JavaScript is one of the most fundamental languages used to create the World Wide Web as we know it today. It is the technology which enabled websites to become interactive and not just a series of static pages. An estimated 95% of all websites in the world currently contain at least some JavaScript code.
Originally developed only for browsers, JavaScript is now used server-side as well. Using both client-side and server-side JavaScript is known as “Full Stack JavaScript,” and can be the perfect choice for many (but certainly not all) projects.
Here is our brief guide to Full Stack JavaScript, including when to use it, and when not to. But first, here is a recap of how this technology first started:
JavaScript: a brief recap of a complicated history
JavaScript was developed in 1995 by Netscape, the company behind the first widely-popular web browser. At the time these early browsers were built it was not possible to create dynamic web pages. Once a page was loaded, it remained completely static.
Netscape was aware that having dynamic content on webpages would bring huge advantages. To solve the problem they developed a scripting language for their browsers which was eventually named JavaScript (and which, despite the name, is not a spinoff of the Java programming language).
Seeing the advantages of JavaScript, Microsoft soon developed a similar, competing language called JScript for its Explorer browsers. These two languages developed in parallel until 2008, when the two technologies were combined into a single, standardised form – the JavaScript we have today.
In 2009, developer Ryan Dahl released an open-source, server-side JavaScript runtime environment he called “Node.js.” Based on the “JavaScript everywhere” paradigm, Node.js allows the compilation of dynamic web content server-side, before it is sent to the browser.
Although not quite as universally employed as client-side JavaScript, Node.js is used by a host of blue chip internet companies, including Netflix, PayPal, LinkedIn, and Microsoft.
Now a fully-mature programming language, with both client-side and server-side versions, Full Stack JavaScript has a lot to offer – as long as it is being used for the right project.
Which types of projects are best for Full Stack JavaScript with Node.js?
True to the original concept for JavaScript, the best uses for Full Stack JavaScript are applications which rely heavily on dynamic content. These include:
- Real-time I/O application (event driven applications, such as online chat and games)
- Web applications (server side rendering or single page application)
- REST/JSON APIs (Full Stack JavaScript uses the same data format for the front end, back end and database, all without conversion)
- Data streaming (Full Stack JavaScript allows files to be processed while they are uploaded, and is widely used for encoding video and audio)
- Microservices and serverless solutions
Which projects are not suited for Full Stack JavaScript with Node.js?
For all its advantages, Full Stack JavaScript is definitely the wrong choice for many projects. We advise choosing a different option for:
- Heavy CPU-consuming enterprise applications
- Data driven applications backed up by enterprise data store solutions (such as Oracle, Microsoft, or SQL)
- Complex enterprise applications
Advantages for using Full Stack JavaScript with Node.js
A nimble programming language with both client-side and server-side versions, the most important advantages to using Full Stack JavaScript are:
- It is lightweight and fast.
- It is easy to configure.
- It provides one programming language for both front end and back end.
- It has a small learning curve.
- There are lots of packages available.
- It is designed for real time processing.
Disadvantages for using Full Stack JavaScript with Node.js
There are disadvantages that should be considered before using Full Stack JavaScript for any new project, including:
- There is no compile-time checking.
- Immaturity of tooling – although the core Node.js modules are quite stable and can be considered mature, there are many tools in the npm registry (an online database of public and paid-for private packages) which are either of poor quality, or not properly documented or tested.
- Heavy computation tasks can cause performance bottlenecks.
- “Nested callback hell” can occur when inexperienced JavaScript coders struggle with asynchronous commands – this is not good!
Why Amdaris is the right development partner for using Full Stack JavaScript with Node.js
As a technology-agnostic company, Amdaris will only recommend the solution that is a best fit for our clients.
If you are considering Full Stack JavaScript for your next project, feel free to get in touch with us for an unbiased assessment.
If Full Stack JavaScript is the right choice, Amdaris has the talent and the experience to deliver fantastic results. Over 80% of Amdaris developers are familiar with the JavaScript Runtime Environment, and over 50% have experience coding in full stack JavaScript.
What next?
If you would like to talk to someone at Amdaris about Full Stack JavaScript with Node.js, or any other programming language, just get in touch.
Email ask@amdaris.com and let us know about your next plans. We will help you choose the best technology for making your project a success!