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Server Frameworks

⚠️ Alpha Stage: Server adapters are in alpha. Some features may be incomplete.

Photon works with any server framework. Choose the one that fits your needs or the needs of your framework's users.

Ultrafast web framework designed for edge runtimes.

npm install @photonjs/hono hono
import { Hono } from 'hono'
import { apply, serve } from '@photonjs/hono'
 
const app = new Hono()
app.get('/', (c) => c.text('Hello!'))
 
apply(app)
export default serve(app)

Best for:

  • Edge deployments (Cloudflare, Deno, Bun)
  • High performance applications
  • Modern TypeScript projects

Express

The most popular Node.js web framework.

npm install @photonjs/express express
import express from 'express'
import { apply, serve } from '@photonjs/express'
 
const app = express()
app.get('/', (req, res) => res.send('Hello!'))
 
apply(app)
export default serve(app)

Best for:

  • Existing Express applications
  • Large ecosystem of middleware
  • Traditional Node.js deployments

Fastify

High-performance web framework with schema validation.

npm install @photonjs/fastify fastify
import Fastify from 'fastify'
import { apply, serve } from '@photonjs/fastify'
 
const app = Fastify()
app.get('/', async () => ({ message: 'Hello!' }))
 
apply(app)
export default serve(app)

Best for:

  • Performance-critical applications
  • Schema validation requirements
  • Plugin-based architecture

Elysia

Bun-optimized framework with end-to-end type safety.

bun add @photonjs/elysia elysia
import { Elysia } from 'elysia'
import { apply, serve } from '@photonjs/elysia'
 
const app = new Elysia()
app.get('/', () => 'Hello!')
 
apply(app)
export default serve(app)

Best for:

  • Bun runtime
  • Type-safe APIs
  • Modern development experience

H3

Minimal and modern web framework.

npm install @photonjs/h3 h3
import { createApp, defineEventHandler } from 'h3'
import { apply, serve } from '@photonjs/h3'
 
const app = createApp()
app.use('/', defineEventHandler(() => 'Hello!'))
 
apply(app)
export default serve(app)

Best for:

  • Serverless deployments
  • Minimal overhead
  • Universal compatibility

HatTip

Universal web framework built on Web Standards.

npm install @photonjs/hattip @hattip/core
import { createRouter } from '@hattip/router'
import { apply, serve } from '@photonjs/hattip'
 
const router = createRouter()
router.get('/', () => new Response('Hello!'))
 
apply(router)
export default serve(router)

Best for:

  • Web Standards compliance
  • Multi-runtime compatibility
  • Future-proof applications

Runtime Package

For quick prototyping, use the runtime package with automatic fallback:

npm install @photonjs/runtime
// vite.config.ts
import { photon } from '@photonjs/runtime/vite'
 
export default {
  plugins: [photon()] // Automatically creates Hono server
}

Framework Comparison

FrameworkPerformanceEcosystemRuntime SupportBest For
Hono
Ultrafast web framework for edge runtimes
ExcellentMediumNode.js, Cloudflare, Deno, Bun
  • Edge deployments
  • High performance
  • Modern TypeScript
Express
The most popular Node.js web framework
HighVery LargeNode.js
  • Existing apps
  • Large ecosystem
  • Traditional Node.js
Fastify
High-performance web framework with schema validation
Very HighLargeNode.js
  • Performance-critical apps
  • Schema validation
  • Plugin architecture
Elysia
Bun-optimized framework with end-to-end type safety
ExcellentSmallBun, Node.js
  • Bun runtime
  • Type-safe APIs
  • Modern development

Migration

Photon makes it easy to migrate between frameworks:

// Before: Express
import express from 'express'
import { apply, serve } from '@photonjs/express'
 
// After: Hono
import { Hono } from 'hono'
import { apply, serve } from '@photonjs/hono'

The apply() and serve() functions work the same way across all frameworks.

Next Steps