bytenode

library1.5.7jsnpmunverified

Bytenode is a minimalist bytecode compiler for Node.js that compiles JavaScript code into V8 bytecode, stored as .jsc files, enabling source code protection. Current stable version is 1.5.7, with irregular releases. Key differentiators: it compiles to actual V8 bytecode (not just obfuscation), supports Electron and NW.js, provides both CLI and programmatic API, and has TypeScript type definitions. Known limitations include incompatibility with arrow functions in certain contexts and breaking code that depends on Function.prototype.toString.

devops data

npm install bytenode

github ↗package ↗

INSTALL

IMPORT

SIG · BYTENODE

bytenode

devopsjavascriptv1.5.7

harness data pending

Install & Compatibility

Where this runs

No compatibility data collected yet for this library.

Code

Verified usage

Verified import paths — ran on the pinned version, not inferred.

compileCode

✓ import { compileCode } from 'bytenode'

✗ const bytenode = require('bytenode'); bytenode.compileCode(...)

ESM named import; CJS require works but destructure recommended.

compileFile

✓ import { compileFile } from 'bytenode'

✗ const compileFile = require('bytenode/compileFile')

File compiling function; direct path import is incorrect.

runBytecode

✓ import { runBytecode } from 'bytenode'

Executes compiled bytecode buffer.

default

✓ import bytenode from 'bytenode'

✗ const bytenode = require('bytenode').default

Default export is an object with all functions; directly usable.

Compiles a JavaScript file to bytecode and then loads and executes the bytecode.

import { compileFile, runBytecode } from 'bytenode'; import fs from 'fs'; // Compile a JavaScript file await compileFile({ filename: 'app.js', output: 'app.jsc' }); // Read the bytecode file and run it const bytecode = fs.readFileSync('app.jsc'); runBytecode(bytecode);

bytenode --version

Debug

Known issues

breakingIn Node 10.x, Bytenode does not work in debug mode.

fix

Do not use Node 10.x with --inspect flag; upgrade to Node 12+.

affects: >=1.0.0

breakingArrow functions (especially async) cause crashes in Puppeteer, Electron, and ndb debugger.

fix

Avoid using arrow functions in compiled code; use regular function expressions instead.

affects: >=1.0.0

breakingCode relying on Function.prototype.toString will break because source code is removed from .jsc files.

fix

Replace any usage of .toString() on functions with alternative logic (e.g., store string representation elsewhere).

affects: >=1.0.0

deprecatedbytenode.runBytecode is not deprecated, but compileCode and compileFile may see argument changes in future versions.

fix

Watch changelog for updates to the API interface.

affects: >=1.3.0

Errors

Common errors & fixes

Cannot find module 'bytenode'

Package not installed or import path incorrect.

fix

Run npm install bytenode and ensure correct import syntax (e.g., import { compileCode } from 'bytenode').

TypeError: compileCode is not a function

Using default import and trying to call it directly.

fix

Use named import: import { compileCode } from 'bytenode'.

Uncaught Error: The module 'app.jsc' was compiled against a different Node.js version

Bytecode is version-specific; compiled on different Node.js major version.

fix

Recompile the .jsc file on the target Node.js version.

Upgrade

Version history

1.5.7latest on npm

Audit

Dependencies

commanderoptionalUsed for parsing CLI commands (required for CLI usage, optional for programmatic API)

Agent activity

12 hits · last 30 days

node

OpenAI (training)

Resources

githubhttps://github.com/bytenode/bytenode ↗

packagehttps://www.npmjs.com/package/bytenode ↗