Node.js is an event based, asynchronous I/O framework that uses Google's V8 JavaScript engine. Node.js is commonly used for heavy client-server JavaScript applications. NOTE: Please read the Tag-Wiki before asking questions.
Node.js is an event based, asynchronous I/O framework that uses Google's V8 JavaScript Engine.
Node.js - or just Node as it's commonly called - is used for developing applications that make heavy use of the ability to run JavaScript both on the client, as well as on server side and therefore benefit from the re-usability of code and the lack of context switching.
It's also possible to use matured JavaScript frameworks like YUI and jQuery for server side DOM manipulation.
To ease the development of complex JavaScript further, Node.js supports the CommonJS standard that allows for modularized development and the distribution of software in packages via the Node Package Manager.
Applications that can be written using Node.js include, but are not limited to:
- Static file servers
- Web Application frameworks
- Messaging middle ware
- Servers for HTML5 multi player games
When asking questions about Node.js, you should:
- Make sure to check the official API Docs before asking, your question might be trivial.
- Isolate the problem and reproduce it with as little code as possible, if you can also use an online tool like JSApp for that, it's even better.
- If the question has nothing do with anything that's Node.js specific, please consider asking it as a javascript question instead.
- Mention which version of Node.js you are running, when in doubt use
node -v
. - Make sure to only use the node.js Tag, since node is ambigious.
Interesting Questions and Answers
Common Topics
Useful Links
- Official Node.js API documentation
- Official GitHub Site
- Official GitHub Wiki - Containing a great amount of links to Node.js based projects
- Official Installation Guide
- Installation Without Sudo
- Installing Node.js (howtonode.org)
- Debugging Node.js with node-inspector
- #node.js IRC channel for getting help
Tutorials, Guides and Books
- Node.js Guide
- Node Tuts (Video Tutorials)
- Mastering Node.js (Open Source Node eBook)
Talks and Presentations on Node.js
- Node.js Camp Sessions @ Node.js Camp 2010 (Dec 2010)
- Node.js + YUI3 @ YUIConf 2010 (Nov 2010)
- Interview with Ryan Dahl @ QCon San Francisco 2010 (Nov 2010)
- Current Road-map for Node.js @ YUIConf 2010 (Nov 2010)
- Techniques for a single stack world @ JSConf.eu (Sep 2010)
- JavaScript on the Server @ GoogleTechTalks (July 2010)
- Introducion to Node.js @ YUI Theater (May 2010)
- Node.js @ JSConf.eu Sep (2009)