Server side Javascript is the use of Javascript on the server side of application development, usually through the means of server side frameworks. While not as widely used as JavaScript for the browser environment (which is used to create dynamic and interactive web pages), server side Javascript still offers numerous benefits to web development. This article will take a comprehensive look at server side Javascript, popular server side frameworks, and best practices when working with them.

What is Server Side Javascript?

Server side Javascript (also referred to as Node.js) is the use of the JavaScript programming language to develop server applications. It is a server environment that allows programmers to create powerful web applications using JavaScript language instead of traditional server-side programming methods such as PHP. Server side JavaScript allows developers to create dynamic and interactive web pages that are faster, more efficient, and more secure than their client-side counterparts.

In order to take advantage of server side Javascript, developers must use a server side framework. These frameworks provide an environment for a developer to structure and execute their code on the server. They also provide a library of classes and functions that can be used to build powerful web applications. Popular frameworks include Node.js, Express.js, Koa.js, Sails.js, AdonisJs, and Deno.

Benefits of Server Side Javascript

Server side Javascript offers numerous benefits over using client-side programming languages such as HTML and CSS. These benefits include increased speed, higher scalability, better security, better support for asynchronous programming, and improved code reuse. Additionally, since JavaScript code does not have to be compiled like other server-side programming languages (which often require complex setup and modification), it is much easier for developers to get up and running on Node.js.

Server-side Javascript also has better support for asynchronous programming. This allows developers to work with asynchronous data streaming in a more organized and efficient manner. It also allows for better code reuse in the event that developers need to write similar tasks or sections of code multiple times.

Popular Server Side Javascript Frameworks

Node.js is JavaScript’s most popular server-side framework. It was created by Ryan Dahl in 2009 and is used by countless companies today to develop powerful web applications. Node.js utilizes an event loop architecture to make applications faster and more efficient. Node.js is particularly well suited to real-time web apps, as it can handle massive numbers of simultaneous client connections.

Other popular server side frameworks include Express.js, Koa.js, Sails.js, AdonisJs, and Deno. Express.js is an efficient and flexible web application framework for Node.js that can be used for API development, web application development, and much more. Koa.js is a lightweight alternative to Express that focuses on asynchronous execution and offers features such as middleware support and error handling.

Sails.js is an MVC framework that is designed to make app development more efficient and is ideal for building custom web APIs. AdonisJs is a full-stack JavaScript web framework that simplifies the development process for dynamic web applications. Deno is a modern runtime for JavaScript and TypeScript that makes it easier to build distributed applications.

Choosing the Right Server Side Javascript Framework

When deciding which server side Javascript framework to use, it’s important to consider performance, features, scalability, security, and ease of use. Different frameworks have different strengths and weaknesses and it’s important to pick the one that works best for you and your project.

For instance, Node.js offers great performance but is often difficult to debug due to the asynchronous nature of JavaScript code. Express has better debugging capabilities but is slightly slower than Node.js on large projects. Koa is lightweight and efficient, but offers fewer features than other frameworks such as Express or Sails.js. It’s important to weigh all these factors when deciding which server side framework is best suited for your particular project.

Node.js: A Comprehensive Overview

Node.js is the most popular server-side JavaScript framework available today. It was created by Ryan Dahl in 2009 and has since become one of the most widely used frameworks for web application development due to its great performance, scalability and ease of use.

Node.js utilizes an event-driven programming technique called the “callback” pattern in order to make its applications more efficient, meaning that asynchronously executed tasks can be coordinated easily even in high-traffic environments. This makes it a great choice for applications such as chat rooms or real-time communication services.

Node.js also has great support for various databases such as SQL, MongoDB and Redis, allowing developers to quickly create powerful applications with persistent storage capabilities. Additionally, due to its popularity over the years, there are a plethora of tutorials, libraries and packages available to help developers quickly create powerful applications using Node.js.

Express.js: Key Features and Uses

Express.js is a fast, unopinionated web application framework for Node.js that is ideal for developing custom web APIs and web applications without having to write tedious boilerplate code yourself. It is based on the model-view-controller (MVC) pattern and offers great support for databases such as MongoDB, Redis and MySQL.

Express also makes it easy for developers to create powerful web APIs quickly with features like request logging in real-time, rate limiting support, body parsing middleware for incoming requests, cookie management and more. Additionally, due to its robust set of features and flexibility for customization, Express can be used for small to large scale applications.

Koa.js: An Introduction

Koa.js is a lightweight alternative to Express that focuses heavily on asynchronous execution and error handling capabilities. It was created by the same developers who created Express but was designed to make asynchronous programming with Node much simpler by utilizing generators instead of callbacks.

The main advantages that Koa has over Express are its focus on async/await control flow opposed to callbacks, its simpler middleware signature syntax making it easier to read code written with Koa middleware, higher performance due to its non-blocking design, improved error handling capabilities and more.

Sails.js: Advantages and Disadvantages

Sails.js is an MVC framework designed specifically for building custom web APIs from scratch quickly. Sails leverages the same event loop principles as Node but improves upon them by adding some “magic” into the mix that makes developing complex applications simpler.

The main advantages that Sails offers over Node’s core architecture are its simpler approach to making applications scalable via built-in support for clustering, improved error handling capabilities, improved memory management for large projects, improved routing capabilities compared to traditional server-side frameworks and much more.

However, one disadvantage of Sails is that its usage tends to be limited by its lack of flexibility when it comes to replacing or editing core components or settings.

AdonisJs: Overview and Use Cases

AdonisJs is a full-stack JavaScript framework created by South African company Lukas Gedye Solutions that is ideal for building powerful dynamic web applications from scratch quickly and easily. AdonisJs utilizes a combination of client-side JavaScript such as React and Redux as well as Node’s core event loop architecture.

The main advantages offered by AdonisJs include improved security via an application-level authorization layer (JWT) built directly into the framework, simplified data access via an auto-generated API wrapper, an opinionated folder structure providing a logical distinction between business logic/data access operations and presentation logic/templates and much more.

Deno: An Overview

Deno is a modern runtime for JavaScript and TypeScript that offers many features that make it easier to build distributed applications from scratch quickly and easily. Deno was created by Ryan Dahl in 2020 out of a need for greater security around Node’s core architecture, which made it difficult for large applications to scale efficiently.

The main advantages of Deno are its improved security measures (such as signed scripts), built-in dependency management via the WebAssembly virtual machine (WASM), built-in ES6 modules (for improved modularity), improved performance thanks to its use of isolates (which prevent applications from crashing due to bugs or resource management issues) and much more.

Considerations When Using Server Side Javascript Frameworks

When working with server side frameworks it is important to consider things like maintainability, scalability, security, robustness, extensibility and performance when selecting a framework or combination of frameworks suitable for your particular project.

It’s also important to consider how much time it will take to maintain the application over time versus a short-term solution that you’ll have to rework later on down the line. This “Total Cost of Ownership” calculation should factor in any additional costs associated with hosting or managing the application over time as well as any additional hardware requirements.

Tips For Getting Started With Server Side Javascript Development

Server side development can seem overwhelming at first but there are some tips that can help you get started quickly so you can hit the ground running with your project.

• Get comfortable with using version control systems such as Git or SVN so you can easily share code changes with other members of your team.
• Start by exploring existing tutorials online so you can quickly get up to speed on how different frameworks work.
• Write small snippets of code before tackling larger projects so you can get familiar with the syntax in an incremental manner.
• Make sure you set up automated unit tests so you can quickly test any changes you make without having to manually perform them.
• Join online communities such as Stack Overflow or Reddit where you can find answers to any questions you may have about working with different frameworks.