WHAT IS NODE.JS?

Himanshu Gupta — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 12:07:51 +0000

Irrespective of the fact that you know javascript or not, you must have encountered these questions: What is NodeJS? Is it a server side programming language? Is it just another javascript framework like AngularJS?

Well, NodeJS is neither a framework nor a programming language.

As per the official docs:

Node.js® is a JavaScript runtime built on Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine

Let's dig deeper and understand this better.

History:

It all started in 2009, when javascript was primarily used to run inside a browser. We could embed javascript code in a webpage’s HTML and achieve all sorts of benefits like adding events to pages, calling APIs, adding animations etc.

While all this was possible, 28-year-old Ryan criticized the Apache HTTP server for it's limited possibilities to handle concurrent connections. He explored several options to support javascript outside the browser and went on to become the creator of one of the hottest technologies of future.

But, how did he do it? To answer this, we must first understand how javascript runs inside a browser.

Javascript Engine:

Every browser has a javascript engine that allows us to execute javascript code inside it. For example: Firefox has SpiderMonkey and Internet Explorer has Chakra (Yes, IE is alive). Join me in welcoming V8, the javascript Engine inside Google Chrome. V8 is special because this is what powers NodeJS. Ryan combined the V8 code with C++ to create NodeJS, that not only allows us to execute javascript outside browser but also gives us additional libraries to interact with the Operating System.

Now, the engine can execute the JS code but where exactly are we running this code?

Javascript Runtime:

It's the environment where javascript code is executed. For example: In case of ReactJS or AngularJS, the code runs inside a web browser. So our browser is the javascript runtime here. Similarly, NodeJS is the javascript environment for server. Think of it as a container that you place inside the server and send it all your javascript.

If it's just a runtime, how is a NodeJS developer any different from a Javascript developer?

It's the same as asking the difference between a Frontend developer and a Backend developer. A NodeJS developer is someone who breathes javascript as well as understands the fundamentals of server side development. A good understanding of javascript can save you the effort of learning a new language but there is no running away from the basics. This is one of the reasons NodeJS became popular. I would let Ryan explain other reasons for it's popularity: https://youtu.be/ztspvPYybIY

At the time of writing this article, NodeJS is 11 years old and loved by top companies like Paypal, LinkedIn, Uber, Yahoo, Medium, GoDaddy, Groupon and Walmart. However, many experienced developers still find this topic confusing. I hope this article busted some myths around NodeJS. If you found it useful, don't forget to share it with other javascript developers.

I TRIED POMODORO FOR 30 DAYS

Himanshu Gupta — Sat, 19 Jun 2021 12:05:51 +0000

So, what the heck is a Pomodoro technique?

Well, it's a time management technique where you split your day into brief intervals (usually 25 minutes), separated by quick breaks. Each interval is what we call a Pomodoro. Simple yet powerful, all you need to be able to follow this technique is a timer.

First, a little background: I heard about Pomodoro from a colleague who would swear by it. His love and conviction in Pomodoro convinced me to try the technique as well. However, My first attempt turned out to be an epic failure. Here's what happened: I started an interval and within one minute, someone walked over to my desk to discuss an important feature. R.I.P Pomodoro!

It was hard for me to comply with the technique in my work environment. Sometimes, I would just skip the breaks and end up working for hours on the same thing. Then entered the lockdown followed by work-from-home. I thought of experimenting with the technique once again, and here’s what happened:

Bye Bye Procrastination-

The short interval psyched me. It left me with no excuses to procrastinate, considering I had limited time to finish a task.

Bye Bye Eye Strain-

Being a software developer, my eyes spend 8 hours with my laptop followed by 4 hours with my mobile. My doctor urged me to take frequent pauses while working just to calm my eyes. Are you happy, doctor? Because my eyes are.

Bye Bye Guilt Trips-

Yes, no more feeling guilty about taking breaks. I could dance, dream, or even kill mosquitoes - I earned those breaks and nothing could take them away from me.

Say Hello to Productivity-

I could organize my tasks in a stronger manner and still focus on each task for prolonged periods. I could accomplish more jobs even though I was taking more breaks.

It's worth considering that this technique might not work for everyone. It might not even work for me once i am back in office (post-pandemic). But, do i recommend it? Absolutely. It's worth a couple of days of your life. Give it a shot and feel free to modify the interval to your liking. Go with the flow and you will be addicted!

DEV Community: Himanshu Gupta

WHAT IS NODE.JS?

I TRIED POMODORO FOR 30 DAYS