7 Notable Applications Constructed with Node.js: Justifications and Advantages
Heh, buckle up, mate! Let's dive into the world of Node.js, that crazy little JavaScript runtime environment that's turning the tech world upside down. A decade ago, Ryan Dahl launched Node.js, and nobody in their right mind could have predicted just how excited we'd all get about it. Fast forward to now, and most developers are well aware of the hype surrounding Node.js, having powered the creation of some seriously cool apps.
Here's a fun fact - you're probably using Node.js in your day-to-day life without even realizing it. So, grab a beer, mate, and let's check out some famous companies that have jumped on the Node.js bandwagon.
What's This Node.js Thingy, Anyways?
Node.js is an open-source runtime environment that lets you write server-side code using everybody's favorite scripting language: JavaScript! Gone are the days when JavaScript was confined to client-side shenanigans. Now, you can use the same language to build the backend of your applications. Lightweight, scalable, and developer-friendly, Node.js is a powerhouse in the world of web tech.
Wanna dive deeper? Check out the article, Node.js: A Beginner's Guide.
Node.js All Stars
1. PayPal
You know 'im, don't ya? Elon Musk co-founded this one. PayPal, the globe-trotting online payment service, migrated their application from Java to JavaScript (and, yup, you guessed it, Node.js) back in 2013. Their engineering teams were previously divided into those working on the browser (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and those working on the server (Java). The solution? Use JavaScript for both, unifying their engineering specialties into a single team. The result? Apps were built faster, with fewer lines of code, and less time spent on traffic and response time. Boom!
2. LinkedIn
The world's largest professional networking platform forces suits and geeks to mingle. In a bold move, LinkedIn decided to move their mobile app's backend from Ruby on Rails to Node.js in 2011. Performance efficiency and scale were the main reasons for the switch, resulting in increased capacity, faster client-side processing, and streamlined development workflows.
3. Netflix
Netflix isn't just a service for binge-watching series while on the toilet. The world's biggest online streaming service chose Node.js for their entire user interface, thanks to its lightweight, modular, and lightning-fast nature. By reducing startup time, enabling quick iteration, and letting developers work with a language they already knew (JavaScript), Netflix built a more responsive, user-friendly platform.
4. Uber
Ever been in a situation where you needed a ride, stat? Uber made that a reality for millions around the world. One of the first companies to put Node.js into full production, Uber built their massive matching system using Node.js, thanks to its ability to handle asynchronous I/O requests. They also appreciated its quick iteration, error analysis, and instant code deployment.
5. Groupon
Want a deal on that vibe check with a friend? Check out Groupon, your one-stop shop for bucket list experiences at discounted prices. In 2015, Groupon migrated its web and mobile traffic from Ruby on Rails to Node.js, improving site performance and ease of maintenance.
6. GoDaddy
Sell your soul for web hosting? Maybe not, but GoDaddy's dominance in the domain registrar space means they have a lot of souls to sell. After migrating their backend to Node.js, GoDaddy was able to host customer websites with less hardware and reduced the Time To First Byte (TTFB) considerably.
7. NASA
You're probably wondering, "How the heck did NASA end up on this list?" Well, hold onto your chromosomes, because Node.js helped keep astronauts alive while exploring the final frontier! After a near-disastrous incident in 2013, NASA built their own end-to-end data system using Node.js, improving data access time by around 300%.
That's only the tip of the Node.js iceberg, mate. Companies like Walmart, Yahoo, eBay, Mozilla, Medium, Trello, Citibank, and more have also hopped aboard the Node.js train. If you're already a JavaScript whiz, learning Node.js will be a breeze. Cheers to more Node.js success stories in the future!
Now, grab another beer, and don't forget to check out our other articles on Node.js:
- The Jane Doe's Guide to Mastering Node.js
- How to Whip Up a Simple Web Server with Node.js
- Back to Basics: Building aerial drones with Node.js
Note: For your reading pleasure, we've listed some enrichment data on additional companies utilizing Node.js. Enjoy!
Enrichment Data:
- Walmart: Leverages Node.js to manage high traffic and improve performance on its e-commerce platform.
- Yahoo: Utilizes Node.js for real-time web applications.
- eBay: Employs Node.js to handle large volumes of data and improve site responsiveness.
- Mozilla: Uses Node.js for some of its web applications.
- Medium: Known for its fast and scalable content delivery, Medium uses Node.js to support its web platform.
- Trello: Leverages Node.js to enhance real-time collaboration features in their project management tool.
- Citibank: Utilizes Node.js for its scalable backend services.
Here are two sentences that follow from the given text and contain the given words:
- One interesting piece of technology that Node.js powers is a data structure known as a trie, which is used for efficient search and insert operations in large databases.
- To enhance the performance of their networking infrastructure, some companies using Node.js implement it in their stack for managing asynchronous I/O operations more effectively.
