Rythmos-blog

Notes on Node.js and Scalable Web Applications

Written by Rythmos | Mar 20, 2019 8:00:00 AM

Node.js is the definitive answer to the “JavaScript everywhere” new high standard. For anyone requiring the implementation of JavaScript with versatility and flexibility, Node.js is one of the leading solutions.

As a quick introduction, Node.js is a practical solution for executing JavaScript code outside of a browser. It is an open-source, cross-platform, server-side scripting resource with a basis in C, C ++, and, obviously, JavaScript.

Many see Node.js as an attractive new alternative to traditional PHP, MySQL, and JavaScript.

Node.js’ big claim to fame is its ability to yield content before the page is sent to the user's web browser. It is an excellent preemptive approach to design and one that many developers find increasingly useful. It is important to note that Node.js is the name of the product, not necessarily the language itself.

Now that you are refreshed or introduced to Node.js, how should it be applied? You could use conventional JavaScript to do many tasks you may need, but the consensus seems to be that JavaScript isn’t as dynamic as it needs to be in a modern design context. For example, jQuery is systematically replacing conventional JS for more secure and responsive web application development.

There is room for improvement, and new implementations have rendered client-side JavaScript if not obsolete than at least a little dated.

This brings us to Node.js. What are the main benefits of Node.js and what are its best uses?

Accessibility and Backend Use
If you have a base familiarity with JavaScript, you should have no problem integrating Node.js. There may be some adjustments needed to transfer JavaScript’s traditional frontend usage with the backend, but it should be a walk in the park for anyone with a base knowledge in JS.

High Performance and Caching
Node.js boasts a pretty favorable performance. It interprets the JavaScript code via Google’s V8 JavaScript engine, which is a rather formidable and direct method. The runtime environment is also highly-regarded, particular because it relies on non-blocking I/O operations. You can process several requests concurrently. This feature has even been reported better in Node.js over mainstay, Python.
Finally, the environment also allows for caching single modules. The application memory caches request past the first module, making for greater responsiveness. Consequently, this avoids any coder having to build a module for constantly re-executing code. It is a favorable and convenient workaround.

Mobile Design From Scratch
In practice, Node.js opens the door for code-building entirely from scratch. Compare this to, say, Ruby on Rails. For all its benefits, Ruby imposes an assortment of guidelines, from the fair and practical to the frustrating. While it has numerous benefits, it is still a constrained and partly compromised option. You can develop all the apps and software entirely from scratch.

Obviously, this is a detriment if your base knowledge isn’t high, to begin with. But it is incredibly important for anyone looking to really dig deep into the coding and create a custom enterprise entirely.

In summation, when should you use Node.js? We recommend a few scenarios which should help put Node.js on your radar.

  • If you are seeking to customize and extend Node.js beyond base requirements.
    If you are intimately familiar with JavaScript.
  • If a lack of a strong library support system scares you away, and you are more partial to a built-in community support system (which Node.js has, in spades).
  • If you need higher performance through things like caching.
Is Node.js worth the price of admission? Frankly, the cost isn’t high. It isn’t exactly hard to learn and it has some undeniable benefits. Those benefits can be exploited to enjoy fast, and scalable network applications, making real-time web applications and access to data infinitely possible.