Reasons Why Startups Use Node.Js For Web Application Development

What Is Node.Js and What Is It Used For?

Node.js was first designed in 2009 by Ryan Dahl to run on Google Chrome’s V8 JavaScript Engine. It can work on the Mac OS X, Unix, and Windows and enables you to run your application as a standalone application rather than as something that would need to run in a browser as you would with JavaScript. It is a very popular language and as such many companies are seeking Node.js developers for hire for their projects.

It is one of the most popular languages available as open-source and has more than a billion downloads. It is the 8th most popular server-side programming language out there.

By using Node.js you do away with having a need for different programs for your client and server-side scripts as it can handle both sides giving you “JavaScript everywhere.” You are using the same programing language in both the browser and on the server.

V8 was originally designed for Google Chrome but is now open source. It is written in C++ and is the JavaScript execution engine that will convert your Node.js program into machine code allowing it to be executed. Despite being around for only a decade almost 1% of active websites are now using Node.js.

The software is perfect for real-time web applications. This means that it can provide you with more effective code for things such as chat or for dashboards that monitor your company performance online.

Why Do Start-Up Companies Choose Node.js for Web Application Development?

There are several reasons as to why Node.js developers are so in demand. The program is one of the most popular for very good reasons and a vast number of new application teams are seeking a Node.js developer to work with their team.

So let us jump straight into why Node.js is so popular:

• Speed: using the V8 JavaScript runtime engine the program is executed very quickly. This enables your team to design and run code that is going to get the work done so much quicker than other programs that you may be considering. This is without considering many of the other features that add to the speed of the Apps developed using the language.

Cross-platform capability: Node.js will run on Windows, Mac and Linux without you having to do anything special. This means that your team doesn’t even need to have access to a Mac if they want their app to work on it. They also don’t have to learn a host of other languages to make the app work on all of those different platforms as Node.js does it all for them.

• Non-blocking, event-driven I/O: this is the main feature of the language and what makes it so very special. It allows you to handle many connections simultaneously unlike more traditional languages that have to create a new thread for every connection which will eventually use up your memory. Node.js utilizes a single thread and is able to support tens of thousands of connections held concurrently within the even loop. While this is a major advantage it can also be a disadvantage if you are looking at conducting work that is heavy on your CPU. Non-blocking means that it does not wait for the first request to be completed before it will move onto the next.
• Node Package Manager: within the NPM website you have access to a wide range of modules that you can utilize within your programming. This allows you to reduce your programming time by making use of modules that have already been created and shared freely.
• You can utilize data while it is being downloaded: another feature of the program is that you can actually start processing data as it is being downloaded. You do not have to wait for the entire file to be downloaded to begin.
• Full support: the code is now under the control of the Node JS foundation which is a neutral body supported by the Linux Foundation.

Perfect for start-ups: often with a start-up you have limited resources and having to find developers to work on both front and back end and other experts can be simply too expensive. The use of Node.js allows developers to work on all aspects of your app as full stack developers with no need for learning more languages. It also means that if someone is unavailable you will be able to get someone else to take up the slack.

Remember, Node.js is not the right tool to use for applications that are CPU intensive, however, for many other applications such as chat and real-time dashboards it is the perfect language to use. This is why it is becoming so popular and the number of users is currently growing at 100% annually.

This is why a Node.js developer salary is starting to climb so quickly. Many companies are looking to hire Node.js developer expertise to work on their projects and are struggling to find the experts that they require. This is why so many developers are looking to add this language to their skill set.

Who Is Using Node.js?

Node.js is definitely not a fad. It has been identified as being crucial to many large companies’ development strategies. According to the Node.js Foundation, 98% of all fortune 500 companies now employ the software.

The following are just a few of the companies that are making use of Node.js:

• PayPal
• GoDaddy
• Netflix
• Uber
• Microsoft
• Twitter
• Capital One
• Sony
• Siemens
• General Motors
• BMW
• Amazon

Should You Be Using Node.js?

Node.js has many advantages and can help you to bring your applications to market that much quicker due to its simplicity. It is a language that is ideal for start-ups as well as being adopted by some of the biggest companies out there. While young compared to some languages out there, its speed and abilities are making it one of the chosen languages for many applications.

As a start-up you can find Node.js developers that will be able to work on all sides of your application from the website to your server enabling you to save a huge amount of time and money. Hiring Node.js developers is often going to be the best decision you make.