AHEAD-OF-TIME TYPESCRIPT COMPILER · SWC + LLVM
Perry compiles TypeScript and JavaScript into a small native executable. One codebase, 11 platforms, no Node.js at runtime.
$ npm i -g @perryts/perry$ perry compile main.ts parse swc transform hir codegen llvm link runtime + gc ✓ wrote ./main ~330 KB $ ./main Hello, World! $ █
Electron bundles Chromium. React Native bundles a JavaScript engine. Perry compiles your code to machine code, so there is nothing extra to ship.
| ElectronChromium + Node.js per app | React NativeJS engine + native views | PerryLLVM machine code | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What ships | Your JS + a full browser | Your JS bundle + an engine | A single native executable |
| UI | HTML/CSS in a webview | Native views over a bridge | AppKit, UIKit, Win32, GTK4, Android, DOM |
| Targets from one codebase | Desktop | Mobile first | 11: desktop, mobile, watch, TV and web |
| JavaScript at runtime | Yes | Yes | No. Optional V8 fallback for packages that need it |
| App size | Includes Chromium | Includes a JS engine | ~330 KB hello world |
| Honest tradeoff | Mature, huge ecosystem | Mature on mobile | Implements a practical TS + Node subset; pre-1.0 |
SWC parses your code, Perry lowers it, and LLVM generates machine code. The runtime and garbage collector are linked into the same binary.
TypeScript or plain JavaScript. Classes, generics, async/await and npm packages.
Fast parsing into an AST.
Type resolution and lowering.
Machine code for ARM64, x86-64 and WASM.
A single file, from ~330 KB.
perry/ui is a declarative UI library built on stacks. Each widget maps to the platform's own toolkit: AppKit, UIKit, Win32, GTK4, Android Views or the DOM.
import { App, Text, VStack } from "perry/ui"
App({
title: "My App",
width: 400,
height: 300,
body: VStack(16, [
Text("Hello from Perry!"),
]),
})
$ perry compile app.ts --target <any of 11>
We run Node 26's test suite against Perry module by module and compare the output with Node. 4,340 tests across 53 modules. Failing tests are listed in the repository.
Fastify · Express · mysql2 · pg · ioredis · ws · bcrypt · jsonwebtoken and more. Plain JavaScript compiles too. Known gaps are listed in the repository.
5.2×faster
string concat
perry 6 ms · node 31 ms
3.5×faster
array write
perry 2 ms · node 7 ms
3.3×faster
date format + parse
perry 33.1 ms · node 110 ms
3.2×faster
batch processing
perry 21.9 ms · node 69.4 ms
| BENCHMARK | ← PERRY FASTERNODE FASTER → | PERRY | NODE | RATIO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| string concatString append loop | 6 ms | 31 ms | 5.2× faster | |
| object allocation1M objects | 8 ms | 5 ms | 1.6× slower | |
| array write10M elements | 2 ms | 7 ms | 3.5× faster | |
| mandelbrotComplex-number iteration | 25 ms | 24 ms | ≈ even | |
| binary treesTree allocation + traversal | 13 ms | 6 ms | 2.2× slower | |
| method callsClass method dispatch | 35 ms | 11 ms | 3.2× slower |
CASE · CLAUDE CODE
13 MBof minified cli.js
from npm
We pointed Perry at the bundle npm ships for Claude Code. The native binary launches, logs in, streams a real API response and paints what you type.
160compiler fixes landed along the way
Read the write-upNPM PACKAGES
Pure TypeScript and JavaScript packages compile natively. Some need the optional V8 fallback.
FRAMEWORKS
Native ARM64 executables under 2 MB, compiled in under a second.
THIS SITE
The server answering this page is a binary compiled with Perry.
The compiler is the core. These tools handle testing, publishing and hosting.
JavaScript/
MIT · open source
UI testing that drives your app's real widgets.
geisterhand.io
From main.ts to the App Store: build, sign, verify and submit.
$ perry publish
Runs Perry-compiled JavaScript/
Pre-1.0
Perry is at v0.5 and hasn't reached 0.6 yet. Until the core is stable, most of the work goes into Node compatibility and performance.
Release notes on GitHubNOWv0.5 → 0.6CURRENT
NEXTafter the core
LATERon a stable base
Perry is an independent project run by its maintainers. If your company needs a platform, package or feature, contact us. Scope, timeline and terms are agreed in writing.
We review your Electron or React Native app and tell you what compiles today and what needs work.
Work alongside the maintainers while your team ships its first Perry build.
Fund a widget, Node module or platform. The work goes into the open-source compiler.
Signing, verification and release planning, with support terms set in your agreement.
Tell us your product, targets and timeline.
Perry started in January 2026 and is pre-1.0. All work happens in public pull requests on GitHub.
Figures read from the GitHub API at build time.
Browse the pull requestsEverything people ask before compiling their first binary
Native Perry binaries run without Node.js, Bun, Deno, or an external JavaScript engine installed. They do include the Perry runtime and garbage collector, statically linked. Packages that need engine semantics can use the optional embedded V8 fallback.
Size depends on the target, imports, and build profile. The published examples range from about 330 KB for hello world to about 7 MB for Mango; full-standard-library or optional-V8 builds can be much larger. Treat any size as a measured example, not a universal output size.
Many pure JavaScript/
Perry documents 11 targets: macOS, iOS, iPadOS, visionOS, tvOS, watchOS, Android, Wear OS, Windows, Linux, and Web/WASM. Web and WASM are aliases; HarmonyOS is a separate preview. Platform maturity and API coverage differ, so consult the platform guide.
The compiler and runtime repository is MIT licensed, and local compilation requires no account. Hosted Perry Publish and commercial support are separate services; availability, limits, and pricing are confirmed in the service or in writing.
Bun and Deno standalone executables bundle their runtimes; Perry native builds compile through LLVM and do not embed a JavaScript engine by default, although they statically link the Perry runtime and GC. Exact size and startup comparisons are version-, platform-, and workload-specific. See the dated Perry vs Bun and Perry vs Deno pages.
Electron ships Chromium and Node.js; Tauri uses a system webview with native-side application code. Perry instead maps its UI model to platform widgets where supported. Bundle size and platform capability vary, so use the dated Perry vs Electron and Perry vs Tauri comparisons rather than a universal size claim.
Perry is pre-1.0 and changes quickly. Real projects use it today, but language, package, and platform parity are still active work. Review the showcase, current limitations, and changelog before committing a production workload.
More questions? Read the getting-started guide or ask on GitHub Discussions.
Sponsoring Perry funds work on the open-source compiler.
Become a sponsor$ brew install perryts/perry/perry$ npm i -g @perryts/perry$ winget install PerryTS.Perry$ perry init my-app && perry run .