tsdown - The Elegant Library Bundler

Blazing-fast bundler for TypeScript/JavaScript libraries powered by Rolldown and Oxc.

When to Use

• Building TypeScript/JavaScript libraries for npm
• Generating TypeScript declaration files (.d.ts)
• Bundling for multiple formats (ESM, CJS, IIFE, UMD)
• Optimizing bundles with tree shaking and minification
• Migrating from tsup with minimal changes
• Building React, Vue, Solid, or Svelte component libraries

Quick Start

# Install
pnpm add -D tsdown

# Basic usage
npx tsdown

# With config file
npx tsdown --config tsdown.config.ts

# Watch mode
npx tsdown --watch

# Migrate from tsup
npx tsdown-migrate

Basic Configuration

import { defineConfig } from 'tsdown'

export default defineConfig({
  entry: ['./src/index.ts'],
  format: ['esm', 'cjs'],
  dts: true,
  clean: true,
})

Core References

Topic	Description	Reference
Getting Started	Installation, first bundle, CLI basics	guide-getting-started
Configuration File	Config file formats, multiple configs, workspace	option-config-file
CLI Reference	All CLI commands and options	reference-cli
Migrate from tsup	Migration guide and compatibility notes	guide-migrate-from-tsup
Plugins	Rolldown, Rollup, Unplugin support	advanced-plugins
Hooks	Lifecycle hooks for custom logic	advanced-hooks
Programmatic API	Build from Node.js scripts	advanced-programmatic
Rolldown Options	Pass options directly to Rolldown	advanced-rolldown-options
CI Environment	CI detection, 'ci-only' / 'local-only' values	advanced-ci

Build Options

Option	Usage	Reference
Entry points	entry: ['src/*.ts', '!**/*.test.ts']	option-entry
Output formats	format: ['esm', 'cjs', 'iife', 'umd']	option-output-format
Output directory	outDir: 'dist', outExtensions	option-output-directory
Type declarations	dts: true, dts: { sourcemap, compilerOptions, vue }	option-dts
Target environment	target: 'es2020', target: 'esnext'	option-target
Platform	platform: 'node', platform: 'browser'	option-platform
Tree shaking	treeshake: true, custom options	option-tree-shaking
Minification	minify: true, minify: 'dce-only'	option-minification
Source maps	sourcemap: true, 'inline', 'hidden'	option-sourcemap
Watch mode	watch: true, watch options	option-watch-mode
Cleaning	clean: true, clean patterns	option-cleaning
Log level	logLevel: 'silent', failOnWarn: 'ci-only'	option-log-level

Dependency Handling

Feature	Usage	Reference
External deps	external: ['react', /^@myorg\//]	option-dependencies
Inline deps	noExternal: ['dep-to-bundle']	option-dependencies
Auto external	Automatic peer/dependency externalization	option-dependencies

Output Enhancement

Feature	Usage	Reference
Shims	shims: true - Add ESM/CJS compatibility	option-shims
CJS default	cjsDefault: true (default) / false	option-cjs-default
Package exports	exports: true - Auto-generate exports field	option-package-exports
CSS handling	[experimental] Still in development	option-css
Unbundle mode	unbundle: true - Preserve directory structure	option-unbundle
Package validation	publint: true, attw: true - Validate package	option-lint

Framework & Runtime Support

Framework	Guide	Reference
React	JSX transform, Fast Refresh	recipe-react
Vue	SFC support, JSX	recipe-vue
WASM	WebAssembly modules via rolldown-plugin-wasm	recipe-wasm

Common Patterns

Basic Library Bundle

export default defineConfig({
  entry: ['src/index.ts'],
  format: ['esm', 'cjs'],
  dts: true,
  clean: true,
})

Multiple Entry Points

export default defineConfig({
  entry: {
    index: 'src/index.ts',
    utils: 'src/utils.ts',
    cli: 'src/cli.ts',
  },
  format: ['esm', 'cjs'],
  dts: true,
})

Browser Library (IIFE/UMD)

export default defineConfig({
  entry: ['src/index.ts'],
  format: ['iife'],
  globalName: 'MyLib',
  platform: 'browser',
  minify: true,
})

React Component Library

export default defineConfig({
  entry: ['src/index.tsx'],
  format: ['esm', 'cjs'],
  dts: true,
  external: ['react', 'react-dom'],
  plugins: [
    // React Fast Refresh support
  ],
})

Preserve Directory Structure

export default defineConfig({
  entry: ['src/**/*.ts', '!**/*.test.ts'],
  unbundle: true, // Preserve file structure
  format: ['esm'],
  dts: true,
})

CI-Aware Configuration

export default defineConfig({
  entry: ['src/index.ts'],
  format: ['esm', 'cjs'],
  dts: true,
  failOnWarn: 'ci-only',
  publint: 'ci-only',
  attw: 'ci-only',
})

WASM Support

import { wasm } from 'rolldown-plugin-wasm'
import { defineConfig } from 'tsdown'

export default defineConfig({
  entry: ['src/index.ts'],
  plugins: [wasm()],
})

Advanced with Hooks

export default defineConfig({
  entry: ['src/index.ts'],
  format: ['esm', 'cjs'],
  dts: true,
  hooks: {
    'build:before': async (context) => {
      console.log('Building...')
    },
    'build:done': async (context) => {
      console.log('Build complete!')
    },
  },
})

Configuration Features

Multiple Configs

Export an array for multiple build configurations:

export default defineConfig([
  {
    entry: ['src/index.ts'],
    format: ['esm', 'cjs'],
    dts: true,
  },
  {
    entry: ['src/cli.ts'],
    format: ['esm'],
    platform: 'node',
  },
])

Conditional Config

Use functions for dynamic configuration:

export default defineConfig((options) => {
  const isDev = options.watch
  return {
    entry: ['src/index.ts'],
    format: ['esm', 'cjs'],
    minify: !isDev,
    sourcemap: isDev,
  }
})

Workspace/Monorepo

Use glob patterns to build multiple packages:

export default defineConfig({
  workspace: 'packages/*',
  entry: ['src/index.ts'],
  format: ['esm', 'cjs'],
  dts: true,
})

CLI Quick Reference

# Basic commands
tsdown                          # Build once
tsdown --watch                  # Watch mode
tsdown --config custom.ts       # Custom config
npx tsdown-migrate              # Migrate from tsup

# Output options
tsdown --format esm,cjs        # Multiple formats
tsdown --outDir lib            # Custom output directory
tsdown --minify                # Enable minification
tsdown --dts                   # Generate declarations

# Entry options
tsdown src/index.ts            # Single entry
tsdown src/*.ts                # Glob patterns
tsdown src/a.ts src/b.ts       # Multiple entries

# Development
tsdown --watch                 # Watch mode
tsdown --sourcemap             # Generate source maps
tsdown --clean                 # Clean output directory

Best Practices

1. Always generate type declarations for TypeScript libraries:

   { dts: true }

2. Externalize dependencies to avoid bundling unnecessary code:

   { external: [/^react/, /^@myorg\//] }

3. Use tree shaking for optimal bundle size:

   { treeshake: true }

4. Enable minification for production builds:

   { minify: true }

5. Add shims for better ESM/CJS compatibility:

   { shims: true }  // Adds __dirname, __filename, etc.

6. Auto-generate package.json exports:

   { exports: true }  // Creates proper exports field

7. Use watch mode during development:

   tsdown --watch

8. Preserve structure for utilities with many files:

   { unbundle: true }  // Keep directory structure

9. Validate packages in CI before publishing:

   { publint: 'ci-only', attw: 'ci-only' }

Resources

• Documentation: https://tsdown.dev
• GitHub: https://github.com/rolldown/tsdown
• Rolldown: https://rolldown.rs
• Migration Guide: https://tsdown.dev/guide/migrate-from-tsup