Paul Krill
Editor at Large

Node.js 19 boosts HTTP throughput

news
Oct 19, 20222 mins

Upgrade to popular JavaScript runtime automatically enables HTTP Keep-Alive for outgoing connections, improving throughput through the reuse of connections.

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Node.js 19 has arrived. The latest update to the popular JavaScript runtime enables HTTP Keep-Alive by default, a change that should deliver better web throughput.

Accessible from nodejs.org, Node.js 19 was released October 18. Beginning with this release, Node.js sets keepAlive to true by default. Thus any outgoing HTTP(S) connection automatically will use HTTP 1.1 Keep-Alive, providing better throughput as connections are reused by default. There is a default waiting window of five seconds. Additionally, Node’s HTTP Agent is able to parse the response Keep-Alive that servers might send. This header instructs the client on how long to stay connected. The Node HTTP server now will automatically disconnect idle clients when close() is invoked.

Node.js 19 will supplant Node.js 18 as the project’s “Current” release line when Node.js 18 enters Long-Term Support status later in October. Node.js 19 will be the Current release until April 2023.

Also in Node.js 19:

  • The WebCrypto API is now stable, except for the Ed25519, Ed448, X25519, and X448 algorithms. This API provides an implementation of the standard Web Crypto JavaScript API for performing basic cryptographic operations in web applications.
  • An experimental node --watch option, available since Node.js 18.11, restarts the process when an imported file is changed.
  • The V8 engine, which underpins Node.js, has been updated to version 10.7.
  • Support for DTrace/SystemTap/ETW has been removed, with prioritization of resources given as the reason.
  • The --experimental-specifier-resolution flag has been removed. This functionality now can be implemented via custom loaders.
Paul Krill

Paul Krill is editor at large at InfoWorld. Paul has been covering computer technology as a news and feature reporter for more than 35 years, including 30 years at InfoWorld. He has specialized in coverage of software development tools and technologies since the 1990s, and he continues to lead InfoWorld’s news coverage of software development platforms including Java and .NET and programming languages including JavaScript, TypeScript, PHP, Python, Ruby, Rust, and Go. Long trusted as a reporter who prioritizes accuracy, integrity, and the best interests of readers, Paul is sought out by technology companies and industry organizations who want to reach InfoWorld’s audience of software developers and other information technology professionals. Paul has won a “Best Technology News Coverage” award from IDG.

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