# bytenode/bytenode

A minimalist bytecode compiler for Node.js

Repository: https://github.com/bytenode/bytenode
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/bytenode
Language: JavaScript
License: MIT
License Family: permissive
Topics: nodejs, bytecode, v8, compiler, source-code-protection, bytenode
Last push: 2026-06-21T19:44:33+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 72/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 88, release rhythm 35, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 2870, "days_push": 73, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: no_releases
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 2966, forks 189 (observed 2026-08-28T04:07:32.576350+00:00)

## What it is
Bytenode is a minimalist bytecode compiler that compiles JavaScript into V8 bytecode (.jsc files) to protect source code. It works with Node.js, Electron, and NW.js, and includes both a CLI and a programmatic API.

## Use cases
- protect javascript source code from being read
- compile node.js app to v8 bytecode
- create js binaries for electron apps
- hide source code in a nodejs cli tool
- distribute node app without shipping plain js

## When to choose
- you need to obscure JavaScript source shipped to customers
- you build Electron or NW.js desktop apps and want source protection
- you want a lightweight CLI/library rather than a full bundler

## When to avoid
- you need real security against determined reverse engineers - bytecode can be decompiled
- your code relies on Function.prototype.toString
- you use async arrow functions in Electron or Puppeteer contexts
- you want minification or bundling - use a bundler instead

## Facets
- artifact type: cli-tool
- maturity: active
- function: compiler, security, cli, developer-tools
- domain: developer-tools, security, web-development
- platform: cli, cross-platform
- tags: v8-bytecode, source-code-protection, electron, nwjs, obfuscation, command-line, nodejs

## Member repositories
- bytenode/bytenode (main) score 72

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:07:32.576350+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T07:31:53.699866+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/bytenode/bytenode (fetched 2026-08-28T04:07:32.576350+00:00, sha d5b94248c5af)
  - registry_npm: https://registry.npmjs.org/bytenode (fetched 2026-08-29T09:47:24.400303+00:00, sha dd7785a86866)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.