h4

h4 (short for Hyper, but can also mean Happy) is a batteries-included TypeScript framework built specifically for the Bun runtime. Taking inspiration from productive frameworks like Rails, Django, and Laravel, h4 provides a comprehensive suite of tools for building modern, "serverful" web applications with the DX of Typescript.

Philosophy

h4 is built for developers who are tired of JavaScript ecosystem churn. We believe in creating a framework that isn't subject to multiple third-party roadmaps - one that's stable and consistent, with as few external dependencies as possible. When we do add third-party dependencies, it's because they add considerable value and have proven to be stable and consistent over time.

Currently, we only advocate for two external tools:

• dbmate for database migrations (installed by default with create-h4-app)
• biome for formatting and linting (installed by default with create-h4-app)

Why h4?

• Bun Maximalist: Built from the ground up to make the best of Bun's exceptional performance and TypeScript capabilities
• Developer Experience: Streamlined workflows and intuitive patterns that make development a joy
• Batteries Included: Everything you need to build production-ready applications, right out of the box
• Type Safety: First-class TypeScript support throughout the entire framework

Quick Start

bun x create-h4-app ./my-app

That's it! Follow the interactive prompts to scaffold your new h4 application.

Core Packages

h4 is organized as a monorepo containing several packages:

server

A high-performance HTTP server featuring:

• File system-based routing
• Controller pattern for organized request handling
• Built-in middleware support

models

A modern ORM/query builder that combines the best of ActiveRecord conventions with a "repository" pattern:

• Built on top of bun:sqlite for exceptional performance
• Intuitive query interface
• Type-safe database operations
• Migration system

queue

A job queue and worker using Bun's Worker:

• Asynchronous job processing
• Job retry policies
• Progress tracking
• Priority queues

scheduler

A job scheduler similar to cron:

• Worker based execution
• Recurring job support
• Simple cron syntax for scheduling

frontend

A fast bundler and using Bun.build:

• Cache-busting filenames for efficient caching
• Transpiles TypeScript, JavaScript, and CSS
• Integrated live reload for development

views

A lightweight templating system:

• Component-based design using JSX
• Server-side rendering with streaming support
• Type-safe props for predictable templates

Supporting Utilities

• Logging
• Configuration management
• Common helpers

Contributing

TBA