The communication network is a fast-growing industry that lends itself to all different kinds of internet projects. A node is one of two things; it either serves as a redistribution point that operates within data terminal equipment, or a communication end point. This definition changes depending on the type of network along with what protocol layer is being referred to in each instance. Two main types of nodes include:

Active – A physical network node that attaches itself to a network in order to create, receive, and transmit data over a specific communications channel.

Passive – Also known as a distribution frame or patch panel, passive distribution nodes are not exactly nodes in the typical sense.

 

Node.JS

The node.JS was created by Ryan Dahl back in 2009. Specifically speaking, it is a cross-platform, open source runtime environment that was created to effectively develop networking and server-side applications. It was originally built on the well-known Google Chrome V8 JavaScript Engine. It is capable of doing absolutely anything that can be done with Ruby or PHP, through the use of JavaScript in Node.js.

Developers love Node.js for a plethora of different reasons. In fact, it is praised by many for being fast and flexible, providing real-time results and cross-platform support. It also boasts the ability of threading, utilizing an event loop and has the backing of an ever-expanding hipster community.

 

Examples of Great Node Frameworks

Each of these frameworks are compatible with Cloud 66. Based on application functionality there are three types of node frameworks; API, full-stack, and Sinatra, the last of which we will not discuss here today.

 

API Frameworks

  • Action Hero – This quick, lightweight framework is ideal for creating easily accessible tool-kits that can be paramount to the successful creation of both reusable and scalable APIs. This framework performs on a low-level while providing very high-end support. It performs like a CDN minus the necessity to run programs such as Nginx or Apache.
  • Loopback – This highly extensible framework was originally created by IBM, and it allows its users to produce Rest APIs without having to utilize extensive amounts of code. This easy to use API tool complements express style framework. Compatible with Android, iOS, and AngularJS SDKs, this framework is highly diverse and uses the Strong Loop Arc.
  • Restify – This is another lightweight framework that is used in the creation of Rest APIs. Specifically speaking it is a server side framework that produces data through API. It is capable of effectively debugging and profiling in the optimization of your server.

Full-Stack Frameworks

  • Meteor – This model-view controller or (MVC) framework is ideal for the construction of a web application that acts in real-time. It features pre-written, self-contained modules that perfectly operate with writing application codes. Applications built with this framework can effectively be run on OS X, Windows, and Linux style operating systems.
  • Keystone – This one is the perfect option for those involved in the design of web applications and APIs that are database driven. Key components of this framework include Express, MongoDB, and Mongoose.