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Nub

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What Nub is

Nub is a free, open-source Rust toolkit for running TypeScript, JSX, and JavaScript on the stock Node binary. Its file command is described as flag-for-flag compatible with Node, and it runs modern syntax without a separate build step. Nub supports tsconfig.json, data-file imports, and automatic .env loading with variable expansion. If a project pins a Node version in .node-version, .nvmrc, or engines/devEngines, Nub can download and provision that version on demand.

The toolkit combines a script runner, package installer, and Node version manager. Its runner handles package lifecycle hooks, npm_* environment variables, forwarded arguments, and pnpm-style workspace filters. The installer reads and writes npm, pnpm, and Bun lockfiles, while Yarn lockfiles are read-only. By default, it blocks dependency build scripts, checks OSV advisories, and holds new releases for 24 hours; skipped scripts can be reviewed with nub approve-builds. Nub also offers nubx for local or fetched command-line tools and a watch command that restarts an app when entrypoint or imported files change. It supports Linux, macOS, and Windows, and provides a GitHub Action, a container image, and deployment guides for several services.

Who it suits

Nub suits developers who want to run TypeScript, JSX, or JavaScript directly on Node while keeping project-pinned Node versions and package workflows together. Its workspace support, CI action, container image, and deployment guides also fit teams using those workflows.

What it does well

Runs TypeScript, JSX, and JavaScript without a separate build step.
Can provision project-pinned Node versions on demand.
Watch mode restarts apps when entrypoint or imported files change.
Blocks dependency build scripts by default and checks OSV advisories.
Supports workspaces, peer dependencies, publishing, and offline package caching.
Offers a GitHub Action and official container image.

What to know first

Yarn lockfiles are read-only in the installer.
Augmented modes require Node 18.19 or newer.

Getting started

Visit https://nubjs.com/ to access the project.
Use Nub on Linux, macOS, or Windows.
Use the installer with npm, pnpm, or Bun lockfiles; Yarn lockfiles are read-only.
Use the GitHub Action for CI, or the official container image at ghcr.io/nubjs/nub.

Verdict

Choose Nub if you want a free, open-source toolkit for running TypeScript and managing Node versions and package workflows. Consider its lockfile distinction if your workflow depends on writing Yarn lockfiles; the installer writes npm, pnpm, and Bun lockfiles instead.

Questions

Does Nub cost anything?

Nub is free and open source. There is no free trial.

Which platforms does Nub support?

Nub supports Linux, macOS, and Windows. Its augmented modes require Node 18.19 or newer and support x64 and arm64 architectures on those platforms.

Which lockfiles can the installer write?

It can read and write npm, pnpm, and Bun lockfiles. Yarn lockfiles are read-only.

Does Nub have CI or container support?

The project provides a GitHub Action and an official container image at ghcr.io/nubjs/nub.

What package safety checks does Nub use?

The installer denies dependency build scripts by default, checks OSV advisories, and holds back releases younger than 24 hours. Users can review skipped scripts with nub approve-builds.

Facts from Nub's own pages

CI integration: Nub provides a GitHub Action that installs Nub, warms the project's Node version, and caches Nub's store in CI. · nubjs.com, 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. · nubjs.com, 4 Oct 2026
Container integration: The documentation provides an official container image at ghcr.io/nubjs/nub. · nubjs.com, 4 Oct 2026
Environment files: It loads .env files automatically and supports variable expansion. · nubjs.com, 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. · nubjs.com, 4 Oct 2026
Install approval: Users can review and enable skipped install scripts with the nub approve-builds command. · nubjs.com, 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. · nubjs.com, 4 Oct 2026
License: The site links the project license as MIT. · nubjs.com, 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. · nubjs.com, 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. · nubjs.com, 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. · nubjs.com, 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. · nubjs.com, 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. · nubjs.com, 4 Oct 2026
Package manager compatibility: The installer reads and writes npm, pnpm, or Bun lockfiles; Yarn lockfiles are read-only. · nubjs.com, 4 Oct 2026
Product: Nub is a Rust toolkit that runs TypeScript files and scripts, installs dependencies, and manages Node.js on stock Node. · nubjs.com, 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. · nubjs.com, 4 Oct 2026
Runtime: It runs TypeScript, JSX, and JavaScript files on the stock Node binary without requiring a separate build step. · nubjs.com, 4 Oct 2026
Script runner: The script runner supports package lifecycle hooks, npm_* environment variables, argument forwarding, and pnpm-style workspace filters. · nubjs.com, 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. · nubjs.com, 4 Oct 2026
TypeScript runtime: Nub runs TypeScript, JSX, and modern syntax directly with support for tsconfig.json, environment files, and data-file imports. · nubjs.com, 4 Oct 2026
Watch mode: Its watch command restarts an application when its entrypoint or transitively imported files change. · nubjs.com, 4 Oct 2026

Where Nub stands on Freedom251

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