Build Modes

VeloxKit has three build modes, each with different trade-offs.

Snapshot (default)

veloxkit build
veloxkit package

The default and recommended mode for distribution. Generates a V8 heap snapshot at build time.

Characteristics:

• ~50ms cold startup
• Slightly larger output (snapshot blob + assets)
• Requires a build step before packaging
• Best for: production apps, public distribution

Bundle

veloxkit build --mode bundle

Bundles your app code as a plain JavaScript file without snapshot generation.

Characteristics:

• ~150–300ms cold startup (V8 parses on first launch)
• Smaller blob, faster build
• Useful for: CI, testing, apps that ship very rarely

Portable

veloxkit build --mode portable

Produces a zip containing the runtime binary + your app blob as separate files. The binary loads the blob from the same directory on startup.

Characteristics:

• Same startup as snapshot mode
• Blob can be updated independently of the runtime
• Useful for: auto-updater workflows where only app code changes

Dev server

veloxkit dev

Not a build mode — the dev server bypasses snapshot generation entirely and uses hot module replacement. See Hot Reload for details.

Comparison