Runtime Briefing — Node.js 22 Release Highlights
The Node.js project released version 22.0.0 on April 24, 2024 with stable WebSocket support, the new permission model preview, improved test runner ergonomics, and V8 12.4 performance gains.
Executive briefing: The Node.js Release Working Group shipped Node.js 22.0.0 on . The release advances platform security and developer productivity with updated Web APIs, permission controls, and engine upgrades. Node.js 22 enters Current status until October 2024 before transitioning to long-term support (LTS) in October 2024.
Key features
- WebSocket becomes stable. The
wsmodule reaches stable status, delivering native WebSocket client/server APIs without third-party dependencies. - Permission model preview. Expanded permission flags (
--allow-fs-read,--allow-env, etc.) support granular sandboxing for scripts and tooling. - Test runner enhancements. The built-in test runner adds
node --testwatch mode improvements, reporters, and subtest diagnostics. - Platform upgrades. Bundled V8 12.4 and updated llhttp deliver faster startup and HTTP parsing.
Implementation guidance
- Adoption planning. Target development and staging environments for early adoption ahead of the October 2024 LTS cutover.
- Security configuration. Pilot the permission model in CI scripts and CLI tools to restrict file system and network access.
- Compatibility testing. Validate native addons and dependencies against the new V8 version and Node-API updates.
Enablement moves
- Update documentation and internal SDK templates to highlight new WebSocket APIs and test runner workflows.
- Monitor ecosystem deprecations as package maintainers align CI matrices with Node.js 22.
- Coordinate with platform teams on container base image updates and runtime version pins.