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What is Node.js?

Asked 2009-12-10T23:05:21.837
505

I don't fully get what Node.js is all about. Maybe it's because I am mainly a web based business application developer. What is it and what is the use of it?

My understanding so far is that:

  1. The programming model is event driven, especially the way it handles I/O.
  2. It uses JavaScript and the parser is V8.
  3. It can be easily used to create concurrent server applications.

Are my understandings correct? If yes, then what are the benefits of evented I/O, is it just more for the concurrency stuff? Also, is the direction of Node.js to become a framework like, JavaScript based (V8 based) programming model?

javascript node.js v8 evented-io
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Node.js is an open source command line tool built for the server side JavaScript code. You can download a tarball, compile and install the source. It lets you run JavaScript programs.

The JavaScript is executed by the V8, a JavaScript engine developed by Google which is used in Chrome browser. It uses a JavaScript API to access the network and file system.

It is popular for its performance and the ability to perform parallel operations.

Understanding node.js is the best explanation of node.js I have found so far.

Following are some good articles on the topic.

answered 2011-01-04T10:12:43.227

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