Runtime Briefing — Node.js 18.7 Adds Built-in Test Runner

Node.js 18.7.0 landed on 7 July 2022 with an experimental built-in test runner and stabilized fetch for global HTTP requests. The release gives teams an officially supported test capability without relying on third-party frameworks and paves the way for more consistent HTTP client behavior across runtimes.

What changed

• The built-in test runner (node --test) entered experimental status, supporting subtests, hooks, and TAP output.
• The global fetch API moved toward stabilization, aligning Node.js with web platform standards.
• Other improvements included diagnostics channel updates and performance refinements in the V8 JavaScript engine.

Why it matters

• Teams can reduce dependency sprawl by consolidating on the core test runner for lightweight suites while retaining Jest or Mocha for advanced features.
• CI pipelines may see faster startup and reduced maintenance with built-in tooling, but need validation for reporters and coverage integrations.
• HTTP client behavior now aligns more closely with browser fetch semantics, easing code sharing between frontend and backend.

Adoption guidance

• Enable the experimental test runner in a staging branch and benchmark execution time and reporter compatibility.
• Update linting and coding standards to reflect the availability of fetch and to avoid mixing legacy node-fetch behaviors.
• Monitor Node.js release notes for graduation of the test runner from experimental status and incorporate in LTS upgrade planning.

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