Meteor.js 3 is officially here!

Article written by Denilson Silva, member of the Meteor Core Team.

We are thrilled to announce the release of Meteor.js 3.0, a milestone in our journey to create a powerful and versatile platform for modern web development.

This release marks a significant leap forward, and we couldn’t have achieved it without the unwavering support of our incredible community and partners.

What does Meteor 3.0 bring to the table?

In short, Meteor 3.0 brings Node.js 20, Express integration, Fibers removal, async server methods, ARM support, package updates, and new documentation.

Node v20 and Express Integration

One of the most significant changes in Meteor 3.0 is its integration with Node.js 20 and Express. This update allows Meteor to fully take advantage of the latest features and performance improvements in Node.js 20. Express, a widely used web application framework for Node.js, provides robust tools for building web and mobile applications.

We covered this extensively (and more) in this article.

Package Updates

Meteor 3.0 has numerous package updates, reflecting changes in their dependencies to ensure compatibility with the latest versions. These updates are crucial for maintaining security, stability, and performance. By updating the packages, Meteor ensures developers can access the newest features and improvements available in the broader Node.js and JavaScript ecosystems.

Major Architectural Changes

Meteor 3.0 introduces substantial architectural changes to modernize the platform and improve its performance and scalability. Key changes include:

• Dropping Fibers: Replacing Fibers with native async/await syntax to align with modern JavaScript standards. This change simplifies the codebase and enhances compatibility with future Node.js releases.
• Async/Await for MongoDB Interactions: Making all MongoDB operations asynchronous to improve performance and reduce latency.
• ARM Architecture Support: Expanding Meteor’s compatibility to include ARM architectures, allowing developers to run Meteor on a wider range of hardware, including Raspberry Pi and other ARM-based devices.

New Documentation Highlights

We have a new v3 docs with detailed documentation for Meteor.js 3.0, including API references and examples.

Our Migration Guide also includes step-by-step instructions for updating existing projects to Meteor 3.0, addressing potential issues, and providing solutions for a seamless transition.

How to migrate to version 3

We have a lot of material out there to help you to migrate. Here is a list of some of them:

• Migration Guide: We built this Migration Guide to help you in this process. It should cover most of the cases.
• Meteor Migrations Series’ Articles: Several articles that will help you prepare your app and gradually upgrade it.
• Meteor Forums: The biggest piece of knowledge about Meteor. We have several posts of people sharing results and asking for help. If you don’t find the issue there, feel free to create a post and ask for help!

How to Use Meteor 3.0

To install Meteor.js 3.0, you can simply run:

npx meteor

To create a new Meteor 3 project:

meteor create --release 3.0.1

To update an existing Meteor project:

meteor update --release 3.0.1

Community Effort and Collaboration

The successful release of Meteor 3.0 is a testament to the dedication and collaboration of the Meteor community. This milestone would not have been possible without the contributions of countless developers, testers, and advocates who tirelessly worked to identify issues, suggest improvements, and test new features. The community’s collective effort has played a crucial role in shaping Meteor 3.0 into a robust and reliable platform.

To all the people who made part of this, thank you ❤️

Conclusion

Meteor.js 3.0 is a game-changer for web development, bringing cutting-edge features and improvements that empower developers to build the next generation of web applications. With its enhanced performance, modern integrations, and improved developer experience, Meteor 3.0 is poised to lead the way in the evolving web development landscape.

As we celebrate this milestone, we look forward to seeing the incredible projects and innovations the Meteor community will create with Meteor 3.0. I can’t say thank you enough for being a part of this journey, and here’s to the exciting future ahead!

For more details on Meteor 3.0, please visit the post in our Forums.

Join The Renaissance of Meteor.js on July 29th

Join us on July 29th for our online event, The Renaissance of Meteor.js. We’ll discuss Meteor 3 and share exciting plans for the future. Sign up to hear directly from the Meteor Core Team about what we’ve been working on.

Plus, you’ll have a chance to win exclusive Meteor SWAG and Galaxy Cloud credits! Learn more about the event here. We hope to see you there!