Packages Runtime

Runtime dependencies are packages needed when your code runs in production; dev dependencies are only for build and testing. Separate them in your package configuration to reduce bundle size and ensure production environments have only essential packages installed.

Optimize runtime performance by removing unused code through tree-shaking, minimizing runtime dependencies, and configuring your build to exclude dev-only packages. This reduces the final bundle size and improves startup and execution speed in production.

Use explicit versioning for runtime dependencies to prevent unexpected behavior in production. Pin critical dependencies, test version upgrades before deploying, and maintain clear separation between stable runtime versions and development dependency versions.

Tree-shaking removes dead code during the build process, significantly shrinking your runtime package. It works by identifying and eliminating unused exports, which is especially effective when combined with proper dependency management and build configuration.

Unnecessary runtime dependencies often result from dev tools being marked as runtime dependencies or transitive dependencies pulled in by other packages. Audit your dependency tree, move dev tools to devDependencies, and use dependency analysis tools to identify and remove unused packages.

Runtime efficiency depends on entry point configuration, module format selection, and build output settings. Configure your package to export optimized code paths, use appropriate module formats for your target environment, and minimize the compiled output size.