Benchmarking bundlers 2020: Rollup vs. Parcel vs. webpack

Bundlers are crucial for modern JavaScript applications, as they efficiently package and manage code and resources. This analysis compares leading bundlers—webpack, Rollup, and Parcel—to assist developers in choosing the right tool based on technical and non-technical competencies. Using React Facebook Pixel as a benchmark, the study explores each bundler's configuration, code splitting, caching, handling of non-JavaScript resources, output module formats, and transformation capabilities. The report finds that while Rollup excels in code splitting and output module formats, Parcel leads in caching effectiveness. Webpack, despite its complexity, is praised for flexibility and comprehensive documentation. Parcel is noted for ease of use and rapid evolution with its upcoming version 2, which promises enhanced configuration capabilities. The analysis does not declare a definitive winner but highlights each tool's strengths, helping developers make informed choices based on their specific needs and project requirements.