Node.JS: a wise choice for your project?

If you find yourself in this situation, then this article is for you.

First of all, what is Node.JS?

As its own website states, "Node.js® is an open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment."

But what is it, really? Let's find out.

As we all know, every browser provides a JavaScript engine that runs the JavaScript code.

This is an example of how V8 engine works, the one used in Chrome, which also happens to be the one Node.JS uses.

So, what is Node.JS exactly? Basically, it enables you to run JavaScript code outside of your browser so that the whole application can use the same programming language.

But I can already do everything I need using java, ruby, python etc.!

You're right! I hear you. Unfortunately, Node isn't going to do your work for you. As of now, it probably won't completely replace your regular tools. To put it shortly, Node is good for doing several things at once. Everything runs in parallel (not your code though).

What?

Hear me out. Imagine a restaurant with a single waiter; that is Node.JS. When a single table is occupied, the waiter takes the order, waits for the order to be finished, then takes the order to the table. Now what happens when there are multiple tables occupied? Naturally, after taking one order, the waiter gives the order to the kitchen then proceeds to take the other orders and doesn't wait for each one to be finished before moving to the others. He then serves the orders as they are finished by the kitchen.

Wait, what does this have to do with Node.JS?

Everything, it has everything to do with Node.JS. Basically, Node.JS works exactly the same. When a request is made to the server, it is passed to external systems such as files, databases etc. Node then proceeds with the other requests and does the same, while keeping an eye on the ones already passed. When one completes (doesn't have to be the first one), it is then passed back to the user and the process goes on.

That's nice, but why should I use it?

One reason is that you can have both your front and back ends written in the same language, which speeds up development process and decreases costs. It also increases efficiency. In a common web application, your main time consumer when it comes to responses are database queries. Node takes care of all that, since it can execute all queries at once, basically reducing the response time to the time it takes for the slowest query to complete. On top of that, V8 is one of the fastest language interpreters on the planet and JavaScript is constantly being pushed for speed. It also has one of the richest library ecosystems out there through npm. The microservice nature of Node.JS is also a huge advantage for maintainability. Splitting a codebase into small chunks is more straightforward to maintain than one bloated codebase.

That's awesome! I'll write all my back-ends in Node.JS from now on!

Well, no. Node.JS is not suitable for heavy CPU-bound applications. While it shines with data-rich applications, being single threaded heavily impacts the performance if there are CPU-heavy tasks, because if a heavy computation request comes along, it will take the whole CPU to process it before moving on to other tasks. Also, while the main modules are supervised, some tools in the npm registry do not live up to this standard and may make it challenging to figure out the best solution for your project.

So, when should I and when should I not use Node.JS?

You should use Node.JS if you plan on doing:

• Data Streaming
• Collaborative Tools
• Hardware Programming
• Complex SPAs (single page applications)
• Real-time web applications
• Chat rooms

You should consider NOT using Node.JS if you application has:

• CPU-heavy server-side computation
• A relational database-backed server-side spp
• A very simple CRUD (or HTML) Application

The point is that there are better alternatives available, not that you can't do it.

To conclude

As you can see, there are many scenarios when Node.JS comes in handy and it can indeed improve the performance and stability of your project. At the same time, it can also decrease it in certain cases, so you must choose what suits your project best. There are other factors to take into consideration such as:

• Development cost and time to market: you can get from concept to end product very quickly using Node as it's lightweight and very fast to develop and can cut the costs dramatically by using JavaScript for both front-end and back-end, which makes finding a team of developers easier
• Community and ecosystem: there's a huge community of enthusiasts that are regularly contributing and helping other developers whenever they face a challenge. The Node package ecosystem is the largest and fastest growing software registry. Many libraries and templates are provided for you to use in your codes so that you can add more value faster and with fewer resources. A module with everything you need is almost certainly available if you need something.
• Scalability: it was built with scalability in mind. Hence, it's the obvious choice for startups that want to launch quick, real-time systems that can easily scale.

If these aren't enough, you should have a look at some of the statistics posted by enterpriseappstoday:

• Node JS is the most widely used web development tool in the United States, with more than 6.3 million websites using it.
• Node JS is the most widely used web development tool in the United States, with more than 6.3 million websites using it.
• Node JS’s application areas include e-commerce, crowdfunding, IoT, and payment processing.
• After integrating Node JS, both PayPal and Netflix experienced considerable improvements in performance and cost.
• Node JS can cut the loading time by 50%-60%.
• By using Node JS, developing costs are decreased by 58%.
• Node JS libraries, frameworks, and tools are used by 36.42% of professional developers.
• 46% of Node JS developers were between 25 to 35 years old.
• 95% of Node JS developers use databases for their projects. Around 86% of developers use a library or front-end framework.
• 85% of JavaScript learners enjoy the excellent accessibility of the process. According to 71% of JavaScript learners, the instructional resources are outstanding.
• 78% of Node JS downloads are for Linux, 17% are for Windows, and 5% for macOS.

Congratulations! You are now certified to take the best decision for YOUR project

Remember--choosing the right technologies from the get-go can save you a lot of time and money. Choose wisely!