Speaking Intelligently about "Java vs Node" Performance
Please understand what's really important when it comes to the benefits of a platform.
TL;DR:
Unless you know the differences in the process and concurrency models of Java and Node, don't write a benchmark comparing the two. It will be silly to those who know the difference and misleading to those who don't.
For those deciding between the two platforms understand that performance isn't the only consideration. A . . .
The First 5 Imports
Essential Node/JavaScript Libraries I Can't Live With Out.
When I start a new JavaScript project, it's not uncommon that my first three imports are:
npm install --save lodash async moment In fact, I find these three libraries so essential, I don't think you'll find a single project I've touched without them. Each library satisfies what I consider a general short coming in the . . .
Web Proxy Using Nginx and Docker
Need SSL or Basic Auth? Standup a proxy in less than 5 minutes using Nginx and Docker.
I needed to secure (basic auth) a mongo-express instance last night and this little trick with Docker and Nginx blew me away (with how simple it was).
This tutorial assumes you have Docker installed (on Amazon Linux it's as simple as sudo yum install -y docker).
1. Generate a password file:
You will need to have the htpasswd command . . .
Do you really need a UUID/GUID?
The architectural consequences of using UUID/GUID's may outweigh their benefits.
For the purpose of this post, I will use UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) to mean both UUID and GUID (Globally Unique Identifier, Microsoft's implementation of UUID).
I've been thinking a lot about UUID's lately. The system I've inherited at work is plagued by their usage. To many developers, the UUID seems like a . . .
"Third-Time Principle" of Defining Abstractions
In general, only on the third time of encountering a common behavior should you refactor components to share a common abstraction of that behavior.
Clarification: The abstraction could be an abstract class or interface depending on the use case and language.
I've generally used this principle when I'm programming, but have never . . .
MEAN's great, but then you grow up.
Develop a prototype, then reflect on your choice.
The MEAN stack (MongoDB, Express.js, Angular.js, Node.js) is now being heralded as the new LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP), the preferred technology stack for startups.
MEAN is certainly a great technology choice for organizations (particularly startups) seeking to rapidly prototype a capability. However, like all technology choices, the . . .
Software Estimation is a Losing Game
Should we even bother?
This is an argument, and like all arguments, it's supports a specific position. I don't try to defend software estimation; I leave it to my colleagues to present that case. I write about this issue because I believe the software community needs to have an internal debate about whether software estimation in its current form is . . .
