OSS TanbouOn this page
Overview
BullMQ is a message-queue and background-job library for Node.js. Applications add jobs through a Queue and process them with Workers, with support for delays, retries, priorities, rate limits, repeatable jobs, and parent-child flows. The v6 codebase also includes PostgreSQL support alongside Redis-oriented adapters.
Features and best fit
Based on official documentation; not hands-on tested · Content checked:
Key features
Add jobs through Queue and process them asynchronously with Worker
Queue submits jobs, Worker executes processing functions, and QueueEvents observes global completed and failed events. This separates expensive work from web-request lifecycles.
Sources: [1]
Combine delays, priorities, retries, rate limits, and parent-child flows
BullMQ supports delayed jobs, priorities, concurrency, repeatable jobs, rate limiting, deduplication, pause/resume, sandboxed workers, parent-child dependencies, and job trees through FlowProducer.
Sources: [1]
Best fit
Fits Next.js backends that move email, media processing, and external integrations outside the request lifecycle
It is useful when HTTP responses should not wait for long-running work and multiple processes need shared job state with retries and operational visibility.
Sources: [1]
Before adoption
Design the backend adapter and connection operations separately from application code
The v6.3.11 package metadata lists ioredis, node-redis, and pg as optional peer dependencies. Redis or PostgreSQL availability, connections, backups, and latency directly affect queue processing and need their own operational design.
Sources: [2]
Validate idempotency, retry policy, stalled-job recovery, and telemetry behavior
Worker restarts and network failures can cause a job to run again, so side-effecting jobs should be idempotent. Version 6.3.11 includes a fix that detaches the stalled checker from telemetry context to prevent a trace leak.
Official sources
- [1]BullMQ v6.3.11 README(2026-10-06)
- [2]BullMQ v6.3.11 package metadata(2026-10-06)
- [3]BullMQ v6.3.11 release(2026-10-06)
Supplemental curator note
It fits backends that move expensive work outside request lifecycles. Validate backend adapters, connections, job idempotency, retry and stalled-job behavior, and worker operations before production.
Try it in 3 steps
- 1
Get the source
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/taskforcesh/bullmq.git - 2
Enter the repository
cd bullmq - 3
Check the official steps
Continue with the commands in the README Installation, Quick Start, or Getting Started section.
find . -maxdepth 1 -iname 'README*' -exec sed -n '1,220p' {} \; -quit
Growth
Growth trends · Last 30 days
9,475 Stars
Trend data is still being collected.
Development activity
Last 90 days · weekly
- Commits (last 30 days)
- 132
- Open PRs
- 121
Development activity is still being collected.
Built with
Categories and tags
GitHub data
GitHub dataView detailed GitHub data
GitHub Topics
- background-jobs
- nodejs
- queue
- redis
- typescript
- python
- elixir
- php
- rust
- Stars
- 9,475
- Forks
- 705
- Watchers
- 41
- Open issues
- 272
- Contributors
- 206
- Owner type
- Organization
- Primary language
- TypeScript
- License
- MIT
- Repository last updated
- Oct 5, 2026
Related information
Write a related articleShare a guide or use case for this OSS in Markdown. Articles are published after administrator approval.
Explore next
- n8n206,681 Stars
2 shared tag(s) · 1 shared category(s) · Same language
Connect visual workflows, code, AI agents, and human approvals in one automation runtime
TypeScript - Dify157,859 Stars
2 shared tag(s) · 1 shared category(s) · Same language
design and publish AI workflows, retrieval, and agents on one platform
TypeScript - ioredis15,344 Stars
5 shared tag(s) · 1 shared category(s) · Same language
use Redis Cluster, Sentinel, pipelines, and more from a full-featured Node.js client
TypeScript - Playwright97,099 Stars
4 shared tag(s) · 1 shared category(s) · Same language
Drive Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit through one API and test runner for E2E, scripting, and agent browser automation
TypeScript - Appium22,045 Stars
3 shared tag(s) · 2 shared category(s) · Same language
automate end-to-end tests for Android, iOS, and desktop apps through WebDriver-compatible APIs
TypeScript - commitlint18,757 Stars
3 shared tag(s) · 2 shared category(s) · Same language
lint Git commit messages against Conventional Commits and custom rules so release and changelog automation receives consistent metadata
TypeScript
Report incorrect information
Tell us if any listing information is incorrect or outdated.