Bundling vs No Bundler Approach

Developers should use bundling when building modern web applications to enhance load times, manage dependencies, and support modular development meets developers should consider the no bundler approach when building lightweight, modern web applications where simplicity, fast development feedback, and minimal tooling are priorities, such as in prototyping, small-scale projects, or educational contexts. Here's our take.

Bundling

Nice Pick

Developers should use bundling when building modern web applications to enhance load times, manage dependencies, and support modular development

Pros

• It is essential for production deployments to minimize file sizes and optimize resource delivery, especially in single-page applications (SPAs) and large-scale projects
• Related to: webpack, vite

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

No Bundler Approach

Developers should consider the No Bundler Approach when building lightweight, modern web applications where simplicity, fast development feedback, and minimal tooling are priorities, such as in prototyping, small-scale projects, or educational contexts

Pros

• It is also beneficial for leveraging the latest browser features without build-time transformations, though it may not be suitable for large-scale applications requiring advanced optimizations like code splitting or legacy browser support
• Related to: es-modules, import-maps

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. Bundling is a tool while No Bundler Approach is a methodology. We picked Bundling based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

Bundling wins

Based on overall popularity. Bundling is more widely used, but No Bundler Approach excels in its own space.