In the field of back-end programming, Golang vs. Node.js are considered widely used technologies. Generally, Golang is known as an open-source programming language while Node.js is recognized as an open-source server framework.
Among offshore web developers, both Golang and Node.js are preferred technologies for different reasons. These two are the next-gen backend development platforms for many developers involved in an innovative movement, which shifts from the conventional server-side languages such as PHP and Java.
Golang (Google Go)
Based on the official description of the Go programming language, Go is famous for being concise, expressive, efficient, and clean.
Golang’s existing systems ease to create programs that fully use multicourse and networked equipment. Regarding its novel type system, Go allows flexibility and develops a modular program. In the issue of Go vs. Node.js comparison, Go has the capacity to instantly compile the machine code, conveniently sets the garbage gathering, and the ability to exemplify run-time reflection. It is quick that can be typed statically with a compiled language that appears like a dynamically typed, interpreted language.
In 2007, Golang or popularly called Go was an experiment developed by Google. Ever since its establishment it has been powerful and considered practical that uses the general concepts of development working speed and compiled language safety and.
A couple of years after, this was released to the public as an open-source language. As an offshoot of C and C++ languages, Golang enables the improved coding for dynamic networked apps and with much efficiency. This led to the introduction of web development.
Node.js: Data-intensive app
In general, Node.js can be defined as a platform created on Chrome’s JavaScript runtime that makes to easily develop scalable network apps. In the Golang vs. Node.js, the latter employs an event-driven, non-blocking I/O structure that allows it to become lightweight and efficient. It is best to use for data-intensive real-time apps found in distributed tools.
Since 2009, Node.js has been a widely used platform to build scalable and networked apps. Having an open source server framework, it supports different applications such as Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, and Unix.
Node.js has a rich source of different JavaScript modules that bring hassle-free web development.
In the Golang vs. Node.js comparison, both have several factors that can be tested to identify the programming language capacity.
Maturity level. In 2009, both Golang and Node.js were introduced. Comparing them, Golang is more stable and mature than Node.js, where the application program interfaces continue to have necessary enhancements.
Capacity or performance. If your preference is to use Node.js, it is an interpreted language that uses a JavaScript. Expect it to be a bit slower compared to other existing compiled languages. Meanwhile, Golang is light-weight and quicker than Node.js. It is very much the same as the features of C & C++.
Based on raw CPU performance and conducting memory bound tests, select Golang as a better choice. However, in real-life applications, both technologies exemplify good performance.
Error identification. Golang has its way of holding explicit error checking with some difficulty in spotting the error causes. However, the result of Golang error handling on Golang is both consistent and flawless.
Node.js uses a throw and catch handling method, which is widely employed by offshore web developers. Also, it has some consistency issues when used.
Learning ability. Compared to Node.js, Golang is a comprehensive language. Most developers need to learn it from scratch to get familiar with the specific methods, guidelines, interfaces, and other related programming concepts.
Meanwhile, JavaScript is a widely used coding language. It can be learned with ease then right away shift to Node.js when the developer knows well JavaScript. For beginners, there are many references for understanding the basics of JavaScript. In general, Node.js is much easier and simpler to learn than Golang.
But the question lie which platform should you select: Node.js or Golang? To respond to this, it all depends on the project size and development type.
Essentially, it cannot be neglected that Node.js provides different packages that are quite not easy to apply in Golang. Also, Node.js has a wider number of users so it has improved assistance and solutions in case a developer is stuck somewhere while developing the code.
It can be noted that nearly all the Fortune 500 firms that have a global presence such as NASA, PayPal, LinkedIn, Netflix and Walmart employ Node.js.
Preference in using Node.js
According to Jeff Harrell, Paypal’s director of engineering and chief architect, Node.js-based app requires more than a third of code lines, can handle twice the count of requests per second, and reduce the response time by 35% as compared to Java.
Benefits of Node.js
Node.js is widely used in a wide selection of backend development technologies such as Zend, Symfony, Python, and Lumen. Not only does it use a JavaScript framework but has the entire environment, along with all the needed tools of a developer.
Node.js uses non-blocking and event-driven input-output. This ensures it to be light and quick to use for real-time apps. It has a client-side infrastructure that allows a two-way link between the server and the client during real-time. It is where anyone can promote communication for the free exchange of data.
What Makes Node.js Advantageous
Handy installation. Any framework, regardless of whether it is feature-rich, should not take so much time and effort during installation. If this happens, this can make the back-end operations a bit slower.
Through Node Package Manager (NPM), it can be used as a default package management platform where each Node.js installation enables the developer to perform faster in the backend operations.
Core library. The NPM platform of Node.js offers the storage of over 550 modules, which gets rid of the need for creating repetitive codes. This frees up so much time of the offshore web developers.
Hosting needs. The application function is identified by the selected hosting. The Node.js app does not encounter any issue. It can be hosted nearly any place or location, including the cloud-based hosting experts and online servers.
Applicability. Node.js is a highly sophisticated platform that ensures improved security from hackers. It can be modified and maintained easily. In cases of bugs, these can be found quickly and resolve any issues at hand.
Data streaming in real-time. Node.js promotes real-time data streaming. It minimizes the entire processing time, enabling the developers to do other necessary features.
Being universal in nature. Whether you are creating a chat-like real-time app or constructing programs that require either event-based or non-block servers or both, it does really matter. Node.js is a good option for backend operations.
Shared with ease. The NPM of Node.js is created with the needed library of 50K packages. This is designed to develop and test different solutions that can be easily updated, shared, and reused by other offshore web developers.
Speed in performance. Node.js is created in JavaScript through the integration of the powerful Chrome V8 engine of Google. This enables one of the fastest and reliable frameworks that complete tasks instantly.
In summary, JavaScript is still the most preferred programming language by most web developers. However, no perfect language or framework has yet been developed that can be employed in all projects.
Hence, it is essential to find an expert offshore web development company that is equipped what language, framework or tools to employ that are compliant with the requirements of a specific project.