Need advice about which tool to choose?Ask the StackShare community!

gulp

15.1K
9K
+ 1
1.7K
Parcel

847
249
+ 1
18
Add tool

Parcel vs gulp: What are the differences?

Introduction

Parcel and Gulp are both build tools that help automate various tasks in web development. While they have similarities, they also have key differences that make them unique. This article will outline the most significant differences between Parcel and Gulp.

  1. Module Bundling: Parcel is a zero-config bundler that automatically detects dependencies and builds the output accordingly. It handles the bundling of different file types (e.g., JavaScript, CSS, HTML) without the need for explicit configuration. On the other hand, Gulp is a task runner that requires explicit configuration using a gulpfile.js. Developers need to define specific tasks for bundling modules and managing dependencies manually.

  2. Code Splitting: Parcel performs automatic code splitting out-of-the-box. It analyzes the project's dependencies and splits the code into smaller chunks that can be loaded on demand. This results in more efficient and optimized loading of the application. Gulp, on the other hand, does not have built-in support for code splitting. Developers using Gulp need to use external plugins or manually implement code splitting techniques.

  3. Transpiling and Preprocessing: Parcel has built-in support for transpiling modern JavaScript code using Babel and for preprocessing CSS using PostCSS. Developers can use the latest JavaScript features and CSS syntax without any additional configuration. Gulp, on the other hand, requires developers to configure and use specific plugins to achieve similar transpiling and preprocessing capabilities.

  4. Binary Executables: Parcel is a standalone tool that can be installed globally on a system. Once installed, it can be executed directly from the command line using the parcel command. Gulp, on the other hand, is a JavaScript-based task runner that requires the installation of Node.js and Gulp globally. Developers need to run Gulp tasks through the command line using the gulp command.

  5. Watch Mode: Parcel has a built-in watch mode that monitors file changes and automatically rebuilds the project on any modification. It provides automatic live reloading without the need for external plugins or additional configuration. Gulp can also watch files for changes, but developers need to define watch tasks explicitly in the gulpfile.js to enable this functionality.

  6. Developer Experience: Due to its zero-config nature, Parcel provides a simplified developer experience, especially for beginners or those who prefer minimal configuration. It reduces setup time and makes it easier to get started with a new project quickly. In contrast, Gulp offers more flexibility and configurability, making it suitable for complex or customized build pipelines. Developers with more experience and specific requirements might prefer the flexibility of Gulp.

In summary, Parcel is a zero-config build tool with automatic module bundling, code splitting, and built-in support for transpiling and preprocessing. It provides a simplified developer experience and is suitable for simpler projects. Gulp, on the other hand, requires explicit configuration, offers more flexibility, and is ideal for complex or customized build pipelines.

Decisions about gulp and Parcel

Very simple to use and a great way to optimize repetitive tasks, like optimize PNG images, convert to WebP, create sprite images with CSS.

I didn't choose Grunt because of the fact it uses files and Gulp uses memory, making it faster for my use case since I need to work with 3000+ small images. And the fact Gulp has 32k+ stars on GitHub.

See more
Get Advice from developers at your company using StackShare Enterprise. Sign up for StackShare Enterprise.
Learn More
Pros of gulp
Pros of Parcel
  • 451
    Build speed
  • 277
    Readable
  • 244
    Code-over-configuration
  • 210
    Open source
  • 175
    Node streams
  • 107
    Intuitive
  • 83
    Lots of plugins
  • 66
    Works great with browserify
  • 45
    Easy to Learn
  • 17
    Laravel-elixir
  • 4
    build workflow
  • 3
    Simple & flexible
  • 3
    Great community
  • 2
    Stylus intergration
  • 2
    Clean Code
  • 2
    jade intergration
  • 0
    Well documented
  • 10
    Zero configuration
  • 8
    Built-in dev server with livereload

Sign up to add or upvote prosMake informed product decisions

Cons of gulp
Cons of Parcel
    Be the first to leave a con
    • 3
      Lack of documentation

    Sign up to add or upvote consMake informed product decisions

    What is gulp?

    Build system automating tasks: minification and copying of all JavaScript files, static images. More capable of watching files to automatically rerun the task when a file changes.

    What is Parcel?

    Parcel is a web application bundler, differentiated by its developer experience. It offers blazing fast performance utilizing multicore processing, and requires zero configuration.

    Need advice about which tool to choose?Ask the StackShare community!

    What companies use gulp?
    What companies use Parcel?
    See which teams inside your own company are using gulp or Parcel.
    Sign up for StackShare EnterpriseLearn More

    Sign up to get full access to all the companiesMake informed product decisions

    What tools integrate with gulp?
    What tools integrate with Parcel?

    Sign up to get full access to all the tool integrationsMake informed product decisions

    Blog Posts

    JavaScriptGitHubPython+42
    53
    21783
    GitHubPythonSlack+25
    7
    3146
    What are some alternatives to gulp and Parcel?
    Grunt
    The less work you have to do when performing repetitive tasks like minification, compilation, unit testing, linting, etc, the easier your job becomes. After you've configured it, a task runner can do most of that mundane work for you—and your team—with basically zero effort.
    Webpack
    A bundler for javascript and friends. Packs many modules into a few bundled assets. Code Splitting allows to load parts for the application on demand. Through "loaders" modules can be CommonJs, AMD, ES6 modules, CSS, Images, JSON, Coffeescript, LESS, ... and your custom stuff.
    npm
    npm is the command-line interface to the npm ecosystem. It is battle-tested, surprisingly flexible, and used by hundreds of thousands of JavaScript developers every day.
    Yarn
    Yarn caches every package it downloads so it never needs to again. It also parallelizes operations to maximize resource utilization so install times are faster than ever.
    CodeKit
    Process Less, Sass, Stylus, Jade, Haml, Slim, CoffeeScript, Javascript, and Compass files automatically each time you save. Easily set options for each language.
    See all alternatives