Runtime Briefing — Node.js 16.0.0 Release
Node.js 16 entered the current release line on 20 April 2021 with V8 9.0, Apple Silicon binaries, and an upgrade to npm 7, requiring platform teams to rehearse compatibility before the October 2021 LTS transition.
Executive briefing: The Node.js team promoted Node.js 16.0.0 to current status on , adding language features, supply-chain safeguards, and native support for Apple Silicon hardware.
Key runtime changes
- V8 9.0. ECMAScript RegExp match indices, WeakRefs, and promise improvements land with the updated engine.
- Universal binaries. Prebuilt Apple Silicon (ARM64) installers ship alongside Intel builds, simplifying macOS developer onboarding.
- npm 7 default. The bundled package manager enforces lockfile version 2, workspaces support, and stricter peer dependency installs.
Adoption guidance
- Expand CI matrices to run Node 16 on Linux, Windows, and macOS (Intel/ARM) runners before the October 2021 LTS milestone.
- Update build images and deployment scripts to handle npm 7 lockfile updates and workspace layouts.
- Benchmark performance-sensitive workloads and native addons against the new V8 engine to catch ABI or behaviour regressions early.