Since the first edition of Node.js in Action, Node has merged with io.js and has dramatically changed its governance model. Node’s package manager has been spun off into a successful new company, npm, and technologies such as Babel and Electron have transformed the development landscape.
And yet, not much has changed in Node’s core libraries. JavaScript itself has changed: most developers now use features from ES2015, so all of the original listings have been rewritten to take advantage of arrow functions, constants, and destructuring. Node’s libraries and built-in tools still look broadly similar to Node pre 4.x, though, so we’ve looked to the community for updates to this edition.
To reflect the realities a Node developer now faces, we’ve restructured the book. There is less focus on Express and Connect, and more focus on a broader range of technologies. Everything you need to be a full-stack developer is here, including front-end build systems, choosing a web framework, working with databases in Node, writing tests, and deploying web apps.
In addition to web development, we’ve included chapters on writing command-line applications and Electron desktop apps. This lets you take full advantage of your Node and JavaScript skills.
Understanding Node and its ecosystem isn’t the only thing this book is about. Where possible, I’ve tried to add background details on what has influenced Node. Ideas such as Unix philosophy and using databases correctly and safely are covered alongside the usual Node and JavaScript topics. Hopefully, this gives you a broad enough picture of Node and JavaScript to seek out your own solutions to unique problems.
—ALEX YOUNG