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Google Closure Compiler vs unbuild

Google Closure Compiler

developers.google.com

unbuild

github.com

Side by side

FigureGoogle Closure Compilerunbuild
Price fromFreeFree
Free planYesYes
Free trial——
Open source——
WindowsYes—
macOSYes—
LinuxYes—
Self-hostedYes—
Plans published12
Spec score · JavaScript Build Tools8.1 (#6)7.1 (#26)
PurposeClosure Compiler optimizes JavaScript by analyzing it, removing dead code, rewriting and minimizing what remains, and checking syntax, references, and types.unbuild is a unified JavaScript build system.

Plans

Google Closure Compiler

  • Closure CompilerFree

Google Closure Compiler pricing →

unbuild

  • MIT-licensed open-source softwareFree
  • unbuildFree

unbuild pricing →

In their own words

Google Closure Compiler

Google Closure Compiler optimizes JavaScript by analyzing code, removing dead code, and rewriting and minimizing what remains. It can also check syntax, references, and types, and warn about illegal JavaScript, risky operations, and common pitfalls. Google says smaller output files can help applications load faster and reduce bandwidth needs. Compilation options include WHITESPACE_ONLY, SIMPLE, and ADVANCED; the repository README also lists BUNDLE. ADVANCED applies aggressive transformations and symbol renaming to improve compression, so preserving program behavior requires care. The project is available as a command-line Java application, a library used through Bazel, and an NPM package. Released JARs are distributed through Maven. The repository documents Maven, NPM, Bazel, command-line Java, and a NodeJS API. Building the compiler requires Java 21 or later, NodeJS, Git, and Bazelisk. Its input restrictions include use of goog.module() and goog.require(), and ES6 import/export support is not actively maintained. The NPM packages are built and distributed by an open source contributor, not Google. The compiler is free.

Visit developers.google.com

unbuild

unbuild has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.

Visit github.com