A Definitive Guide on Node.js for 2022: Why and when to use it?

A Definitive Guide on Node.js for 2022: Why and when to use it?
8 min read

With different programming languages evolving over the past few years, it can become a perplexing task to choose the right language for web development services. Node.js development services have become popular owing to their wide applicability in web application development, APIs, and microservices.

You can leverage Node.js services now to get the best results for your web development. If you have been thinking about utilizing this platform, here’s a complete guide on it to help you hire a Node.js programmer or a reliable Node.js development company.

What is Node.js?

Node.js is a cross-platform, open-source environment to run Javascript code in order to develop web applications that are high-performing and data-intensive. In 2009, Ryan Dahl developed this platform as a server-side programming language. This language is built on the v8 JavaScript engine of Google chrome.

Node.js can be used to deploy server-side APIs, traditional websites, and microservices in a single “stack”. It makes the development and maintenance swift, fast, and simple which serves greatly to a business. One misconception that most people have is that Node.js is a framework or library. Is it true? No, it is simply the runtime. Knowing where and how it can be used before hiring a Node.js application development company is essential.

Where is Node.js used?

Node.js is a powerful backend technology that flexibly helps in building the server-side and backend of web applications. It is a useful platform for developing projects that involve real-time data transmissions. Today, popular reputed brands like Amazon, Netflix, and Trello are leveraging the power of Node.js development services. From live streaming to advertisement servers, it serves as the ultimate platform for developing custom web servers and APIs. It effectively helps in scaling high-performance applications owing to its single-threaded process.

It is a lightweight option that can even run on Raspberry Pi. This feature makes it an ideal choice for creating prototypes.

Node.js development services can be used for the development of the following.

  • Real-time collaboration application

  • Chat applications

  • E-commerce and marketplaces

  • Complex single-page app

  • Game web applications

  • IoT

  • Microservices

Why use Node.js?

It is an ideal environment for building fast and scalable network applications. It operates well for event-based development where a non-blocking event loop is required. This asynchronous platform has the potential of fetching profitability for the business.

Node.js development services can be used for the development of a wide array of applications owing to its huge number of libraries. It comprises numerous free Node Package Managers (npm) modules which serve well for file upload and authentication functionality of projects.

This open-source server environment has earned popularity amongst enterprises and developers for its versatility to build a wide spectrum of applications. Node.js development services can be used to develop autonomous HTTP servers, Command Line (CLI) tools, and other sophisticated programs.

It not only cuts down development costs but also contributes to developers’ satisfaction. There are many big players such as LinkedIn, Yahoo, and PayPal who have chosen this open-source, cross-platform, back-end JavaScript runtime environment as a reliable option. Hire Node.js programmers to fetch the following benefits of Node.js development services.

Advantages of Node.js services

According to this survey, the usage of Node.js development services is expected to increase as it has exhibited a positive impact on businesses through increased productivity of developers, enhancement of application performance, and reduced development costs. Its advantages serve as the top reasons for these findings.

  • Ease of learning: The availability of knowledge on Node.js in open platforms contributes to the learning curve for novice developers who may start their learning journey with the basics of JavaScript and then proceed to learn the backend development principles. It is easier to grasp this platform learning if one has sufficient knowledge of the programming language.
  • Community backup: As it is an open-source project, any developer can pick and contribute to the improvement of the platform. This has helped in building a large community that helps and supports each other in the adoption of Node.js. It also aims at driving continuous enhancement and development of the platform. Therefore, developers can easily get access to reusable resources.

  • Flexibility: A developer can organize full-stack JavaScript development with the robust features of this platform. This comprehensiveness of Node.js services also ensures better speed and performance of the application.

  • Scalability: The capabilities of the environment enables applications to grow and scale with the business. With the application of Node.js in microservices architecture, the business has the scope of achieving scalability fast and easily.

Disadvantages of Node.js development services

While there are numerous benefits to count on, there are some downsides of Node.js development services that cannot be ignored. Here are some of the unfavorable factors of Node.js.

1. Unstable API

Node.js is an incredibly powerful platform but it lacks one of the most essential elements of a programming language,i.e, consistency. With the frequent changes in API, it may become backward-incompatible. In such cases, the developer has to make changes in the existing base code so that it can again become compatible with its modified version of API. It evidently burdens the developer with extra work distracting him from the main goal of enhancing the application.

2. Greater development time

To utilize this platform, the developer needs to start from scratch. This may seem like an advantage initially giving the developer all the freedom of building an application from the ground. However, this also implies a decrease in productivity. One of the best ways to avoid this problem is to hire experienced Node.js developers who can develop good processes for maintaining and developing codes.

3. Incompatible with heavy-computing apps

As Node.js is a single-thread process, it does not work well for multi-threaded programming. Even though it can serve complicated projects, it is unsuitable for long-running calculations. With an increasing number of incoming requests, a heavy computation may block the request leading to diminished performance. Therefore, it may become a great obstacle for heavy-computing software affecting its performance significantly.

4. Crude Tools

The core of Node.js is mature. However, some Node Package Manager (npm) lacks proper documentation and thus is of poor quality. The absence of supervision of the open-source ecosystem has led to improper standardization of code quality. Therefore, this can become a great disadvantage for new developers. Hire an experienced Node.js programmer to avoid this challenge.

Features of Node.js you must know

  • Non-blocking I/O: Starting a new thread for every request in software having synchronous threads may lead to a risk of blocking the entire process. The best way to avoid this is to employ Node.js for the software to run on single threads. These threads are processed simultaneously eliminating the need for synchronization between separate threads. This feature eliminates the blocking of threads for event-based applications.

  • Libuv: When you need Node.js for executing endless processing of multiple single threads, Libuv is the feature that facilitates it. It is Libuv, a multi-platform C library designed specifically for this environment. Libuv is the component that pulls four threads to be processed simultaneously. Moreover, it is the features that ensure the processes are executed within the allotted timing by sending requests to the operating system.

  • Node Package Manager or npm: Node.js comes with multiple npm as a package. They serve as useful resources to developers. However, you can hire a Node.js developer with adequate experience to adjust the npm according to the project requirement.

The Bottom Line

Now that you have realized the importance and application of the Node.js development service, you can make an informed decision in the selection of Node.js developers for hire. This platform comes with multiple benefits that can be leveraged to develop scalable web applications. Ecosmob is the best Node.js development company that helps startups, SMBs, and large enterprises for developing high-quality digital products that drive long-term business value.

In case you have found a mistake in the text, please send a message to the author by selecting the mistake and pressing Ctrl-Enter.
nelliemarteen 7
Nellie is a talented woman with a keen eye to observe and analyze things around her. She loves to write about almost everything she is currently dealing with. N...
Comments (5)
  1. Katia Sirik

    After reading everything you wrote. One thing I can write a big thank you for the information. After all, it is really very useful for many people in this field. You painted everything in great detail and this is the most important one of the posts that people create. I think people will be able to master such instructions.

    1 year ago ·
    2
  2. Jon Bill

    I completely forgot about NodeJS, and thanks to your article, I refreshed the information in my head. I remember once studying this information in detail. I chose between two programs and chose her of course. I weighed the pros and cons, but in the end I'm glad I chose him.

    1 year ago ·
    2
  3. Diana Granat

    Of course, the choice of technologies for a project is a very important step, and you should weigh the pros and cons to make the right choice. I'm glad you made the choice in favor of NodeJS and were satisfied with the result. NodeJS has many advantages, such as high performance, extensibility, a rich selection of modules and libraries, and a huge developer community.

    1 year ago ·
    1
  4. Anastasiia

    I am currently learning Java script and this article was very useful to me. Everything is very accessible and understandable, I learned a lot of new things for myself. In the future, I plan to work with Node. js, so you cleared up a lot for me. Definitely Node. js has huge benefits for developers.

    1 year ago ·
    1
You must be logged in to comment.

Sign In / Sign Up