Pure ESM bundler with 10% faster builds and @rspack/dev-server shrunk from 192 deps to 1 — swap webpack config compatibility for cleaner supply chain.
Summary
Rspack 2.0 eliminates the dependency bloat plaguing Node toolchains while maintaining webpack API parity, reducing install friction and build times on large projects. The ESM-first shift and persistent cache optimization directly speed iteration cycles on React/TypeScript codebases.
Why it matters
Rspack 2.0 eliminates the dependency bloat plaguing Node toolchains while maintaining webpack API parity, reducing install friction and build times on large projects. The ESM-first shift and persistent cache optimization directly speed iteration cycles on React/TypeScript codebases.
Implementation verdict
Replaces webpack for new projects; migrate from 1.x if you're already using Rspack. Requires Node 20.19+ or 22.12+ (drops v18). Worth trying now if your team values supply-chain hygiene and bundle performance—the 95% webpack config compatibility removes config rewrite risk, but ecosystem maturity lags webpack and Vite.
Sources
Dev Signal
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