MEAN Stack - Evolution Of Web Development

Developing web applications without being MEAN is out of the question these days. Evolution of web development has gone to a new level with MEAN stack. It is the collection of JavaScript based technologies used to develop a web application. MEAN is an acronym for  MongoDB, ExpressJS, AngularJS, and Node.js. MEAN is now widely accepted by both server and client-side JavaScript developers.

Let's explore the world of MEAN:-

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MongoDB is a NoSQL database system. The database actually saves data in binary JSON format which makes it easier to pass data between client and server.

Express.js is a web application framework for Node.js and it was released as a free and open-source software under the MIT License. Express works as a backend for MEAN stack, where MongoDB is a database and AngularJS works as front end framework.

AngularJS is a JavaScript-based open-source front-end web application framework. It is maintained by Google and by a community of individuals to address challenges faced in developing a single-page application.

Node.js is actually not a JavaScript framework rather than it is an open-source, cross-platform runtime environment. Node.js has many modules written in JavaScript and developers are allowed to write new modules in JavaScript. Google V8 JavaScript is responsible for interpreting runtime environment.

Why so MEAN!!!

Now you know what MEAN is, the next question would normally be why use it? There are several factors which make you choose MEAN:

• Efficiency

The Javascript libraries have to be downloaded before it can be used. If the size of these libraries is more, loading of the web pages will be slower. Hence the file size has to be as small as possible. Angular’s file size is around 45KB, which is half the size of Ember. Since the file size is not too large, the user will experience good load times of the web pages.

• Being MEAN, Being isomorphic

Using MEAN makes your code isomorphic. If you are using Javascript on the servers and want to use it on clients too, MEAN allows you to do that. If the code that you wrote is better suited to another language, you can easily do so, making MEAN more flexible than any other. All these make programming MEAN-based apps significantly easier.

• E for Express

It is a flexible web framework that is notable for providing the Web API. It is much easier and faster to build Web APIs using Express. Developers will also be able to use middleware to provide additional functionality. Some of the popular applications which use Express include myspace and Ghost, a blogging platform.

• Think Cloud, Think MongoDB

The MEAN stack offers a database layer in MongoDB, in case you have plans on making some bucks off the cloud. MongoDB has an automatic replication feature along with failover support and spreads across your servers to offer these services. MongoDB makes the development and testing of your apps much easier, making it the right choice for your project

MEAN Vs LAMP

LAMP stands for Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP. It is commonly used to run dynamic websites and servers and it is a popular open source web platform. You are familiar with MEAN, so how are these two different from each other.

Both of these cannot be directly compared with each other as the usage of each one of them depends on the type of web application to be built. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages.

The advantage of using MEAN Stack is Javascript. If the Javascript is the only known language to you and you are good at it, then MEAN is for you. Here both clients and the servers use Javascript making it easier to switch developing between the two. But remember that this only looks good as a theory. Maintaining a separation between the client and the server is kind of important. Using the same language for both front and back-end can lead to some security issues.

However, in the case of LAMP, switching between PHP for the server and Javascript for the client can be a difficult task. If you are an experienced programmer and have no problem switching between the two, then go for LAMP. If you are a new programmer and comfortable in Javascript, MEAN is for you.

If you are already using LAMP, then there is no reason for you to move into MEAN. And if the website which you are going to develop is simple, again LAMP is for you. If the website is tech heavy, then MEAN can be a better choice. But the major disadvantage of MEAN stack is programmers, as there are not many and even hiring is a bit difficult as they are not available for lesser bucks. It is also a known fact that PHP programmers are more common than the Node.js programmers and hence can be hired for lower costs, another reason for you to consider LAMP.

MEAN v LAMP Performance - which is faster? Node.js is pretty quick and easy to configure when compared to PHP. But this does not mean that PHP is slower. By optimizing PHP, it can be as fast as any other too. Apache setups, on the other hand, is multithreaded and resource heavy making LAMP even slower. There is even an alternate for Apache if this concerns you.

Nginx is used in many LAMP based applications. Configuring or optimizing this setup will need expertise and time, but worth it if done correctly.

Numerous applications are using MEAN stack and below we have discussed some of the MEAN stack applications:

1. ZipLoop

The Ziploop smart wallet is an application which saves all your VIP certificates, receipts, and rewards. The app gives you the power to access them anytime from any mobile device. It is clean and simple.

2. Trakit

Trakit allows the user to track any activity with one single click of a button. It lets the user create a list of activities he/she wants to track. When it happens, Just open trakit.me on your phone or computer and hit the log button against that activity. The date and time are logged and the idea is to make the logging simple and fast. Later, it becomes easy for the user to view the logs.

3. StoreHippo

The new age mobile commerce platform providing comprehensive turnkey solutions for retailers to sell their products and services in the online marketplace.