Is IO.js Faster Than Node.js?

Introduction

The debate over whether IO.js or Node.js offers superior performance has been ongoing. This article aims to shed light on this issue by examining the garbage collection patterns of both systems and comparing their real-world performance using benchmarks.

Garbage Collection Patterns

When running the same JavaScript program, the garbage collection patterns of different versions of Node.js and IO.js, as well as running them on different machines, reveal interesting insights. A dashboard created with SPM helps visualize these patterns.

Monitoring Support

Node.js and IO.js offer comprehensive monitoring support, allowing you to monitor your applications and observe the differences between different runtimes or hardware. This feature is particularly useful for developers who need to ensure optimal performance.

Update: A general benchmark for Node vs IO.js is available through Benchgraph.

Performance Comparison

IO.js uses V8 3.31, while Node.js uses V8 3.14. This means that any performance improvements in V8 will likely benefit IO.js as well. Unless newer versions of V8 introduce performance regressions, code running in IO.js will theoretically be faster than in Node.js.

Octane JS Benchmark

I compiled IO.js on my 2011 MacBook Pro using the default configuration and ran the Octane JS benchmark. I then repeated the process with the Node.js version available in Homebrew. The results were striking:

IO.js: completed in approximately 37 seconds. Node.js: took about 50 seconds to complete.

Interestingly, IO.js's score was nearly double that of Node.js. While real-world code often behaves differently than the benchmarks, this indicates a decent performance benefit for IO.js.

Real-World Relevance

Are these performance differences significant enough to warrant a migration? The answer is a cautious no. While IO.js does offer some performance gains, the risk of building on an unstable platform is too great. IO.js is still evolving, and developers should remain patient until it reaches a more stable state.