Wallaby, Quokka or Console Ninja
Our team creates and maintains Quokka.js, Wallaby.js, and Console Ninja - tools designed to streamline your coding workflow, making it faster, smoother, and more efficient. Each tool serves a distinct purpose, and this guide will help you explore their key differences and ideal use cases.
Wallaby.js: Test Runner with Instant Actionable Results
Wallaby.js is focused on continuous testing to streamline development in projects with tests. It runs your JavaScript and TypeScript tests immediately as you type, displaying results next to your code.
Key Features:
- Real-time feedback: Instantly see test results, code coverage, and error details.
- Integrated highlights: See failed tests, errors, logs, snapshots, and uncovered code directly in your editor.
- Advanced debugging tools: Time Travel Debugging, advanced value and error inspection.
- Supports JavaScript, TypeScript, and testing frameworks like Jest, Vitest, Mocha, Jasmine, and more.
Best For: Developers and teams working on projects with tests who need continuous feedback on test results and code coverage.
Quokka.js: Real-time Feedback for Code Experimentation
Quokka.js is ideal for sandboxing, prototyping, and learning. It runs JavaScript and TypeScript code in real time as as a standalone self-contained program, and provides instant feedback by displaying runtime values inline as you type.
Use Cases:
- Quickly test snippets of JavaScript or TypeScript without launching your application or leaving your editor.
- Experiment with new APIs, libraries, or algorithms in a controlled, live environment.
- Validate and debug pieces of your project’s logic or edge cases without launching your application.
- An excellent tool for learners to understand JavaScript/TypeScript behavior in real-time.
- Great for instructors and content creators to demonstrate code concepts interactively.
Best For: Developers and teams who want a fast and intuitive way to experiment with code, run and debug code snippets with deep insights, or learn new concepts interactively.
Console Ninja: Real-time Logging for Running Apps
Console Ninja displays console.log output and runtime errors directly in your editor
from your running browser or node application. It’s like your browser dev tools console tab or terminal output from
your node app, but instead of having to context switch, values are connected to your code and displayed ergonomically in
your editor.
Use Cases:
- Logging and inspecting logs output in HMR or live-reloading web applications without switching between your editor and browser.
- Debugging web applications running in dev mode without switching between your editor and browser.
- Monitoring and analyzing runtime values and errors in your node applications running in dev mode.
- Quickly identifying and fixing issues in your code by seeing
console.logoutput inline.
Best For: Developers and teams who rely on console.log for writing code and debugging and want a more efficient, editor
integrated solution.
Key Differences at a Glance
| Feature | Quokka.js | Wallaby.js | Console Ninja |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Code experimentation | Continuous testing | Enhanced logging for running apps |
| Scope | Code snippets, individual source files, pieces of logic | Projects with unit tests | Apps running in dev mode |
| Real-time Feedback | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Time Travel Debugging | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Inline Runtime Values | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Test Framework Support | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Supported Editors | VS Code, JetBrains, Sublime | VS Code, JetBrains, Visual Studio, Sublime, Neovim, Zed, Fleet, Emacs, etc. (any editor) | VS Code |
| Licensing | Community (Free) and Pro (Paid) | Paid for commercial projects and Free for OSS projects | Community (Free) and Pro (Paid) |