In 2024, Is Node.js Worth Learning?

1. What is Node.js

What is Node.js? The official explanation is that Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment built on Chrome’s JavaScript engine called V8. We can run our js code without the browser or use it to write the server because the topic of the essay is not pointed out, so this article is interpreted as learning Node.js is learning to use Node.js for server development

2. Is Node.js worth learning?

Who is this question for? Did you develop it for the client? Is it for backend development? Not, I believe that 99% of back-end development and client-side development will not choose Node.js as their first development language, so I think this question is for front-end developers here.

So in 2024, do front-end developers still need to learn Node.js? As a front-end developer, I think of course they have to learn, and they must learn! There are mainly the following reasons

3. Why do we still have to learn Node.js

3.1 Workplace needs

What is the first thing to look at when the technology industry looks at the technology prospect? See if there is a better way to implement this technology. See the feasibility of this technology? Of course, it is right to look at these, but are these what we have to consider? No! These are the things that those tech giants have to consider, and we can’t see it even if we look at it. What are we going to look at? See job requirements.

The most intuitive manifestation is to look at the recruitment needs. We can open the recruitment software and take a look. Taking intermediate front-end positions as an example, eight out of ten will require Node.js development capabilities, or experience in back-end development is preferred (including Node.js), so whether technology is cool or not depends on market demand rather than words.

When we look at the recruitment information of some big companies, whether it is a foreign company or a Chinese company, we will see the word Node.js. What does the use of big companies represent? First of all, it represents the leadership of the industry, and second, it also represents the contribution to technology. After all, big companies like to contribute to open-source projects, so from this point of view, Node.js is undoubtedly a technology we must learn

3.2 Low learning cost

I believe that the students at the front end know Atwood’s law.

Atwood’s law: refers to any application that can be written in JavaScript, will eventually be written in JavaScript”, which means “any application that can be written in JavaScript will eventually be written in JavaScript”.

How about it, do the front-end students smile knowingly when they see this, and even a little proud? Of course, this is not what we are talking about. Looking at the development history of the front-end in recent years, the front-end has been written from the writing of web pages to the back-end. Input data to the separation of front and back end, and then to cross-end solutions for APP, pc web page, pc client, and applets. We can even use js to complete from front-end to back-end, from pc to mobile, and even to other smart terminals Complete development, what does this mean? It shows that the front end is becoming stronger step by step, even so, strong that it poses a threat to other client development, which also confirms the correctness of Atwood’s law.

The front end has not only developed rapidly across terminals but also has shown amazing capabilities in applications. A large number of online tools such as online forms, online live broadcasts, and online flow charts can be used at any time when you enter a URL. Do you still download an APP when using the function? Maybe most people will still choose to download a client out of old habits, but shortly, you will be more willing to choose to enter a link instead of downloading an APP.

So what is the reason for this phenomenon? Is it because of the perfection of the front-end language? I don’t think so. What’s more important is that its learning cost is low. Anyone who knows any code can write a simple web application and run it on a browser without building it like other languages. A bunch of development environments. As bad as this web application might be, it’s a web application after all. The ease of learning has also brought it a large number of users, and it has also enabled the code written by excellent people to be disseminated more widely.

And using Node.js to write the server uses js syntax, nothing more than learning a few more APIs, we can also learn while using it, which is much faster than learning a new back-end language, now most small companies may still only have a few Java in their personnel structure, and they don’t even have a front-end. Recruit a few front-ends, do the back-end work, and write a mobile terminal, h5, applet, and PC client. Which boss can refuse, although the current Node.js may still have many loopholes and many technologies It is not mature enough, but as the number of users increases, I believe these will not be problems in the end

3.3 Node.js won’t die for quite some time

Many people who say bad things about Node.js are saying that Node.js is no longer popular and dead, but whether you look at the big front-end trend or market demand, this statement is not true, even if node. js will be cool in the future, and we don’t have to worry about it now. Technology is no more than a piece of clothing. Unless it has some major loopholes that may cause serious security incidents, it is impossible to completely abandon it in a short time. After all, then Projects that use this technology more often does not mean refactoring. Even the “dead” jQuery still has a place in the recruitment market. At present, the front end is still inseparable from the Node.js operating environment, but using the same syntax, you can write a backend service without an additional environment. Who would refuse it?

So, feel free to learn Node.js boldly. After all, the career of a programmer is so short. Maybe you have “retired”, and Node.js is not cool yet.

Finally

Thanks for reading. I am looking forward to your following and reading more high-quality articles.

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