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runtime.js

runtime.js is an open-source library operating system (unikernel) for the cloud that runs JavaScript, can be bundled up with an application and deployed as a lightweight and immutable VM image.

It's built on V8 JavaScript engine and uses event-driven and non-blocking I/O model inspired by Node.js. At the moment KVM is the only supported hypervisor.

It tries to be compatible with npm module ecosystem and supports some of the Node.js API.

WARNING: project is in development and not ready for production use.

Project goals

Short term

• Update documentation for both the C++ kernel and the JS API and modules
• Get Tests for the JS portion working
• Maintain what's currently here
• Maintain build tooling for easy development

Long term

• Upgrade v8 to a more modern version
• Implement threads with v8 Isolates

Installation

First thing is the command line tool runtime-cli, it will add runtime command to the shell. Type runtime to get full usage help.

npm install runtime-cli -g

Make sure QEMU is installed, it enables running applications locally.

brew install qemu           # OSX
sudo apt-get install qemu   # Ubuntu

Getting Started

Create new project and add index.js entry point file:

mkdir project
cd project
npm init
npm install runtimejs --save
echo "console.log('ok')" > index.js

Run project locally in QEMU:

runtime start

That's it, it should start and print ok in the console.

Optionally you can let it watch directory for changes and restart QEMU automatically:

runtime watch

How does it work?

There are two main components: operating system kernel and a <a href="https://www.npmjs.com/package/runtimejs"><nobr>JavaScript library</nobr></a>.

The kernel is written in C++ and manages low-level resources like CPU and memory, runs JavaScript using embedded V8 engine. Library drives the entire system and manages hardware devices (usually virtualized by hypervisor).

Building the Kernel

Build the initial Docker image used for building the kernel, and build the kernel.

npm run build

To build the kernel in stages, assemble the Docker image used for building.

npm run prebuild

The kernel can be built without needing to run the prebuild step every time now.

npm run scons

Docs

API docs

Community

Modules and projects developed by the community for runtime.js

License

Apache License, Version 2.0