A full version history of the esbuild package with size, number of distributed files and dependency evolution.
Esbuild, an exceptionally fast JavaScript and CSS bundler, has undergone significant evolution since its initial release. The package's journey began with early development versions like "0.0.0" in 2017, primarily focused on testing and initial setup. As development progressed into versions "0.0.4" and onward, the project's description evolved from simple tests to an "extremely fast JavaScript bundler and minifier," reflecting its core objective.
A notable transition occurred around version "0.0.11" with the introduction of platform-specific dependencies like esbuild-linux-64, esbuild-darwin-64, and esbuild-windows-64. This signaled the move towards creating more robust and optimized builds for different operating systems, enhancing the user experience. The versioning scheme significantly transitioned from "0.1.0" reflecting maturation of the codebase
By version "0.13.0", a comprehensive set of dependencies targeting a wider array of platforms (including ARM, FreeBSD, and others) illustrated its commitment to broad compatibility. Later versions, particularly in the "0.14" and "0.15" ranges, focused on refining these platform-specific builds and enhancing the core bundling and minification capabilities.
Reaching "0.16.0", the internal structure shifted with dependencies managed by individual platform packages under @esbuild, This streamlined dependency management and improved build processes. Newer versions, beyond 0.17, are following similar patterns and adding build targets to target newer platforms showing continuous improvement. Over time esbuild has become a stable and reliable tool for JavaScript bundlers offering superior performance, various platforms and an MIT license it is a popular choice for web developers for several years .