Node.js is a popular open-source JavaScript cross-development runtime environment, which is developed on Chrome’s V8 engine. It offers highly scalable and fast back-end mobile, IoT, and web applications along with robotics. The programming language gains efficiency and lightweight due to the non-blocking and event-driven I/O model.
What’s important to note is that node.js supports all important platforms such as Microsoft Windows, Linux, and macOS. This is why it has grabbed the attention of top-notch organizations such as NASA, Netflix, eBay, Amazon, PayPal, LinkedIn, and more. The backend framework recently completed ten glorious years in the web development industry.
However, we can take a plunge into the 10 most popular NodeJS frameworks, let’s get through some important stats-
- 85% of the developers use Node.js for creating web applications, whereas 43% use it for building enterprise apps.
- Node.js can accelerate your application performance speed by almost 50%.
- The programming language decreases the app development cost by 58%.
Looking at these stats, we can undoubtedly say that Node.js is the preferred choice of web and professional full stack developers.
Node.js allows the developers to use JavaScript on both front-end and back-end of the application. This means that you can get much cleaner and more consistent source code. The JavaScript language can easily get along with the default package manager or npm. This feature makes it one of the most essential and largest open-source library ecosystems.
However, Node.js is not a lone player in the application development industry. It comes with its efficient team of frameworks that simplifies application development. These frameworks usually act as external support in building the application.
They are basically created on the top of the Node.js to offer more benefits such as improving the app’s functionality and simplifying the process of prototype development.
This blog will highlight the 5 most extensively used Nodejs frameworks that will be used in 2020.
Express.js
Express.js has been identified as one of the most popular Node.js frameworks with more than 43k GitHub stars. The major USPs in this framework include a faster development process and exceptional web APIs that support different plugins. It is also a minimalist framework, which serves as middleware. Using ExpressJS you can even set out your configuration routes and receive requests from both the front-end and backend.
ExpressJS is known for providing powerful tools to support HTTP servers. It could be an ideal choice for developers planning to develop single-page web apps, websites, public HTTPs, and hybrid apps. The framework supports 14 varied template engines and so developers don’t have to use any particular ORM.
Meteor.js
Meteor.js is a full-stack Node.js framework and JavaScript platform. One of the biggest advantages of using MeteorJS is that you can develop web applications in real-time. This means that if there is any code change in the app, it can be sent to all devices and browsers in real-time.
It is the second most popular framework with 41k GitHub stars. It is perfect for developing large projects. Meteor has found esteemed clients including IKEA, Marza, Honeywell, and more. It also provides robust documentation and a strong community base.
Koa.js
The developers of both Koa.js and Express.js are the same. Node.js developers can work without using callbacks with the help of ES6 methodology. Koa.js also offers developers more control over handling the errors. You will not find any middleware, which gives you more leverage to deal with the configuration process. However, conventional Node.js middleware is not going to work with Koa.
Koa.js stands tall with more than 26k GitHub stars. The aim of the development team was to create a framework, which was lighter in comparison to Express.js and provided more strength to the developers.
Sails.js
Sail.js is a Model-View-Controller (MVC)-based framework, which is created on the Express.js. It automatically generates REST APIs and it’s easier to integrate the WebSocket.
With more than 20k GitHub stars, Sails.js stands fourth on the popularity list of the Nde.js frameworks. However, the biggest gain of this framework is that it is easily compatible with all major databases including MySQL, MongoDB, and Redis, etc. In addition, it is also compatible with front-end JavaScript frameworks including AngularJS, ReactJS, Android, and Windows Operating System.
Nest.js
Nest.js is a Node.js framework using progressive JavaScript language and developed on the TypeScript. The framework is fifth in the list with over 15k GitHub stars. It is a combination of functional reactive programming, object-oriented programming, and functional programming.
The Nest development community has designed the framework in such a manner that it becomes a development kit for writing enterprise-based apps. It makes use of the Express.js. However, it is also compatible with other libraries as well.
Conclusion
The list also includes many other Nodejs frameworks used by web and mobile app developers such as Hapi.js, Socket.io, Loopback, and more. However, it’s important to choose the right framework according to the project requirements.
