How to Get Started with Node.js – A Complete Roadmap

Node.js is a robust server-side platform built on Google Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine. It is an open-source, cross-platform runtime environment for developing server-side applications. Node.js applications are written in JavaScript and can be run within the Node.js runtime on OS X, Microsoft Windows, and Linux.

Node.js also provides a rich library of various JavaScript modules that simplify the development of web applications. If you’re new to Node.js, this comprehensive guide will get you up to speed with everything you need to know about this popular platform.

Node.js Overview

Among multiple Java scripts available today, Node.js is one of the most popular ones, introduced in 2009, and has constantly been gaining popularity since then. Node.js utilizes a single-threaded event loop; in simple terms, Node.js is an open-source cross-platform that helps execute JavaScript code outside of a browser.

In 2009, Ryan Dahl introduced node.js to the world, written in C++ and javascript using the v8 engine by Google, and the latest node version is v18 as of March 2021.

Node.js is a popular platform for building web applications as it helps manage many concurrent connections with high throughput and low latency. Node.js has been used by some of the biggest tech companies like Netflix, Uber, eBay, NASA, etc. Moreover, Node.js uses an event-driven and non-blocking I/O strategy to unlock seamless scalability and excellent speed.

As Node.js is based on the JavaScript language, you can write code for the back-end and front-end both using the same vocabulary. However, it saves time as you don’t have to learn any other language for back-end development. Additionally, various tools and modules in Node.js make development faster and easier.

MongoDB and Express.js are often used in conjunction with Node.js for web development. The best part about Node.js is that developers get extensive documentation covering almost everything related to Node.js.

Node.js Delivers Efficiency, Speed, and Security:

The entire development paradigm is changing, and the demand for real-time applications is at an all-time high. E-commerce stores, gaming applications, chatbots, and audio and video streaming apps have made Node.js the most sought-after choice for app development.

In addition, Node.js offers flexibility to make the code easily manageable and reduce the overall development cost and time-to-market for the product.

When we talk about web applications, two things that are of utmost importance are security and speed. Node.js ensures both by providing various inbuilt modules that take care of common attack vectors. In addition, the community is constantly working on adding more security features to make Node.js more secure.

Many large organizations like Netflix, Walmart, and LinkedIn have built their applications using Node.js. The reason behind this is that Node.js can handle a large number of concurrent connections with high throughput and low latency. Moreover, Node.js offers high-level code reusability that helps in reducing the overall development time and cost.

One of the most underutilized features of Node.js is universal JavaScript or Isomorphic. The same code can be used on the back-end and the front-end. This helps in reducing the development time and makes it easier for developers to maintain and update the code. For example, developers can use the exact object implementation in server and client code without compatibility issues.

Node.js and Javascript Let Developers Write Once and Run Everywhere

As development has become significantly dynamic, the need for JavaScript everywhere has become the new normal. Therefore, the developers must write code once and run it around regardless of the platform.

This is where Node.js comes into the picture, as it helps execute JavaScript code outside a web browser. For example, a developer can use Node.js to develop desktop applications, command-line tools, microservices, and more.

In Node.js, everything is based on events, and this event-driven architecture helps develop highly scalable applications. However, as all the processes are asynchronous, it doesn’t wait for any I/O operation to complete. This helps in leveraging the maximum CPU and memory usage.

Moreover, Node.js uses a single-thread model with an event loop. This makes it easy to develop applications that handle many concurrent connections with high throughput. The best part is that all this happens without using multiple threads, which helps in reducing the overall complexity of the code. Therefore, you must know that all the Node.js explanations should include NPM (Node Package Manager).

NPM is the default package manager for Node.js, and it consists of a command-line interface that helps install, update, and manage node programs. It also provides an extensive online repository of various node programs that developers can easily access. NPM makes it easy to share the code and develop collaboration among multiple developers. It also takes care of various dependencies that are required for the project.

How To Setup Node.Js In Windows

Installing Node.js on Windows is a straightforward task. You need to visit the official Node.js website and download the installer file. The downloaded file is in the .msi format which can be installed by double-clicking on it.

Click on the Next button to see the following screen where you need to accept the license agreement. After receiving the license agreement, click the Next button, and you will see the following screen where you can customize the installation.

You should leave the default settings and click on the Next button. Once the installation is completed, click on the Finish button, and you will see the following screen that confirms successful installation.

Now, open the command prompt and type node -v to check the installed Node.js version. In addition, you should see the following output that confirms the successful installation of Node.js.

Use Cases of Node.js

Node.js is a full-fledged back-end solution that can be used to build scalable network applications. The following are some of the most popular use cases of Node.js:

Real-Time Chat Apps

One of the most popular use cases of Node.js is to build real-time chat applications. The reason behind this is that Node.js offers high scalability and low latency that are required for real-time applications. Moreover, various Node.js modules make it easier to build such applications.

APIs and Microservices

Node.js is also a popular choice for building APIs and microservices because it is easy to build lightweight and fast APIs using Node.js. Moreover, various tools and frameworks in Node.js make it easier to develop and deploy such APIs.

IoT Apps

Another widespread use case of Node.js is to build IoT applications because Node.js is lightweight and can run on devices with limited resources. Moreover, various Node.js modules can be used to interact with different types of hardware.

Real-Time Dashboards

Real-time dashboards are also popularly built using Node.js because Node.js offers the required scalability and low latency for such applications. Moreover, various tools and frameworks available in Node.js make it easier to develop and deploy such dashboards.

Also Read: Variability Between Node.Js 8 And Node.Js 9

Node.js Tools and Frameworks

Node.js is a platform that is constantly evolving, and various tools and frameworks are being developed to make it more accessible and easier to use. The following are some of the most popular Node.js tools and frameworks:

Express.js

Express.js is the most popular Node.js framework used for building web applications. It is a lightweight framework that provides features to simplify web application development.

Socket.io

Socket.io is a popular Node.js library that is used for building real-time applications. It simplifies the process of adding real-time functionality to web applications. Passport is a popular authentication middleware for Node.js that simplifies the authentication process.

Mongoose

Mongoose is a popular object data modeling (ODM) library for MongoDB and Node.js that simplifies the process of data validation, casting, and query building.

Nodemon

Nodemon is a utility that automatically restarts the Node.js application when any change is made to the code.

Following are Some Key Technical Aspects of Node.js Framework:

Asynchronous and Event-Driven

All APIs of Node.js are asynchronous i.e., non-blocking. It simply means a Node. the js-based server never waits for an API to return data. The server moves to the next API after calling it and a notification mechanism of Events handles the response from the previous API call.

Faster Process Execution

Being built on Google Chrome’s V8 JavaScript Engine, the Node.js library is very fast in code execution.

Single-Threaded but Highly Scalable

Node.js uses a single-threaded model with event looping. The event mechanism helps the server to respond in a non-blocking way and makes the server highly scalable as compared to traditional servers like Apache HTTP Server.

Highly Extensible

Node.js allows the developers to define their own modules. These modules can be further used as libraries in other applications. Moreover, Node Package Manager (NPM) owns the world’s largest software registry that contains more than 600,000 libraries and modules.

Why Choose Auxano Global Services for Development?

Auxano Global Services is one of the leading Node.js development company that offers a wide range of Node.js development services. In addition, we have a team of experienced Node.js developers who are experts in their field and can provide the best solution for your business needs.

We understand the importance of timely delivery, and therefore, we always deliver the project on time. We also offer post-delivery maintenance and support services to our clients. We are committed to providing you with:

Higher agility solutions: We offer highly agile solutions that can be quickly deployed.

Faster time-to-market: We help you quickly deploy your Node.js application to get to the market faster.

Improved scalability: We offer scalable solutions that can be easily scaled up or down per your business needs.

If you are looking for a Node.js development company that can offer you the best solution, then Auxano Global Services is the right choice. Contact Auxano Global Services today to get a free quote.

To Conclude:

Node.js is a popular platform for building scalable network applications. It is lightweight and offers features that make it easy to develop and deploy such applications. Various tools and frameworks are available for Node.js that further simplify the application development process.

In this article, we have explored the various aspects of Node.js and looked at some of its popular use cases. We have also looked at some of the most popular tools and frameworks available for Node.js. If you’re planning to build a scalable network application, Node.js is a platform worth considering.