Because they have a product that makes $1bn+ a year that depends on having a good, stable, cross-platform JS runtime.

krashidov 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I'm still confused. Why not just pour a ton of resources into it since it's open source. I guess dev mindshare? It is a great product

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simonw 3 hours ago | parent [-]

Pouring a ton of resources into an open source project that raised $26m in VC doesn't guarantee that the project will stick around. Acquiring it does.

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krashidov 3 hours ago | parent [-]

Buying Bun to ensure it sticks around doesn't pass the smell test unless they had very few months of runway left

	▲	simonw 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Bun had four years of runway left.

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LunaSea 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

You're describing Node.js which has existed for the last 15 years

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dboreham 4 hours ago | parent [-]

And is owned by Microsoft. The theory is that by symmetry Anthropic should own a node competitor.

	▲	joestrouth1 4 hours ago \| parent [-]
		Microsoft doesn't own node.

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altmanaltman 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

but they are a company that burns billions every year in losses and this seems like a pretty random acquisition.

Bun is the product that depends on providing that good, stable, cross-platform JS runtime and they were already doing a good job. Why would Anthropic's acquisition of them make them better at what they were already doing?

	▲	simonw 3 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		> Why would Anthropic's acquisition of them make them better at what they were already doing? Because now the Bun team don't have to redirect their resources to implementing a sustainable business model.
	▲	NewsaHackO 4 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		>but they are a company that burns billions every year in losses No they don't.

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pzo 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Ok but node is even more stable and mature - compare node api parity in bun and also issue of bun vs node

	▲	the_mitsuhiko 4 hours ago \| parent [-]
		But they are not using node any more?

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sneak 4 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

That doesn’t require or benefit from acquiring Bun. Node continues to exist and serve fine.