Node.js allows developers to build networked applications in JavaScript outside the browser, and it’s being used by thousands of developers. Why? Developer Guillermo Rauch explains, “Most web developers are already using jQuery, MooTools, or similar frameworks to leverage JavaScript on the browser. That means they’ll be instantly familiar with Node.js, even though it’s a different environment with unique idioms and constructs.” He continues, “Secondly, thanks to the expressiveness of JavaScript and the concise yet powerful Node.js API, you can build programs that have been typically considered out of reach or too time consuming.”
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In this interview, Rauch also notes that, thanks to its use of the V8 JavaScript Engine, Node.js is very fast. On the downside, the open source project is still somewhat incomplete.