Deno is Node sorted - literally!

But, more seriously, Deno is a new runtime for Javascript that promises to fix some of the biggest problems with NodeJS. It was in fact created by Ryan Dahl who invented NodeJs itself.

Sending emails in Deno

MailSlurp is a free email API for sending and reading emails from disposable temp mailboxes. To use MailSlurp with deno simply import the package from Github.

Creating inboxes

The Deno email library uses the same API as the NodeJS npm package.

About Deno

Node.js has been a staple in the JavaScript ecosystem since its release in 2009, enabling developers to use JavaScript for server-side scripting. Deno, introduced in 2018 by Ryan Dahl (the original creator of Node.js), aims to address some of the shortcomings of Node.js while providing a more secure and modern runtime. Let's explore how these two runtimes compare.

Core Differences

1. Security

Node.js:

  • By default, Node.js has a relatively permissive security model. It does not restrict access to the file system, network, or environment variables, which can lead to security vulnerabilities if not managed properly.

Deno:

  • Deno is designed with security in mind. It enforces secure-by-default practices, requiring explicit permissions for file system access, network requests, and access to environment variables.

2. Module System

Node.js:

  • Uses the CommonJS module system by default.
  • Supports ES Modules (ESM) but requires specific configurations.
  • Relies heavily on the npm package manager.

Deno:

  • Uses ES Modules (ESM) as the default module system.
  • Imports modules directly from URLs, removing the need for a centralized package manager like npm.

3. Standard Library

Node.js:

  • Has a rich standard library but often requires third-party modules for additional functionality.

Deno:

  • Offers a more comprehensive standard library out of the box, reducing the need for external dependencies.

4. Tooling

Node.js:

  • Strong ecosystem with a variety of tools for building, testing, and deploying applications.
  • Extensive community support and mature development environment.

Deno:

  • Built-in tools for testing, formatting, and linting.
  • Integrated TypeScript support without the need for additional configurations.