Deno was announced at JSConf EU 2018 by Ryan Dahl in his talk "10 Things I Regret About Node.js".[8] In his talk, Dahl mentioned his regrets about the initial design decisions with Node.js, focusing on his choices of not using promises in API design, usage of the legacy build system GYP, node_modules and package.json, leaving out file extensions, magical module resolution with index.js and breaking the sandboxed environment of V8.[9] He eventually presented the prototype of Deno, aiming to achieve system call bindings through message passing with serialization tools such as Protocol Buffers, and to provide command line flags for access control.
Deno was initially written in Go and used Protocol Buffers for serialization between privileged (Go, with system call access) and unprivileged (V8) sides.[10] However, Go was soon replaced with Rust due to concerns of double runtime and garbage collection pressure.[11]Tokio was introduced in place of libuv as the asynchronous event-driven platform,[12] and FlatBuffers was adopted for faster, "zero-copy" serialization and deserialization[13] but later in August 2019, FlatBuffers was removed[14] after publishing benchmarks that measured a significant overhead of serialization in April 2019.[15]
A standard library, modeled after Go's standard library, was created in November 2018 to provide extensive tools and utilities, partially solving Node.js' dependency tree explosion problem.[16]
The official Deno 1.0 was released on May 13, 2020.[17]
Deno Deploy, inspired by Cloudflare Workers,[18] was released on June 23, 2021.[19] Announced May 4, 2022 Beta 4 improved the dashboard and added billing functionality.[20]
Deno Fresh 1.0 was announced June 28, 2022.[21] It features a new full stack web framework for Deno that by default sends zero JavaScript to the client. The framework has no build step which allows for an order of magnitude improvements in deployment times. Version 1.1 was released September 8, 2022.[22]
Deno SaaSKit beta was announced April 4, 2023.[23] It is an open-source, modern SaaS template built with Fresh and Deno.
Deno 2 was released October 9, 2024.[24] It primarily brings Node.js compatibility improvements and removes deprecated features.
Deno mainly deviates from Node.js in the following aspects:[5]
Supports only ES Modules like browsers where Node.js supports both ES Modules and CommonJS. CommonJS support in Deno is possible by using a compatibility layer.[26][27]
Supports URLs for loading local or remote dependencies, similar to browsers, and uses module specifiers like npm: and node: to import NPM or polyfill Node.JS modules. Node.js supports both URLs[28] and modules.
Does not require a package manager for resource fetching, thus no need for a registry like npm.[29]
Supports TypeScript out of the box,[30] using a snapshotted TypeScript compiler or the swc compiler[31] with caching mechanisms.
Aims for better compatibility with browsers with a wide range of Web APIs.
Restricts file system and network access by default in order to run sandboxed code.
Supports a single API to utilize promises, ES6 and TypeScript features whereas Node.js supports both promise and callback APIs.
Minimizes core API size, while providing a large standard library with no external dependencies.
Uses message passing channels for invoking privileged system APIs and using bindings.
Funding
On March 29, 2021, Deno Land Inc was announced, with backing in millions of dollars from Shasta Ventures, Mozilla Corporation and a few others. It was established to further the development of Deno and provide a commercial offering to users.[1]
A year on, Deno announced a further $21 million in Series A funding led by Sequoia Capital.[32]
Release history
The tables below were created using the official Releases page.[33]
Deno
Version
Latest patch release
Release date
Date of last patch release
Description
Old version, no longer maintained: 0.1.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 0.1.12
2018-08-23
2018-11-12
Rust rewrite and V8 snapshot
Old version, no longer maintained: 0.2.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 0.2.11
2018-11-27
2019-02-08
Mildly usable
Old version, no longer maintained: 0.3.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 0.3.10
2019-02-18
2019-04-25
Instead of importing a "deno" module, there is now a global variable called "Deno"
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.0.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.0.5
2020-05-13
2020-06-03
Initial production release with CLI, first-class TypeScript Support, Rust APIs and improvements in HTTP server performance
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.1.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.1.3
2020-06-12
2020-07-03
Various additions and fixes to the CLI, Rust 1.44.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.2.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.2.3
2020-07-13
2020-08-08
Various additions and fixes to the CLI
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.3.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.3.3
2020-08-13
2020-09-04
Various additions and fixes to the CLI, various improvements to the Deno language, TypeScript 3.9.7
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.4.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.4.6
2020-09-13
2020-10-10
New web standard WebSocket API, automatic restarts on file change, integrated test coverage
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.5.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.5.4
2020-10-27
2020-11-23
Faster tree-shaking and bundling, refactored REPL
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.6.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.6.3
2020-12-08
2020-12-30
Compile standalone binaries via "deno compile", support TypeScript 4.1, experimental support for Mac ARM64
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.7.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.7.5
2021-02-05
2021-02-19
Cross compilation and 60% smaller binaries for deno compile, a DNS resolver API, support for data URLs in import statements and web workers
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.8.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.8.3
2021-03-02
2021-04-02
Experimental support for WebGPU API, built-in internationalization APIs enabled, support for fetching private modules, revamped coverage tooling, support for TypeScript 4.2
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.9.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.9.2
2021-04-13
2021-04-23
Native HTTP/2 web server, Faster calls into Rust with serde_v8, Blob URL support & improvements to fetch api, Import completions in the LSP, Interactive permission prompt
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.10.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.10.2
2021-05-11
2021-05-17
Improvements to the built in test runner, structuredClone() support in Web Workers, Web Storage API, support for remote import maps
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.11.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.11.3
2021-06-08
2021-06-29
Official docker images, more web crypto APIs added, BroadcastChannel, abortable fetch, deno lint stabilized
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.12.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.12.2
2021-07-13
2021-07-26
Support for generateKey, sign and verify web crypto APIs, native WebSocket server support, TypeScript support in REPL, support for MessagePort and MessageChannel
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.13.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.13.2
2021-08-10
2021-08-23
Native HTTP web server stabilization, support for self.structuredClone(), AbortSignal support, support for CODENavigator.hardwareConcurrency, javascript API, experimental WebSocketStream API, FFI replaces native plugin system
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.14.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.14.3
2021-09-14
2021-10-04
URLPattern, file locking APIs, mutual TLS support in fetch, TypeScript 4.4, URL parsing and std/http performance improvements
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.15.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.15.3
2021-10-12
2021-10-25
New crypto APIs, deno uninstall subcommand, nested testing API, FFI improvements, new—compat flag for improved Node compatibility
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.16.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.16.4
2021-11-09
2021-12-03
Fetch support for file URLs, new unstable signal listener API, support for specifying a reason when aborting an AbortSignal, improvements to Web Streams API, findLast and findLastIndex array methods, Deno to npm package build tool
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.17.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.17.3
2021-12-16
2022-01-12
Import assertions and JSON modules, improvements to the Web Cryptography API, unref timers, unstable support for negotiating ALPN, TypeScript 4.5
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.18.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.18.0
2022-01-20
2022-01-20
Configuration auto-discovery, completion of Web Cryptography API, stabilization of test steps API, FFI improvements, LSP improvements
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.19.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.19.3
2022-02-17
2022-03-10
New Deno vendor dependency, default permission prompt, new web streams for files, network sockets and stdio, CompressionStream and DecompressionStream supported, better errors for ops and resource sanitizers, improved console log
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.20.1
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.20.6
2022-04-14
2022-03-16
Faster calls into Rust, auto-compression for HTTP response bodies, new subcommands (deno bench, deno task), security improvements, stricter defaults in programmatic permission, TypeScript 4.6, V8 10.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.21.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.21.3
2022-04-20
2022-05-12
Various improvements to the Deno language, VSCode extension, and REPL. Improvements in Deno Test
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.22.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.22.3
2022-05-18
2022-06-09
Updated default type checking behavior, various improvements to the Deno language, updates to the test runner
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.23.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.23.4
2022-06-15
2022-07-12
No type-checking by default, various improvements to the Deno language, force a new line in REPL, TypeScript 4.7
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.24.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.24.3
2022-07-20
2022-08-11
Type checking and emitting performance improvements, various improvements to the Deno language, Deno Test improvements, Updates to the new subprocess API, LSP improvements, addition of semver module
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.25.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.25.4
2022-08-24
2022-09-22
deno init subcommand, experimental npm support, new HTTP server API, improvements to startup time, FFI API improvements
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.26.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.26.2
2022-09-29
2022-10-17
Cache Web API, WebCrypto Secure Curves, --allow-sys permission flag, improvements to npm and Node.JS support, improvements to Deno.serve() API, improved module download UI, developer experience improvement, TypeScript 4.8
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.27.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.27.2
2022-10-27
2022-11-08
Major IDE improvements, improvements to npm compatibility, navigator.language Web API, Improvements to deno task, Upgrade checker, Changes to Deno APIs, Updates to deno lint, V8 10.8, Node.js compatibility improvements, Changes to standard library APIs
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.28.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.28.3
2022-11-13
2022-12-01
Various fixes and feature stabilisations, NPM package importer, auto discovery of the lock file, V8 10.9
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.29.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.29.4
2022-12-14
2023-01-16
npm compatibility improvements, REPL changes, quality of life improvements, Deno API changes, TypeScript 4.9, standard library updates
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.30.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.30.3
2023-01-26
2023-02-07
Support for built-in Node.js modules (import"node:fs"), deno.json becomes an import map, deno fmt supports configuring semicolons
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.31.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.31.1
2023-02-24
2023-02-25
Support for package.json, Stabilization of Node-API, Node compatibility layer for NodeJS moved to the Deno runtime itself, Stabilizations in Deno API, Change to pointer type in FFI API
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.32.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.32.5
2023-03-23
2023-04-18
Enhanced Node.js compatibility, deno compile support for web workers and dynamic import, changes to Deno APIs, changes to Web APIs, changes to the standard library, TypeScript 5.0, V8 11.2
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.33.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.33.4
2023-04-28
2023-05-18
Built in Key-value database, flatter configuration, no permission check for dynamic imports, further enhanced Node.js/npm compatibility, performance improvements, CLI improvements, changes to Deno APIs, V8 11.4
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.34.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.34.3
2023-05-23
2023-6-15
Deno compile support for npm packages, glob support in Deno.json and CLI flags, support for IP addresses in TLS certificates, configuration file improvements, API Changes, Node.js compatibility improvements, TypeScript 5.0.4, V8 11.5
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.35.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.35.3
2023-07-05
2023-07-26
New stable web server API, Node.js compatibility improvements, Deno API changes, Web API changes, LSP improvements, updates to standard library, TypeScript 5.1.6, V8 11.6
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.36.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.36.2
2023-08-03
2023-08-21
More flexible security and expanded testing APIs
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.37.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.37.2
2023-09-19
2023-10-12
Jupyter support, TypeScript 5.2, bug fixes
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.38.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.38.5
2023-11-01
2023-12-05
Deno.Server renamed to Deno.HttpServer, Jupyter support and fixes, Websocket features
Monorepo support with workspaces, deno install updates, command to initialize JSR project, deno vendor deprecation, stabilization of the Standard Library ongoing, V8 12.7 and TypeScript 5.5.2
Node.js compatibility improvements, announced LTS release channel, performance improvements
Legend:
Old version
Old version, still maintained
Latest version
Latest preview version
Future release
Deno Fresh
Version numbers are based on releases from Github.[34]
Version
Latest patch release
Release date
Date of last patch release
Description
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.0.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.0.0
2022-06-28
2022-06-28
Initial release
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.1.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.1.6
2022-08-09
2023-05-23
Automatic JSX, new twind plug-in, Preact Signals support, Preact DevTools support, explicit rendering of 404 pages, stacked middleware, experimental Deno.serve support, showcase & "Made with Fresh" badges
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.2.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.2.0
2023-06-15
2023-06-15
More datatypes supported in island props, support for passing JSX to islands and nesting islands, support for importing packages from npm, custom HEAD request handlers, overrides for headers and status from ctx.render, asynchronous plugin rendering, simplified testing
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.3.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.3.1
2023-07-18
2023-07-21
Async Route Components. adding routes and/or middlewares from plugin. 500 error template fallback, error Boundaries, export multiple islands in the same file, Fresh linting rules, support for Deno.serve
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.4.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.4.3
2023-08-16
2023-09-06
Faster page loads with ahead-of-time compilation, custom html, head and body tags, layouts (async layouts and async app wrapper, quicker typing with define functions
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.5.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 1.5.4
2023-10-10
2023-09-06
Partials and CSR support, active link styling, exposed esbuild targets configuration and metafile.json
Version numbers are bases on release numbers from the Github repository.[35]
Version
Latest patch release
Release date
Date of last patch release
Description
Old version, no longer maintained: beta
Old version, no longer maintained: beta
2023-04-04
2022-04-04
Initial release
Old version, no longer maintained: 0.1.0
2023-04-19
Old version, no longer maintained: 0.2.0
2023-05-08
Old version, no longer maintained: 0.3.0
2023-06-06
Old version, no longer maintained: 0.4.0
2023-06-20
Deno KV OAuth
Old version, no longer maintained: 0.5.0
2023-06-27
Old version, no longer maintained: 0.6.0
Old version, no longer maintained: 0.6.1
2023-08-06
2023-09-12
Current stable version:0.7.0
2023-12-19
Legend:
Old version
Old version, still maintained
Latest version
Latest preview version
Future release
Examples
This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. The specific problem is: Reads like a software tutorial. Some code examples may be useful to illustrate aspects of the framework, but they should be selected for the purpose of providing context to an encyclopedia article on the software. Please help improve this article if you can.(July 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
Deno automatically downloads and caches the remote standard library files when the script is run, and then compiles the code.
Similarly, it can run a standard library script (such as a file server) directly without explicitly downloading, by providing the URL as the input filename (-A turns on all permissions):
$ denorun-Ahttps://deno.land/std/http/file_server.ts
Download https://deno.land/std/http/file_server.tsCompile https://deno.land/std/http/file_server.ts...HTTP server listening on http://0.0.0.0:4500/