Node.js on Mobile: Zero-Bridge Shared Logic with Bare Runtime

Stop duplicating your backend logic for iOS and Android 🫸 Node.js on mobile is finally a reality with Bare Runtime — a lightweight, modular alternative to Node, Deno, and Bun designed for native-speed execution. In this talk, Tony Gorez (Holepunch) breaks down how to achieve Zero-Bridge performance by offloading heavy JS logic into Bare Worklets, giving your React Native apps a massive architectural upgrade without the typical overhead. What’s under the hood: ✪ The Mobile Runtime Gap: Why Node, Deno, and Bun fail on mobile and how Bare fills the void. ✪ Bare vs. The World: A direct comparison of runtime footprints and module flexibility. ✪ Zero-Bridge Architecture: Using Bare Worklets and IPC to offload CPU-intensive tasks from the UI thread. ✪ NAPI & Native Addons: Building high-performance cross-platform modules with GSTL. ✪ Real-world Case Study: How Holepunch shares 100% of business logic between Desktop and Mobile. ✪ The "Less is More" Philosophy: Why a minimalist core is the secret to zero-heartbreak upgrades. 🔥 Tony Gorez is a Systems Engineer at Holepunch and a core Bare runtime developer. A security expert and ex-Postman engineer, he specializes in high-performance JS infrastructure and reverse engineering. Tony shares his deep-system insights with the global community through his platform, Reverse Society. 👉 Connect with Tony: 🔗 https://x.com/tonygo_ 👉 Read Tony’s deep-dives on Reverse Society: 🔗 https://blog.reversesociety.co/ 👉 Explore the Bare ecosystem: 🔗 https://bare.pears.com/ 📌 Follow the link to watch the full version of the talk and gain access to all Node Congress recordings: 🔗 https://gitnation.com/events/node-congress-2026?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=TonyGorez 💬 Don’t just watch — get your toughest architecture questions answered in real-time, be part of the room where Seniors and Architects shape the future, get ahead of the curve. Join us live at the next event! 🔗 https://gitnation.com/events?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=TonyGorez 🕐 Timestamps: 00:00 - JS Ecosystem: From Desktop to Mobile 00:42 - The Portability Gap: Why Server Logic Stays on the Server 01:21 - Your 20% Off 🤫 01:44 - The Hidden Cost of Native Development (Swift/Kotlin) 02:27 - Mobile-First Reality: Reaching the Next Billion Users 03:29 - Node, Bun, and Deno: The Mobile Verdict 04:33 - Introducing Bare: A Modern Runtime for iOS and Android 05:30 - Mastering Worklets and IPC in Bare 06:54 - Under the Hood: Bundles and Code Walkthrough 08:41 - Minimalism in Practice: "Bring Only What You Need" 10:30 - Live Demo: Bare + React Native in Action 12:54 - Philosophy of "Less is More": Multi-Engine Flexibility 14:43 - Running Everywhere: From Servers to IoT 16:07 - Native Addons: Streamlining NAPI and GSTL 17:45 - Standalone Apps and Heartbreak-Free Upgrades 18:44 - Meet the Team: Pushing Runtime Limits 19:48 - Production Case Study: 100% Shared Logic ✍️ This talk was part of Node Congress 2026: Running JavaScript Actually Everywhere | Tony Gorez 🔗 https://nodecongress.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=TonyGorez 📌 We’ve hidden a secret code for 20% off your next event. Join our upcoming conferences! 💫 JSNation 2026 June 11 & 15, 2026 (Amsterdam) 🔗https://jsnation.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=TonyGorez 💫 React Summit, June 12 & 16, 2026 (Amsterdam) https://reactsummit.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=TonyGorez 💫 TechLeadConf, June 11 & 12, 2026 (Amsterdam) https://techleadconf.com/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=TonyGorez and more! 🚀 Check out all the upcoming events from GitNation: 🔗 https://gitnation.com/events?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=TonyGorez Don't forget to use INSIDER20 promo code for 20% off on tickets. #NodeJS #JavaScript #ReactNative #BareRuntime #MobileDevelopment #SharedLogic #SoftwareArchitecture #Holepunch #NodeCongress #GitNation #Performance #CrossPlatform #WebDev #MobileApps #Runtime