Things You Should Definitely Know About Node.Js
With technology advancing each passing moment, JavasSript is improving with new tools being introduced steadily too. Node.js is implemented on server-side applications and is popular amongst JavaScript coders for building real-time Web API’s.
Wait a second, Node.js is not a JavaScript framework, you’re absolutely right; though several frameworks have been written down specifically for Node.js, like Hapi.js, Restify.js, etc. Node.js is a highly customizable server engine, which needs to be setup in accordance to its requirements. It’s also popularly known as a proto-server which functions in loops, such as system is always ready to accept and respond to requests.
To be concise, Node.js makes it effortless to build a network or other event-driven application servers, and following are a few things you should definitely know about it before you start working on it.
- JSON all the way
JavaScript Object Notation(JSON) is a crazily popular data exchange format which is practical and highly popular amongst its users. It enables the JavaScript developers to quickly develop API’s and serves the key objective of Node.js coders. JSON and JavaScript have been reinforcing each other’s importance since forever.
Earlier, the dynamic data in browsers was manipulated, filtered and controlled by one and only JavaScript; as it was the only realistically logical non-plugin language available. In spite of its innovative network-presentable setup, data required to be organized into a JavaScript objects. The reliance on JSON for common purposes involving data eventually lead to growth of document-oriented NOSQL databases like MongoDB and CouchDB.
- JavaScript it is
JavaScript is an eccentric, object-oriented, almost similar to C language. With new developments being introduced each week, it is still chosen for developing applications to work in browsers. However, when paired along with Node.js, JavaScript has spilt out over to the server side.
JavaScript possesses the quality of handling event loop mechanisms in a much uncomplicated way and steers clear of any threats which might be thrown at it. It runs across most of the OS environments, with its libluv library which helps in abstract away some of the operating system differences, thus Node.js which has a much broader footprint.
It is us, the humans who have compelled JavaScript to migrate to the server side. Developers now have put in fewer efforts, for context-switching amid web browsers and servers. Programmers are constantly trying to fuse the environments between clients and servers so the codes process efficiently in whichever locations, thus simplifying the model and primarily amplifying the productivity.
- Sharing and Caring
The philosophy followed by developers of Node.js is “share merrily”. It’s unbelievable how easy is it, to share packages of library code- officially and lawfully. The Node Package Manager which started with almost nothing has accumulated almost 50,000 packages till now, which makes it most likely that some other developer would’ve already packaged a resolution for your problems and all you have to do is look at the right places.
Node.js follows a simple name space attitude, such as it lets an author to circulate his packaged solution under a vacant module name which is then published in the repository. This publically sharing of code under the MIT open source license is exceedingly desired in the community, as it is comparatively stress-free, keeping in mind the intellectual property point-of-view.
- Broad working spectrum of Node package manager
Each and every deployment system for Node.js relies upon the Node package manager majorly and further motivates many PaaS(platform-as-a-service) providers towards Node.js by making it easier to shift minor applications between providers. The simplicity and reliability of package management has lead to the growth of the entire Node ecosystem recently and is waiting to be taken to the next level as far as underlying public service is concerned.
- Ease of Access
The applications built in Node.js and the Core in itself can be easily separated out into smaller modules which are composed and shareable. It’s always made sure that the scope is strictly controlled and architected to be easily managed. The minimalistic difficulty level and relaxed characteristic of the developing modules, further motivates the community to experiment which has lead to quite a bit of overlap in the package population. Still it has been noticed that each package when executed well can easily handle one task flawlessly.
- Instrumental
As Node.js consists of several tools which play a vital role in making an application deliver full performance, it is widely considered to be well instrumented for production usage. We are all well aware that Node.js is still growing and as it is with many other technologies many areas of Node.js are also under development and for support more documentation, tools and best practices are desired.
Node.js is budding rapidly and is being installed in more mission-critical systems. It’s trouble-free to get started with Node.js, and yet Node.js is deep enough to process modern Web intricacy. Whether you’re developing a next generation website — like APIs for mobile and Web integration — or something new that depends upon underlying services, Node.js is a runtime system that could work very well for you.