Migrating to Node.js 22 LTS: Native WebSocket, V8 12.4 Engine & Built-in Watch Mode

Why Node.js 22 LTS is a Milestone Enterprise Release

Node.js 22 ("Jod") is the active Long Term Support (LTS) release through April 2027. It integrates the V8 12.4 engine with Maglev compiler improvements, delivering up to 20% faster execution of JavaScript object manipulations and promise chains.

Headline Features for Enterprise Developers

1. Native WebSocket Client: Eliminates the need for external packages like ws for outbound client connections.
2. Built-in node --watch: Replaces third-party tools like nodemon for local hot-reloading.
3. Default ESM Support: Enhanced interoperability between CommonJS (require) and ECMAScript Modules (import).