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Home/Categories/Web Development/swc
icon of swc

swc

  • 34.2K stars
  • Apache-2.0
  • Active this week
  • Last commit 2 days ago

Last verified Oct 20, 2026

A Rust-based platform for fast JavaScript and TypeScript compilation and bundling.

Visit websiteGitHub34.2K stars
TL;DR

swc is a Rust-based platform for fast JavaScript and TypeScript compilation and bundling. It is significantly faster than Babel, making it ideal for modern web development. SWC supports extensibility through custom plugins and integrates well with existing tools.

Read the full breakdownHide the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs, the quick start and the FAQ
who it's for

Who swc is for#

Web Developers

Ideal for developers needing fast compilation of modern JavaScript applications.

Tool Integrators

Can be used within existing toolchains to improve performance and efficiency.

the problem

The problem it solves#

SWC helps developers compile and bundle JavaScript and TypeScript code quickly and efficiently, addressing performance issues with traditional tools.

how swc solves it

How it solves it#

Extensible Architecture

SWC supports custom plugins and can be integrated into various build systems like webpack and Rspack.

High Performance

Achieves significant speed improvements over traditional tools like Babel.

Comprehensive Support

Handles JavaScript and TypeScript compilation, minification, and transformation with WebAssembly.

Community Driven

Actively developed and maintained by a community of contributors.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

  • SpeedSWC is 20x faster than Babel on a single thread and 70x faster on four cores.
  • CompatibilityOutputs valid code that is supported by all major browsers.

Trade-offs

  • -Learning CurveDevelopers may need time to adapt to SWC's API and features.
versus alternatives

swc vs alternatives#

swc vs Babel

swc and Babel both transform modern JavaScript and TypeScript for production builds. swc is the better fit when build speed matters most; Babel is still the safer choice when a project depends on Babel-specific plugins, presets, or unusual transform behavior.

FeatureswcBabel
LicenseApache-2.0MIT
Runtime modelRust compiler with JavaScript and Rust bindingsJavaScript compiler and plugin system
Migration pathDocuments a CLI replacement path from npx babel to npx swcExisting default in many older JavaScript build chains
Performance focusPublishes benchmarks against Babel and esbuildPrioritizes compatibility and plugin coverage

Choose swc for large TypeScript or JavaScript projects where transform time slows local development, CI, or bundler pipelines. The Rust compiler model makes swc especially strong inside frameworks, monorepos, and build tools that run many transforms in parallel.

Choose Babel when your build depends on custom Babel plugins, long-tail proposal transforms, or framework tooling that has not validated swc compatibility. swc is the faster compiler for most standard transforms, but Babel still wins when plugin compatibility matters more than raw speed.

install · quick start

Quick start#

bash
npm install -D @swc/cli @swc/core
tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages
JavaScriptRustTypeScript
Tooling
Babel
frequently asked

FAQ#

What is SWC?

SWC is a Rust-based platform for fast JavaScript and TypeScript compilation and bundling.

How does SWC compare to Babel?

SWC is significantly faster than Babel, achieving up to 70x speed improvements.

Can I use SWC with existing tools?

Yes, SWC can be integrated into various build systems like webpack and Rspack.

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