nub

nub [options] filenub subcommand [arguments]nubx [options] command

Nub is a fast all-in-one toolkit that augments Node.js instead of replacing it. Written in Rust with the embedded oxc parser for transpilation, it bundles a file runner, a script runner, a package manager, a package executor, and a Node.js version manager behind a single command.Unlike alternative runtimes, Nub does not ship its own JavaScript engine. It runs files on the existing Node.js installation while adding native TypeScript execution, automatic .env loading, and a watch mode. The file runner aims to be a drop-in replacement for the node binary, accepting the same flags and environment variables through passthrough.The companion nubx command runs package binaries from the registry or from local node_modules/.bin, serving as a faster substitute for npx. The package manager subcommands (install, ci, add, remove, update) provide an alternative to npm, pnpm, and yarn, while nub node and nub pm manage Node.js versions and Corepack-style package manager shims.

nub file

Run a TypeScript or JavaScript file with automatic transpilation and .env loading.

Execute a script defined in the package.json file.

Run a file and automatically restart it when source files change.

Execute a package binary from the registry or from local node_modules/.bin.

Install all project dependencies.

Perform a clean install of dependencies.

Add one or more packages to the project.

Remove a package from the project.

Update project dependencies.

Download and provision a specific Node.js version.

List the cached Node.js versions.

Print the path to the resolved Node.js binary.

Register global package manager shims (Corepack-style).

Update Nub itself to the latest release.

Nub augments rather than replaces Node.js, so a working Node.js installation is still required for execution. As a young project the command surface and flags may change between releases; check the documentation for the version you have installed.

Nub was published in 2025 as a Rust-based companion to Node.js, positioned alongside all-in-one runtimes such as bun and deno but focused on speeding up existing Node.js workflows rather than introducing a separate runtime.

node(1), npm(1), npx(1), pnpm(1), yarn(1), bun(1), deno(1)

Source code · Homepage · Documentation