Node.js Versions

Recently, clients have placed a high value on speed, security, and efficiency. This need forces us to create software that is quick, safe, scalable, and easy to manage. While some are creating new apps using the MEAN stack, several major organizations have started moving their existing applications to Node.js. Uber and PayPal, among others, have already implemented Node.js-based commercial solutions, while Yahoo, HP, and a number of other businesses have used the MEAN stack as the foundation for their newest products. In this article, we will be discussing the meaning of Node.js, a brief history of the platform, Its different versions that have been released over the years, some use cases, and then conclude with the latest update about the new release.

What is Node.js?

Node.js is a framework for quickly creating scalable network applications that are based on Chrome's JavaScript runtime. For data-heavy real-time applications that operate across dispersed devices, it offers an occurrence-driven, non-blocking I/O approach that keeps it lightweight and efficient. It is free to use and open-source. Additionally, it offers a top-notch programming environment, making it the perfect platform for web-based apps. Additionally, Node.js has a sizable developer community that frequently produces new libraries and modules to facilitate development.

Applications created using Node.js are entirely cross-platform because they are created in JavaScript and can be used with Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux. Node.js is lightweight and effective because of its event-driven architecture and non-blocking I/O approach. These characteristics make it ideal for distributed, data-heavy real-time applications. When creating Node.js apps, there are a number of things to bear in mind. To handle data flow, you must first utilize promises, async functions, callbacks, or events because Node.js is asynchronous. Second, because Node.js only supports a single thread, you must take care not to stall the thread by doing lengthy computations.

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A brief history of Node.js

The computer language JavaScript was developed by Netscape as a tool for scripting web pages inside of their flagship browser, Netscape Navigator.

Selling Web Servers that featured a tool named Netscape LiveWire which could produce dynamic sites using server-side JavaScript was a key component of Netscape's business strategy. Unfortunately, Netscape LiveWire didn't have much success, and it took Node.js' release to make server-side JavaScript widely used.

The timing was a significant element in Node.js' ascent, among other things. Due to "Web 2.0" applications (like Flickr, Gmail, etc.) that demonstrated what a cutting-edge web experience could be like, JavaScript has just recently begun to be seen as a more serious language.

JavaScript engines also improved significantly as numerous browsers vied to provide consumers with the best performance. Major browser development teams put a lot of effort on offering improved JavaScript support and figuring out how to enable JavaScript to run quicker. Because it is the open-source JavaScript engine of The Chromium Project, V8—also known as Chrome V8—the engine that powers Node.js—improved greatly as a result of this competition.

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Version Of Node Js

2009

  • Introduction of Node.js 
  • The first form of npm is created

2010

  • Express is created
  • Socket.io is created

2011

  • npm releases version 1.0
  • Globally known companies such as LinkedIn, Uber, etc. begin using Node.js: 
  • Hapi is created

2012

  • Node.js continues to see rapid growth in usage

2013

  • Widely known blogging platform, Ghost, start using Node.js
  • Creation of koa

2014

  • io.js is a significant fork of Node.js, with the aim of inaugurating ES6 support and growing faster

2015

  • The Node.js Foundation is created
  • IO.js has consolidated into Node.js again.
  • Private modules are introduced by npm
  • Node.js 4 (versions 1, 2, and 3 were previously never released)

2016

  • The Leftpad incident happens.
  • Yarn is created
  • Node.js version 6

2017

  • npm begins to devote a higher focus toward security
  • Node.js version 8
  • HTTP/2
  • V8 inaugurates Node.js in its testing suite, thereby, officially making Node.js a target for the JS engine, in addition to Chrome
  • npm downloads rise to 3mn per week

2018

  • Node.js version 10
  • ES modules .mjs experimental support
  • Node.js version 11

2019

  • Node.js version 12
  • Node.js version 13

2020

  • Node.js version 14
  • Node.js  version 15

2021

  • Node.js version 16
  • Node.js version 17

2022

  • The latest version of Node.js - Node.js version 18

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Use Cases of Node.js

Real-Time Chat Apps

Real-time applications, or RTAs, are widely created with Node.js. Node.js developers find it much easier to achieve the level of performance users have come to expect from modern real-time apps thanks to its asynchronous, occurrence-driven architecture.

The Socket.IO package, which allows real-time, bidirectional, & occurrence-based connectivity across the browser and the server, is frequently used when developing chat apps with Node.js. A group chat application may be created using Socket.IO in around 30 lines of code.

Single Page Applications

In SPAs, a single page loads the entire application. This typically indicates that a few requests for particular components are being made in the background. The event loop in Node.js saves the day in this case by handling queries in a non-blocking manner.

Application Streaming

Being one of the biggest media service providers on the planet is challenging, particularly when you have to supply streaming material to 150 million people worldwide. As a result, in 2018, Netflix migrated the majority of its API to Node.js.

Netflix now has a single language for both server-side & browser-side development thanks to Node.js, and it has access to the asynchronous non-blocking I/O features that enable real-time & streaming operations using Node.js so simple and effective.

Internet of Things (IoT)

Due to the fact that IoT applications routinely provide little data packets that can accumulate into numerous requests, most sensors are used. Node.js is a great choice because it can swiftly manage numerous concurrent requests.

Command line Applications

The field of JavaScript development pays little attention to command-line programs. The majority of larger firms actually utilize some of the specific command-line tools.
Node.js makes it easy, quick, and very affordable to build command-line apps. Examples of these libraries are commander, yargs, and oclif. Node.js enables developers to leverage JavaScript outside of the web and create a variety of job automation solutions, even if they are unfamiliar with conventional backend languages.

Embedded Systems

While it might feel unusual to think about using JavaScript to program microcontrollers and create experimental internet of things devices, hardware programming is rapidly becoming one of the most popular uses for Node.js. Node.js can now also run on low-cost, energy-efficient microcontroller boards centered on the ESP32-WROVER module thanks to a version called low.js that has far reduced system requirements.

Additionally, it has never been simpler to use all of Node.js's libraries to quickly create useful devices thanks to powerful IoT & robotics development platforms such as Tessel 2.

Latest Version of Node.js

A significant update to Node.js occurs every six months. For a period of six months, the new release will be the Current release, giving library programmers the opportunity to add support for it. Since October 26, 2021, Node 16 has served as the LTS version, and in 2022, Node 18 has been the Current version. April 19. On October 25, 2022, the v18 Long Term Support version will take over. Updates to the toolchain, compiler, and V8 JavaScript engine's stable promises API.

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Conclusion

The number of large businesses that have used Node.js in recent times has increased significantly. Examples include Netflix, Paypal, and Uber. The success of Node.js amongst software developers suggests that it will continue to expand at a similar rate even in the future.The incredibly flexible JavaScript run-time environment Node.js allows JavaScript code to be executed externally from the browser.The use cases for Node.js are as varied as the developers who adore working with it, ranging from chat applications that profit out of their asynchronous, event-driven nature to numerous embedded systems as well as internet-connected gadgets. It's hardly surprising that a plethora of software development firms employ Node.js for website development given the many benefits it offers.

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Amani
Amani
Research Analyst
As a content writer at HKR trainings, I deliver content on various technologies. I hold my graduation degree in Information technology. I am passionate about helping people understand technology-related content through my easily digestible content. My writings include Data Science, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Python, Salesforce, Servicenow and etc.