https://github.com/techiev2/vajra
Ultra-minimal, zero-dependency Node.js HTTP server Routing · Middleware · Multipart parsing · HTML templating
https://github.com/techiev2/vajra
javascript nodejs webserver
Last synced: 5 months ago
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Ultra-minimal, zero-dependency Node.js HTTP server Routing · Middleware · Multipart parsing · HTML templating
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/techiev2/vajra
- Owner: techiev2
- Created: 2025-12-29T14:00:35.000Z (6 months ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2026-01-14T09:15:19.000Z (5 months ago)
- Last Synced: 2026-01-14T13:27:22.213Z (5 months ago)
- Topics: javascript, nodejs, webserver
- Language: JavaScript
- Homepage:
- Size: 1.65 MB
- Stars: 0
- Watchers: 0
- Forks: 0
- Open Issues: 0
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README
Awesome Lists containing this project
README
# Vajra ⚡
**Ultra-minimal, zero-dependency Node.js HTTP server**
Routing · Middleware · Multipart parsing · HTML templating
All in **111 lines** of pure JavaScript
## Name Origin
Vajra draws from the Rigvedic thunderbolt weapon of Indra — crafted from the bones of Sage Dadhichi, symbolizing unbreakable strength through selfless sacrifice.
Like the Vajra, this server delivers maximum power in minimal form.
[](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@techiev2/vajra)
[](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@techiev2/vajra)
[](https://nodejs.org)
[](LICENSE)
## Changelog
### 1.5.3 (2026-01-14)
- Downgrades createServer to come from http module. Secure server support to be provided in a later minor version.
### 1.5.2 (2026-01-12)
- Upgrades createServer to come from https module on snyk suggestion.
### 1.5.1 (2026-01-04)
- Adds a pre-allocated buffer based body reader for improvement.
### 1.5.0 (2026-01-03)
- Adds support for res.sendFile.
### 1.4.3 (2026-01-02)
- Adds guardrails for unsafe operations with template paths.
### 1.4.2 (2026-01-02)
- Fixes bug in parsing params that dropped file extensions.
### 1.4.1 (2026-01-01)
- Added support to handle drift in system time after signing
### 1.4.0 (2025-12-31)
- Added full HS256 JWT support (`@techiev2/vajra/libs/auth/jwt.js`)
- Ultra-minimal, zero-dependency implementation
- Key and header caching for maximum performance
- Robust base64url handling
- Numeric exp validation and expiration checks
### 1.3.0 (2025-12-30)
- Performance improvements to routing in bare routes
### 1.2.0 (2025-12-30)
- Adds cookie support
### 1.0.0 (2025-12-25)
- Initial release
## Features
- Zero external dependencies
- Built-in routing with named parameters (`:id`)
- Asynchronous batched logging for performance
- Global middleware support with `next()` chaining
- JSON, urlencoded, and **multipart/form-data** body parsing
- Fast HTML templating with loops, nested objects, and simple array headers
- Helper methods: `res.json()`, `res.html()`, `res.status()`, `res.writeMessage()`
- Payload size limiting with 413 responses
- Sensible defaults for 404/405/500
## Performance (Apple M4, Node 20+)
| Test Case | Vajra | Express + Multer | Notes |
|------------------------------------------------|----------------|------------------|---------------------------|
| 1MB Multipart Upload (wrk -t16 -c600) | **~94–98k req/s** | ~72k req/s | +30% faster |
| Idle RSS | ~52–53 MB | ~44 MB | Zero deps vs extra packages |
| Peak RSS under load | ~228 MB | ~209 MB | Full buffering trade-off |
| Code size (source) | **111 lines** | ~2k+ lines | Hand-crafted minimalism |
## Performance Benchmarks (wrk)
## Installation
```bash
npm install vajra
```
## Quick Start
```JavaScript
import Vajra from '../index.js';
import { encode } from 'node:querystring';
async function getUsers(query = {}) {
return (await fetch(`https://jsonplaceholder.typicode.com/users?${encode(query)}`)).json()
}
const { get, post, use, start, setProperty, log } = Vajra.create();
setProperty({ viewsRoot: `${import.meta.url}/views` })
// Or as a key-value pair
// setProperty('viewsRoot', `${import.meta.url}/views`)
use((req, res, next) => {
// Vajra provides an async batched logger to provide a balance between 100% log coverage and performance.
// If you prefer blocking immediate logs, you can switch to console.log
// or any other library of your choice.
log(`${req.method} ${req.url}`);
next();
});
get('/', (req, res) => {
res.writeMessage('Hello from Vajra ⚡');
});
post('/upload', (req, res) => {
res.json({ received: true, filesCount: req.files.length, files: req.files, body: req.body });
});
start({ port: 4002 }, () => {
console.log('Ready at http://localhost:4002');
});
get('/api/users', async ({ query }, res) => {
const users = await getUsers(query)
return res.json({ users })
})
get('/web/users', async ({ query }, res) => {
const users = await getUsers(query)
const headers = Object.keys(users[0])
return res.html(`users.html`, { users, headers })
})
```
## HTML Templating
```JavaScript
import Vajra from '../index.js';
const { get, post, use, start, setProperty } = Vajra.create();
get('/users', (req, res) => {
const data = {
users: [
{ id: 1, name: 'Alice' },
{ id: 2, name: 'Bob' }
],
headers: ['ID', 'Name']
};
// If no view root is set, .html() expects the absolute path.
res.html('views/users.html', data);
});
```
#### views/users.html
```html
{{# headers }}
{{ header@ }}
{{/ headers }}
{{# users }}
{{ id }}
{{ name }}
{{/ users }}
```
Supports:
- Loops ({{# array }} ... {{/ array }})
- Dot notation ({{ user.name }})
- Special header shorthand ({{ header@ }} for simple arrays)
## Configuration
```JavaScript
const app = vajra.create({
maxFileSize: 10 // in MB (default: 2)
});
// Set view root path
app.setProperty('viewRoot', './views');
```
## API
- `get/post/put/patch/delete/head/options(path, handler)`
- `use(middleware)`
- `start({ port, host }, callback?)`
- `setProperty(key, value)` or `setProperty({ key: value })`
- `log(message)`
#### Response helpers:
`res.status(code)`
`res.json(data)`
`res.writeMessage(text)`
`res.html(pathOrString, data)`
## Philosophy
Vajra is built on the principle that minimalism can maximise outcomes.
Everything you need for real internal tools, admin panels, APIs, and prototypes — without the bloat.
No dependencies.
No build step.
Just copy `index.js` and go.
## Benchmarks & Memory
Run under extreme multipart load (wrk -t16 -c600 -d30s 1MB payloads):
Throughput: ~95k req/s
Idle RSS: ~52 MB
Peak under load: ~228 MB (drops back on idle)
## License
MIT
## Credits
Hand-crafted by [[Sriram Velamur](https://linkedin.com/in/techiev2)/[@techiev2](https://x.com/techiev2)]
Inspired by the desire for a truly tiny, powerful, and dependency-free Node server.