In a recent video by Code With Ryan titled "Node.js is a Serious Thing Now… (2023)", Ryan discusses the evolution of Node.js and its potential to revolutionize back-end development. Here's a summary of the key points he made in the video.
Node.js: More Than Just a Server
Ryan begins by clarifying some common misconceptions about Node.js. He explains that Node.js is not a programming language - that's JavaScript. Nor is it a server, despite its frequent use in building back-end applications. Instead, Node.js is a JavaScript runtime environment that executes JavaScript outside of the browser.
The Challenge of Single Threading
One of the challenges with Node.js, as Ryan points out, is that JavaScript is a single-threaded application, meaning it can only utilize one CPU at a time. This can lead to a significant waste of resources, especially when deploying code to a machine with multiple CPUs. To overcome this, developers often run multiple Node.js processes, each on a different port, and use a load balancer like nginx.
The Power of Multi-Threading
However, Ryan reveals that Node.js now has the capability for true multi-threading. This means that a single process can utilize all of the CPUs on a machine, making the application more efficient. He demonstrates this by running a Fibonacci function concurrently using worker threads, which significantly reduces the execution time compared to running the function synchronously.
Sharing Memory Between Threads
Ryan also discusses the ability to share memory between threads using worker threads. This is particularly useful when dealing with large amounts of data, as it allows for the transfer of data ownership rather than copying data around. He demonstrates this by creating a shared buffer, passing it to a worker thread, and then modifying the buffer directly without needing to copy it.
The Future of Node.js
In conclusion, Ryan suggests that the introduction of multi-threading to Node.js is a game changer. While it may not replace other languages like Go and Rust, it provides developers already using Node.js with another tool to achieve higher performance. He believes that the ability to perform efficient multi-threading on the back-end is a significant advancement for Node.js.
