Support Developer with Node.js Salary in 2024

Where is Node.js used?

Node.js Alternatives

Deno

Deno is a secure runtime for JavaScript and TypeScript built on V8, designed by the original creator of Node.js. Uses modern features, including ES modules.

// Example Deno server
import { serve } from "https://deno.land/std/http/server.ts";
const s = serve({ port: 8000 });
for await (const req of s) {
  req.respond({ body: "Hello World\n" });
}

• Includes a standard library.

• Security focused: executes code in a sandbox.

• Uses modern JavaScript features.

• Fewer third-party packages than NPM.

• Community is smaller than Node's.

• Less corporate backing compared to Node.

Go

Go (Golang) is a statically typed compiled language designed at Google, aimed at simplicity and efficiency for server-side applications and networked services.

// Example Go server
package main
import (
    "fmt"
    "net/http"
)
func main() {
    http.HandleFunc("/", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
        fmt.Fprintf(w, "Hello, you've requested: %s\n", r.URL.Path)
    })

    http.ListenAndServe(":8080", nil)
}

• Compiled language, fast execution.

• Strong concurrency support.

• Simple syntax, easy deployment.

• Lacks some expressiveness (no generics, until recently).

• Dependency management has been historically problematic.

• Error handling can be verbose.

Python with Flask or Django

Python is an interpreted, high-level programming language emphasizing code readability. Flask/Django are frameworks for building web applications.

# Example Flask server
from flask import Flask
app = Flask(__name__)

@app.route('/')
def hello_world():
    return 'Hello, World!'

if __name__ == '__main__':
    app.run()

• High readability, quick prototyping.

• Rich set of libraries and frameworks.

• Large community and support.

• Slower execution compared to Node.js.

• Global interpreter lock limits concurrency.

• Less suitable for CPU-bound tasks.

Quick Facts about Node.js

Once Upon a Time, JavaScript Escaped the Browser!

In the mystical year of 2009, Ryan Dahl conjured up Node.js, freeing JavaScript from the shackles of web browsers and unleashing it upon the server-side realm. With its non-blocking I/O model and Event-Driven architecture, Node.js was basically the equivalent of giving JavaScript a Red Bull, allowing it to do more work with less waiting around, like an impatient toddler unleashed in a toy store.

// Classic non-blocking I/O model
fs.readFile("story.txt", (err, data) => {
  if (err) throw err;
  console.log(data);
});

Version Confusion and Conquer

Node.js versions grew faster than rabbits on a fertility diet. We got a new shiny version about every six months. However, things got a bit hairy with versioning mayhem, causing the community to split into io.js. Fear not, like any good fairy tale, by v4.0.0 in 2015, Node.js and io.js had a happy reunion under the Node.js Foundation, because let's face it – branching and merging isn't just a Git thing.

The NPM Gift Basket

Node.js came with a treasure chest known as npm (Node Package Manager), which started as a modest collection of packages. Fast forward to today, and it's like a genie unleashed, boasting a repository so vast that you can find a package for almost anything. Need to fly a drone with JavaScript? There's a package for that. Want to procrastinate by making ASCII art of your cat? npm has your back.

// Installing a package with npm – as simple as asking for candy
npm install express

What is the difference between Junior, Middle, Senior and Expert Node.js developer?

Top 10 Node.js Related Tech

1. 
   

   JavaScript (ES6+)

   
   

   
   Imagine trying to speak to a Node.js environment and not knowing JavaScript. It's like trying to order a pizza in Klingon; the chef won't get it, and you'll end up hungry. Get familiar with the modern syntax (e.g., arrow functions, promises, async/await). It's the VIP pass to Node.js city!

   
       // Arrow function example
       const greet = (name) => `Hello, ${name}!`;

   
   

    

1. 
   

   Express.js

   
   

   
   It's the Swiss Army knife for Node.js developers! Express.js streamlines the process of building server-side routes and handling HTTP requests faster than a caffeinated squirrel. This minimalist web framework is a must-have when zipping around the backend.

   
       const express = require('express');
       const app = express();
       app.get('/', (req, res) => res.send('Hello World!'));

   
   

    

1. 
   

   MongoDB & Mongoose

   
   

   
   Node.js loves MongoDB like a pirate loves treasure. It's a NoSQL database that stores data in JSON-like documents. Mongoose, the trusted sidekick, provides schema validation and translates between objects in code and the representation in MongoDB.

   
       const mongoose = require('mongoose');
       const { Schema } = mongoose;
       const blogSchema = new Schema({
         title:  String,
         author: String
       });

   
   

    

1. 
   

   RESTful API Design

   
   

   
   Understanding REST is like knowing the secret handshake at an elite Node.js club. It's about creating clean, efficient, and standard ways for systems to communicate over HTTP, making the internet a happier place for servers and clients alike.

1. 
   

   Socket.io

   
   

   
   It's like telepathy for your Node.js application. Socket.io enables real-time, bidirectional, event-based communication. It's the go-to for when you want your chat app to send messages faster than a kid replying to "Who wants ice cream?"

   
       const io = require('socket.io')(server);
       io.on('connection', (socket) => {
         console.log('a user connected');
       });

   
   

    

1. 
   

   Async/Await

   
   

   
   Ever been stuck in line at the grocery store? That's your app without async/await. Mastering asynchronous JavaScript means juggling tasks like a circus performer, making sure your app doesn't freeze while waiting for an API response.

   
       async function fetchUserData() {
         const response = await fetch('https://api.example.com/user');
         const data = await response.json();
         return data;
       }

   
   

    

1. 
   

   Webpack & Babel

   
   

   
   Want your Node.js app to be fashionable with the latest syntax trends? Webpack bundles your scripts, while Babel ensures they're understood by all browsers, even the grumpy old ones. It's the makeover dream team for your code!

   
       // webpack.config.js example
       module.exports = {
         entry: './app.js',
         output: {
           filename: 'bundle.js'
         }
       };

   
   

    

1. 
   

   Unit Testing (Jest, Mocha/Chai)

   
   

   
   Bugs are sneaky pests. Unit testing frameworks like Jest or Mocha/Chai act as the pest control, snuffing out bugs and keeping your codebase clean and healthy like a scrubbed kitchen floor.

   
       // Jest example
       test('adds 1 + 2 to equal 3', () => {
         expect(1 + 2).toBe(3);
       });

   
   

    

1. 
   

   NPM/Yarn

   
   

   
   Node's package managers are like the supermarkets for developers, offering aisles of libraries to grab off the shelf. Do you need a date formatter, CSV parser, or something else? Chances are there's a package for that, ready to be popped into your project.

1. 
   

   GraphQL

   
   

   
   If REST API is the well-organized library, then GraphQL is the personal librarian who fetches exactly what you need. It lets clients specify their data needs in queries, cutting down the unnecessary chatter and streamlining data exchange.

   
       const { graphql, buildSchema } = require('graphql');
       const schema = buildSchema(`
         type Query {
           hello: String
         }
       `);