In the world of Node.js, there's a rising star that's been gaining popularity and admiration among developers - NestJS. But what exactly is NestJS, and why has it become so popular in such a short span of time? In this blog post, we'll delve into the reasons behind NestJS's rapid ascent and explore why you might choose it over plain Node.js for your next project.
The Rise of NestJS
1. Opinionated Framework
NestJS is not just another Node.js framework; it's highly opinionated. It follows the design paradigm of "convention over configuration." This means it strongly guides developers to use certain tools and to code in a certain way. Behind the scenes, NestJS already handles common tasks like wrapping controllers with try-catch blocks, parsing request bodies, adding error handlers, middleware, and logging. Developers can focus on writing the essential parts of their application, such as controllers, services, and repositories, following the prescribed conventions. This approach ensures consistent code organization and reduces the time spent on configuring common functionality.
2. TypeScript Support
One of the standout features of NestJS is its native support for TypeScript. TypeScript brings static typing to JavaScript, catching errors at compile-time rather than runtime. This leads to more reliable and bug-free code, making it a compelling choice for developers who value type safety.
With loosely typed languages like PHP, Python, or JavaScript, developers might write a significant amount of code quickly. However, without strict typing, there's always a chance of creating bugs. As projects grow, developers often find themselves going back to various files to check method availability and parameter expectations. Most bugs occur when developers expect one type of data but receive another, or they misspell an object's attribute name. TypeScript, with its type hinting capabilities, minimizes these issues, resulting in more maintainable and bug-resistant code.
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Nest is probably the only well-structured framework written entirely with TypeScript. While TypeScript can be used in Express with some adjustments, it's not as integral to the framework as it is in NestJS.
3. Angular-Like Architecture
A major reason for the growing popularity of Node.js is the ability to use the same language for both the back-end and front-end. However, until recently, the primary benefit was similar syntax, with architecture, terminology, and philosophy differing significantly between the two. This could lead to context switching difficulties when transitioning between front-end and back-end development.
NestJS addresses this issue by heavily drawing inspiration from Angular's architecture. It employs concepts like modules, services, controllers, pipes, and decorators, all with syntax, usage, and philosophy that closely align with Angular. This means that a front-end Angular developer can seamlessly transition to a NestJS back-end project, feeling like they're working within the same ecosystem. The unified concepts and philosophy between the back-end and front-end reduce the learning curve and make development more efficient.
Conclusion
In conclusion, NestJS's rapid rise in popularity can be attributed to its opinionated, well-structured architecture, TypeScript support, scalability, and a strong community. Choosing NestJS over plain Node.js offers advantages in terms of maintainability, type safety, productivity, and integration options. While NestJS may not be the right fit for every project, it certainly deserves consideration when building modern, scalable, and maintainable Node.js applications.
So, if you're looking for a framework that combines the power of Node.js with the structure and reliability of TypeScript, NestJS might be the perfect choice for your next project.
