20 useful Node.js frameworks

    In recent years, Node.js has significantly improved its status from experimental technology to the foundation for serious projects. Node.js makes it possible to build quite complex, highly loaded applications on a simple, elegant and, most importantly, lightweight mechanism. But first of all, Node.js is an absolutely fascinating and exciting thing that is really interesting to work with! Node.js is an event-driven I / O framework for the V8 JavaScript engine on UNIX-like platforms. Node.js is cross-platform and open source, it will give developers all the necessary tools for creating on-the-fly network and server applications, while allowing you to write all the code in JavaScript, regardless of the operating system.




    Perhaps the biggest feature of Node.js is the NPM package manager, which allows Node.js developers to connect to the library with more than 220,000+ unique modules that can be easily used to start creating applications, platforms and software.

    Node.js has been officially downloaded over 90,000,000 times. Node.js, of course, won the hearts and minds of web developers, but it can also be used in other areas, such as working with robots, drones, and other interesting things.

    Below we look at 20 Node.js frameworks for web development. Let's move on to the list!

    Express


    Express is a minimalistic and flexible web framework for Node.js applications, providing an extensive feature set for mobile and web applications.

    Express, as is well known, develops in its own way, unlike other frameworks that rely heavily on Rails, but also borrowed a lot from another Ruby framework called Sinatra. The concept is simple: the framework provides enough opportunities for launching and working on the fly, without requiring a lot of time for preparation.

    This is a framework that makes creating most of the sites very easy. The first thing you will need to do is install it. With the node command, you will have the npm command. This tool gives you access to a huge number of modules created by the community, and Express is just one of them.

    Express development example .

    Official site

    Meteor


    Meteor is an open source MVC framework with which you can create real-time Web applications. One of the most important features of the platform is that it allows you to use the same code both on the server side and on the client side. Between the server and the client, as a rule, data is transferred, not HTML code. The framework supports OS X, Windows and Linux. Its reactive programming model allows you to create applications using less JavaScript code.

    An example of development on Meteor.

    Official site

    MEAN


    MEAN (an abbreviation for MongoDB, Express.js, Angular.js, Node.js) is a set (complex) of server software that, like LAMP, is used for web development. At the client, server and database level, the entire MEAN stack is written in JavaScript. Shifting the base platform from the OS (Linux) to the JavaScript runtime (Node.js) carries OS independence: Node.js works on Windows and OS X in the same way as on Linux.

    The main shift between LAMP and MEAN is the shift from traditional server-side page generation to single-page application orientation (SPA) on the client side.

    An example of development on MEAN.

    Official site

    Flatiron


    Flatiron is a full-stack framework that allows developers to create desktop and mobile applications with reusable components. The main features of the framework include: an integrated template system, a plug-in management system, and much more.

    Official site

    Locomotive


    Locomotive is positioning itself as one of the most powerful Node.js frameworks, thanks to its support for the MVC pattern and REST principles, as well as uptime with Express. Locomotive is well integrated with databases and templating engines, which forces developers to return to this extensive framework over and over again.

    Official site

    Total


    Total.js, for no apparent reason, is one of the most forgotten Node.js frameworks. Total.js is a large and rich framework, it provides great opportunities for developers. It supports friendly URLs, XHR, JSON, LESS CSS (CSS 3), javascript minimizer, XSS protection, resources, modules, and also supports MVC architecture.

    This framework has no dependencies. All functionality is located in its core. You can install any module using Node Package Manager. The only noticeable minus is performance in comparison with the same Express.js.

    Official site

    Koa


    The Express.js development team has created another framework called Koa.js, the next-generation futuristic framework for Node.js that promises to be shorter and brighter than Express.js. Koa.js is focused on building web applications and APIs; its main advantage is generators, which are a great way to avoid callbacks, as well as helping developers fix bugs.

    Official site

    Hapi


    A lesser-known framework developed by the Walmart Labs team. Unlike Express and Restify, it has a slightly different approach, providing more functionality right out of the box. The pluses include full control over the reception of requests and detailed help with the generation of documentation.

    Official site

    Diet


    Diet.js is a very small modular Node.js framework for creating fast and scalable APIs and applications. You can use the host controller to manage multiple hosts, the router to create clean APIs and URLs, the software allows you to expand your applications and APIs with modules. Despite the fact that the framework is very lightweight, it brings maximum results, and you will also have access to the source code, which will allow you to become a contributor whenever you want.

    Official site

    Compound


    Compound.js is one of the most reliable MVC frameworks that allows developers to create applications on the fly. Compound also has good community support and extensive documentation.

    Compound has borrowed a lot from Ruby On Rails, as this framework provides similar logical expressions and ways of thinking. There are a lot of guides on the network on how to build full-fledged applications on Compound.js and RESTful APIs for those who just need a quick API solution. Amazon AWS also provides Node.js + Compound.js integration .

    Official site

    Geddy


    Geddy is a very interesting framework from the github user mde. Its features: modularity, clear code and automatic generation of application templates. There is integration with socket.io and the built-in passportjs authorization module. Geddy.JS only needs a few commands to create reliable real-time applications. In general, the framework provides a fairly large set of commands that work through the command line interface and allow you to automate most routine tasks, for example, creating a model, controller, view, and even setting authentication authentication socket.io integration. In this way, Geddy will allow the developer to focus on the core logic of the application.

    Official site

    Sails


    Sails.js is an MVC framework that makes it easy and quick to create Node.js applications. Sails.js is best suited for creating real-time applications. It is based on the MVC (Model-View-Controller) template, like Ruby On Rails, but also supports the requirements of modern applications: software interfaces with a scalable, service-oriented architecture. This framework is particularly well suited for developing chat rooms, real-time dashboards, and multiplayer games.

    Official site

    Adonis


    Adonis is a true MVC framework for Node.js with the right foundation. It carries the concepts of service providers from the popular Laravel PHP framework for creating large-scale applications, as well as using all the features of ES6 to make your code more accurate and maintainable.

    Official site

    Rhapsody


    The core core of Rhapsody.js is supported by the Express.js framework. Rhapsody helps developers create RESTful APIs for models, the framework supports sockets, and also provides a wide selection of unique features that can be used in a real-time development environment. Works with all databases.

    Official site

    Strapi


    Instead of focusing on building application infrastructure, Strapi will help you focus on creating logic that can be reused. The framework is an excellent solution for those software developers who want to create applications in a few days (or hours), and not spend weeks on structuring and designing.

    Strapi created using the Koa.js. framework Consists of 100% of JavaScript.

    Strapi pays special attention to security, the framework comes with several layers of security that work only depending on your needs.

    Official site

    Socketstream


    Socketstream is a framework for Node.js that allows you to create single-page real-time web applications.

    Data between the server and the client is transmitted asynchronously via web sockets as high-speed bi-directional RPC calls, which allows you to create truly fast web applications with super-responsiveness. More details here.

    Official site

    Mojito


    Mojito is a JavaScript web framework that allows you to write programs for the client and server parts. With Mojito, developers no longer have to write different codes for the backend and frontend. If JavaScript is not enabled in the browser, the Mojito application will still be executed on the server side using the same code.

    Official site

    Catberry


    Catberry.js is a framework for developing isomorphic JavaScript applications on node.js using a modular architecture and fast rendering mechanisms. This framework allows you to write the application module once and use it both on the server for rendering pages for search robots, and in the browser for a single-page application, requesting only data for templates. More details here.

    Official site

    Seneca


    Seneca is unique in our list of Node.js frameworks, as it is actually a toolbox that works like a framework. Seneca will give you access to a number of plugins that help you keep the very foundation of the application you are creating. And this functionality allows you to focus on more important aspects of the application. Seneca will take care of things like databases, components, and dependencies, so all you have to do is just write code. Seneca supports commands, so whenever your application finds an appropriate value, it will call the appropriate command to help you complete the tasks. Intel, CoderDojo, GSD and other equally well-known companies are actively taking advantage of Seneca.

    Official site

    Actionhero


    ActionHero is one of the most famous framework APIs. It will help you quickly develop scalable and reusable Node.js API servers for your projects. ActionHero acts as a toolkit that will allow you to build such API servers that will initially work together with existing applications and platforms. With tens of thousands of users, you can always find the right answers and ideas to ensure a daily effective workflow with ActionHero.

    Official site

    Nodal


    Nodal.js is a specially created web server for Node.js developers. This is a full-stack framework that makes it easier to make tough decisions and provides space for creating sustainable products in a much shorter amount of time than usual. Those using Heroku can deploy their Nodal servers in just a few clicks.

    The framework is new, but has already received great support from veterans who have used frameworks such as Django.

    Official site

    I hope this collection will be useful to you. If you did not find your favorite framework in the list, mention it in the comment.

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