napi-rs/napi-rs

napi-rs is a framework for building compiled Node.js add-ons in Rust via Node-API.

The framework solves the problem of integrating Rust code into Node.js applications by providing a Rust-based abstraction over Node-API, the stable native interface for Node.js. Rather than using node-gyp, developers write Rust code and use the napi-rs crate along with the @napi-rs/cli tool to compile Rust code into dynamically loadable .node files that Node.js can require directly. The approach eliminates the need for C++ toolchain involvement and leverages Rust's type safety and performance characteristics.

Projects that benefit from napi-rs are those needing performance-critical operations in Node.js where JavaScript alone is insufficient, or where teams prefer Rust's safety guarantees over C++. The framework supports a wide range of platforms and Node.js versions, including Windows, macOS, Linux across multiple architectures, Android, and FreeBSD. A package template is available to help developers get started quickly. The tool is particularly suited for teams with Rust expertise who want to avoid the complexity of node-gyp and C++ build systems.

The project maintains active engagement with its community through a Discord server and publishes regularly to both Rust crates and npm registries. Development activity shows consistent attention to platform support, with the framework tested across numerous architecture and operating system combinations. The crate maintains a documented minimum supported Rust version and supports multiple recent Node.js releases, indicating ongoing maintenance and compatibility focus.