NodeJS vs Golang: Choosing the Best Backend programming language

Ever wondered about the secret sauce behind the success of applications like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp?

If you’re thinking it’s all about the concept, idea, hype, app design, and the UI/UX, you’re on the right track. However, the real powerhouse behind these elements is the backend infrastructure, making it the true show-stopper of these applications.

The backend of an app stands as the most crucial component, and selecting the appropriate backend technology to ensure effectiveness and scalability is paramount. While numerous programming languages are available for this task, the abundance of choices poses a challenge in itself.

In this blog, to simplify this decision-making process, we’ll delve into a comparison between two major programming languages: Node.js vs. Golang. Both languages continue to evolve, proving their worth in various projects.

Without further delay, let’s explore and determine the ultimate winner. And, if you’re considering enhancing your project with Golang, don’t hesitate to hire Golang developers for a seamless and efficient development experience.

What is Nodejs?

Introduced in 2009 and built on Google Chrome’s V8, Node.js, written in JavaScript, is an open-source, server-side runtime environment. It is one of the most preferred choices by developers when it comes to cross-platform app development. Also, to be an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model design, it is most recommended to develop highly scalable server-side applications. 

When it comes to Node js development services, the answer is- it becomes easier for mobile app developers to write both server-side and client-side scripts all by using a single language. Furthermore, support from Linux, Unix, Windows, and Mac is filled with open-source JS libraries meant for simplifying web application development using Node.js.

By offering the best, the preference for this technology hiked in the year 2017, as per Google Trends, and is still high. The reason behind it is the availability of programming-friendly features, and core advantages to the developers.

First, let’s start with node.js features:

Features of NodeJs:

1. Asynchronous Event handling: All APIs of the Node.js library are asynchronous, that is, non-blocking. It implies a Node. js-based server never relies on API that will bring information back. The server moves to the following API in the wake of calling it and a notice component of Events of Node.js encourages the server to get a reaction from the past API call. 
2. Multi-threaded:  One of the key Node.js features is non-blocking which implies that all capacities (callbacks) are designated to the occasion circle and they are (or can be) executed by various strings. That is taken care of by Node.js run-time. Node.js bolsters forking various procedures (which are executed on various centers). You should know that state isn’t shared among ace and forked procedures. 
3. Object-oriented: An immense grievance against NodeJS was down to its JavaScript legacy, which oftentimes included loads of conceptual spaghetti code. Structures like CoffeeScript and TypeScript illuminated these issues, yet came as a jolt for the individuals who truly thought about coding guidelines. 
4. Two-way Binding: Sockets permit a server to communicate messages to all users associated with a particular thread. NodeJS has a bit of leeway as a result of its event-driven non-blocking programming, which makes it unmistakably fit to deal with bindings. NodeJS was the first to do it well and still shows improvement over some other structures.

After knowing about all these features, let’s get you to the top benefits of NodeJs along with its drawbacks:

Pros of using Nodejs

1. Robust Technology Stack

Offering too much for developing a web application, Nodejs has proven its name in the app development world. It can be proven by the report that almost 368,985,988 downloads with over 750 new contributors, the technology is growing better and stronger every day.

Using it as backend technology, developers would get the ease of- 

• Efficiency and developer productivity
• Reusing and sharing code
• Performance and speed 
• Team knowledge building
• Free tools

Also, by being flexible, the development time becomes less time-consuming bringing in fast and reliable software. Meanwhile, for front-end development, developers can do programming with minimum effort.

2. Event-based Model and Quick Processing

Compared to well-known technologies like GO, Java, and PHP, Nodejs is proven to be fast while handling concurrent requests. 

Moving on, the V8 engine, developed for Chrome is meant to compile JavaScript functions into machine code that too at a good speed. Also, due to continuous improvements made to the V8 by Google, it has demonstrated the best performance every year giving an extra edge to Nodejs to excel. 

Next in the line is the event-based model. The benefits of languages used for both server/client-side help in synchronizing fast affecting event-based real-time applications.

Besides its asynchronous, single-threaded, non-blocking nature, Nodejs has made itself the apt choice for chats, video conferences, gaming, or any project for constant updates.

3. Rich Ecosystem

Nodejs is quite rich due to 836,000 libraries and more than 10,000 published every week in its npm registry. We bring the top web app development company that has analyzed that more than 97% of a modern web application consists of npm modules. Thus, it is obvious that its being the most preferred choice among developers.

4. Corporate Support

IBM, Microsoft, Fidelity, SAP, and PayPal being the founding member of Nodejs validates how it can become a great corporate support.

Also, organizations using it for their business operations are highly increasing making it the best and most trustworthy among others. 

This is the reason, that around 300 well-known companies including Trello, Uber, Medium, and PayPal are using Nodejs app development for their operations.

Cons of using Nodejs:

1. Unstable with complex tasks

The greatest downside of Node.js backend technology even now is its powerlessness to process CPU-bound errands. In any case, to comprehend what the underlying foundations of this issue are, you need a smidgen of setting. How about we start with the rudiments, with JavaScript itself? 

As we probably are aware, Node.js is a runtime situation that executes JavaScript on the server side. Being one of the top programming languages, JavaScript utilizes a solitary string to process assignments rapidly. Stringing isn’t required for it to work since assignments in JavaScript are lightweight and take little CPU. 

2.’Callback-hell’ issue

Because of its offbeat nature, Node.js backend web development depends vigorously on callbacks, the capacities that pursue each undertaking in the line are done. Keeping various lined errands out of sight, each with its callback may result in the alleged callback heck, which legitimately impacts the nature of code. 

It’s “where callbacks are settled inside different callbacks a few levels profound, possibly making it hard to comprehend and keep up the code.” 

3. Tooling  compatibility

Even though the center Node.js features and modules are very steady and can be viewed as full-grown, there are numerous apparatuses in the npm vault that are both of low quality or not appropriately archived/tried. 

In addition, the vault itself isn’t organized correctly to offer the instruments dependent on their rating or quality. Thus it may be hard to locate the best answer for your motivations without comprehending what to search for. 

As a full-stack technology, it will be a decent decision for web application development using NodeJs. Because of its non-blocking design, Node.js functions admirably for encoding and broadcasting video and sound, transferring different records, and information spilling. 

Moreover, some leading brands are using this programming language for their projects:

Knowing what is node.js, its features, pros, and cons will help developers to adapt the concepts of this programming language. Now let’s meet the competition – GOLANG

What is Golang?

Golang is Google’s product created in the year 2007 and is commonly known for being open-source, multi-purpose, and statically typed. The language is a combination of C/C++ security and performance along with carrying the speed of Python.

Golang’s performance is widely known for handling concurrent programming while being recommended for garbage collection handling, dynamic interfaces, and memory safety. Also, the language is apt for cloud-based interfaces, real-time application development, microservices, and networking applications.

Hence, getting an in-depth understanding of why using the Go language for your next project can become fruitful for you. First, we will start with Golang features, then will come across its pros and cons.

Features of Golang

1.Golang Is Fast

Google’s Golang is fast due to its compiled machine code. Also, programs created on Go are compiled fast, thus resulting in small binary.

2. Learning Capabilities

What catches Google’s Go vs Node attention is learning capabilities. Due to Go’s small syntax, it can be easily learned by web app developers. Also, the language is quite clean and easy to read

3. Standard Library

Golang performance can be proven through a sound library along with having built-in functions with primitive types. Furthermore, it involves packages that made the language easy to handle I/O, web servers along with manipulating raw bytes and cryptography. 

4. Support For Testing

Another reason for using Google’s Golang is its built-in standard library. Having a standard library on its side, Go executes tests fast.

5. Static Analysis Tools

Google’s GO static analysis tools got numerous advantages. According to Go’s suggested style, it’s gofmt formats code. Through this process of suggested style, the backend web development team can prioritize other work instead of following the code’s doing. 

6. Garbage Collection

In comparison to C and C++, Google’s Go memory management is easy. Also, the garbage-collected objects are dynamically allocated while using arithmetic pointers.

7. Concurrency Model

Believe it or not, concurrent programming is labeled a little difficult. But with the help of Go, it makes it easy to use. Thus, resulting in the creation of complex patterns. 

With it, let us now come to what is the fight between both of these languages meant for backend web development. 

Pros of Golang

1. Convenience: While Go probably won’t be as famous as JavaScript or Python, it shares one significant thing for all intents and purposes with them: it’s prominently easy to use. The linguistic structure is perfect and available to newcomers, and there aren’t a lot of complex capacities to learn. The similarities to C-style languages imply that it will be a basic language to learn for developers capable of C++ or C#. 
2. A keen standard library: Go users can achieve a ton without bringing in or learning confused optional libraries. The standard library that comes bundled with Go is advanced without overpowering, and it decreases the danger of mistakes from clashing capacity names. This is one of the major benefits of Golang when it comes to backend development.
3. Built-in Top-notch security: Simpler code is commonly more secure than confounded code, and that is completely the situation with Go. As a statically composed language, you don’t need to stress over mind-boggling and difficult-to-distinguish blunders that originate from increasingly powerful languages. At that point, there is a Garbage Collector that keeps memory from seeping off in your code. 
4. Google’s Advantage: It’s impossible that Google is going anyplace at any point shortly. They’re probably not going to discover a competitor in the general search engine tech sooner rather than later. And they’ve in one way or another figured out how to push aside Microsoft as the superior and unchallenged leader of projects utilized in the workplace.

Cons of Golang

1. Oversimplified: One of the key benefits of Golang is likewise perhaps the greatest shortcoming. Go might be a simple language to get, yet that carries with it an absence of flexibility. Probably the most blazing dialects available highly esteem their unpredictability. 
2. Lack of a virtual machine: The choice of not combining Go with a virtual machine was a cognizant decision, and it’s not one of the benefits of Golang intended for usability. There’s an explanation that such a significant number of the well-known dialects today are dependent on VMs.
3. Still a newcomer: There’s a great deal of reliability in Go, however, it’s a language still at its young age. This implies it might lack some pointers in terms of being competitive. Go’s local library might be cleverly structured and effective, yet it’s rivaling dialects like Java. Be that as it may, it doesn’t accompany an industry of new libraries made by an energetic and drawn-in network like Java.

One should consider all the Golang features, pros, and cons before choosing it for a project. It would be better to learn its concepts before implementing them in your backend web development.

Here are the top brands and companies that use Golang web development services for their projects:

Now you know all about these languages, it’s time to have a conceptual and brief comparison of Golang vs nodejs.

Nodejs vs Golang- which one is better?

Now that we have gathered a quick understanding of the benefits of Languages, it is time to dig deeper and figure out the best one.

Nodejs vs Golang- Factors Affecting the Language Choice

1. Performance
2. Maturity
3. Real-life performance
4. Error handling
5. Learning curve
6. Concurrency
7. Scalability
8. Development tools
9. Availability of developers

Let’s compare Go vs Node js performance through the following factors-

Factor 1- Performance

When it is the question of the best performance between Go vs Node, Google’s Go somehow wins the show by rendering as compared to NodeJs which is based on Javascript. Also, Nodejs when comparing in terms of raw performance and computation, Go is the clear winner. 

Factor 2- Maturity

Google’s Go was introduced in 2007 whereas Nodejs came in the year 2009 share an equal level of maturity and robustness. Meanwhile, Node.js still has the support of a wider audience on its side. 

But the performance and maturity level-wise, both Go and Node.js performance are on the same page. 

Factor 3 – Real-Life Performance

When it comes to real-life performance, both Nodejs and Google’s Go are capable of offering the same level of results at equal speed. 

Factor 4- Handling Errors

Another point that validates which language is best for backend development is handling errors. Node.js performance is still all about the traditional throw-catch error handling mechanism, one of the most preferred languages among programmers. Due to this traditional approach, the error is displayed and corrected simultaneously before going any ahead. 

Meanwhile, the error handling issue in Google’s Go cannot work without explicit error checking. Due to its compile-time and run-time error-handling mechanism, it becomes difficult for developers to work with it. 

Coming to the error handling factor, Node. j’s performance is better as compared to Google’s Go.

Factor 5 – Learning Curve

When talking about the learning curve, Nodejs is scoring high as compared to Google’s Go. JavaScript is the most commonly used programming language to make Nodejs easy for learning. Also, JavaScript being in the app development industry for the last many years offers online and offline resources to help newbies in the line. 

On the other hand, Go is a new lad in comparison to Nodejs with specific concepts, rules, processes, interfaces, and pointers. Apart from that, it has fewer resources available online and offline. Thus, it becomes a little difficult for developers to get handy information. 

Factor 6 – Concurrency

The comparison between Nodejs and Golang makes the latter win when it comes to concurrency. Concurrency is on the side of Go making it a suitable option for big software projects. Using a lightweight thread communication mechanism, Go makes developers run functions concurrently. 

Meanwhile, Nodejs, on the other hand, makes use of single-thread and event-callback mechanisms. The practice makes it mandatory to opt for linear order which works as a hindrance for concurrency.

Factor 7- Scalability 

Next in the line is scalability which makes Go win from Nodejs. Go gets its edge due to Goroutines as its major asset that helps in handling parallel threads efficiently. However, it is not the case with Nodejs. Nodejs is a little scalable which flunked it from large projects. 

Between Go vs Node, here the clear winner is Google Go. 

Factor 8- Tools For Development

Because Go is a new language in comparison with Nodejs, it lacks when it comes to tools that are available with the latter one. Google’s Go does come up with a set of libraries and packages but still, it does not beat Nodejs. 

Also, Go asks for first-hand experience in manual configuration for developing projects. On the other hand, we have Nodejs flaunting its array of tools, frameworks, and libraries for app variants. Also, the latter one does have a huge community for all the extended support meant for development tasks. 

Hence, here the clear winner is nothing but Nodejs.

Read Also- 11 best Golang frameworks for 2020

Factor 9 – Availability Of Developers

Nodejs being in the backend web development industry for a longer run than Google’s Go takes the privilege of more developers. 

Though Go is newer in the market with fewer developers it does have a bright future ahead of it. 

So, when it comes to comparison between Nodejs and Google’s Go, Nodejs is again the winner. 

Both platforms have their growing user base and benefits. Many prefer JS as it is the most popular programming language and is ruling the web development world.

Apart from these stats and comparative pointers, the market is also jived up with the presence of these backend web development technologies. Let’s see who is growing rapidly in the course.

Nodejs vs Golang- Market Analysis

It seems that both Node JS and Golang are growing. But, JavaScript is still the most popular programming language. However, Golang is improving in the rankings of top programming languages for backend web development.

Today, Node JS has reached 56,000 stars and one billion downloads on GitHub. The Golang people group, then again, is youthful and littler. Be that as it may, it is progressively developing each year.

The job and market demand comparison of nodejs vs Golang is done by analyzing all the differential factors given above.

• Occupation and Employment 

As indicated by the Developer Survey by StackOverflow, JavaScript keeps on involving the main position, being picked by 61.2% of designers. Go demonstrated a somewhat more terrible outcome – 4.3%. Be that as it may, this implies Go is as of now among the most encouraging dialects of 2018, in light of on basic Google search. 

At present, it’s still a lot simpler to accumulate an able group of Node.js designers than pick a group of Golang lovers. The main path is to connect with a legitimate group with current instances of their work. 

Google, truth be told, has GopherCon occasions yearly to accumulate Go designers from all around the globe to talk about and investigate new chances and changes. As per a Golang Survey in 2018, 59 percent of members (up from 55 percent) needed to add to the Golang people group. 

• Future Scope 

JavaScript is thriving in the current IT work showcase, however, many hopeful programming designers believe that getting a vocation in this field may place them into inconvenience. This is because different dialects command specific zones of the market, similar to a python on account of information investigation. 

On the other, Golang is somewhat turning into the most loved decision for web designers. As the designers are exchanging their play in backend web improvement from Java to open-source programming, this language is ending up being a masterclass. 

While one has a steady and huge network over the world because of the Javascript system, Golang is increasing some gigantic outcomes as far as prevalence and request. We should see who will end up being the great decision.

Nodejs vs Golang- Who is the winner?

Both languages have a set of factors to make them succeed in the market. 

If we talk about Google’s Go, the language secured its position for top-of-the-line productivity and multi-core power use whereas Nodejs is the apt choice for backend web development technologies.

Final words

Nodejs vs Golang languages are getting more competitive with time. Both languages are in demand for different purposes due to their set of strengths and weaknesses. Hence, your choice of languages will solely depend upon the requirement of your project. 

Meanwhile, if you still have doubts, we are just a click away. Contact us for expert advice!