice in the long run.

Words: Mark Dalgleish

Mark Dalgleish in an expert in JavaScript, front end development and Node.js. Follow him on Twitter @markdalgleish. The article originally appeared in The JavaScript Handbook.

Like this? Read this!

Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

The Creative Bloq team is made up of a group of design fans, and has changed and evolved since Creative Bloq began back in 2012. The current website team consists of eight full-time members of staff: Editor Georgia Coggan, Deputy Editor Rosie Hilder, Deals Editor Beren Neale, Senior News Editor Daniel Piper, Digital Arts and Design Editor Ian Dean, Tech Reviews Editor Erlingur Einarsson and Ecommerce Writer Beth Nicholls and Staff Writer Natalie Fear, as well as a roster of freelancers from around the world. The 3D World and ImagineFX magazine teams also pitch in, ensuring that content from 3D World and ImagineFX is represented on Creative Bloq.