In the sphere of web development, the usage of the MEAN stack is considered to be one of the most effective and popular at the same time. Including MongoDB, Express.js, Angular, and Node.js the MEAN applications provide a completely written JS framework to make the development process easier. In this particular blog post, each component will be explained, including the benefits that can be obtained when choosing the MEAN stack as the basis for a new project.
What is the MEAN Stack?
The MEAN stack is a system of technologies built mostly based on JavaScript that is used to create web applications. Here's a breakdown of each component:
MongoDB: A product that is a type of NoSQL database that holds data in a form that is similar to JSON documents. This makes it easy and fast to use and retrieve data that is required and store it hence can be used where there is a need for scalability.
Express.js: It makes the routing and middleware more efficient to manage on the server side of things.
Angular: Popular front-end framework that has been developed by Google for creating rich SPAs [single page applications]. Angular enables the development of sophisticated user interfaces and also provides a perfect user experience.
Node.js: Server-side JavaScript that has its foundation in Chrome’s V8 engine, used to enhance applications rendering speed. It enables developers to apply JavaScript on the client’s side as well as on the server side of the application in one environment.
Advantages of the MEAN Stack
1. Full-Stack JavaScript
It relies on JavaScript the whole way through the development process. Such consistency implies that developers can work on the client and server sides hence enhancing collaboration and, efficiency.
2. Scalability
MongoDB is very useful when applications start to grow because it allows changes to be made to the schema very easily. Regardless of whether specific changes are on the feature level or infrastructure level – such as adding new features or handling more users – the MEAN stack can handle increased requirements by applying changes that don’t dramatically affect the code base.
3. Rapid Development
Express.js on its part is a very fast framework to develop using angular. The component-based design in Angular allows a lot of code reuse, while in Express.js, the use of routing and middleware is increasingly easy, which means that the backend is developed quickly.
4. Rich Ecosystem
All of the parts of the MEAN stack have a vast number of libraries and tools available to use. This huge number of resources allows developers to cope with similar issues more effectively as well as address the topic of community support.
5. Real-Time Applications
Thanks to Node.js which manages asynchronous requests, the MEAN stack is the perfect tool for real-time applications, like chat applications or live data feeds where immediacy is the key to success.
Creating simple MEAN stack web application
To make the best of this tutorial, I will set the bar fairly high by presenting a step-by-step guide on how to create a basic CRUD application using the MEAN stack.
Step 1: Set Up Your Environment
To develop this application you will have to install Node.js, MongoDB, and the Angular CLI. Do not forget to create your project directory.
Step 2: Let’s build the Backend using Node.js and Express.
Create a new Node project by running the npm init command on the terminal.
Install Express and Mongoose, a MongoDB object modeling tool using the npm install express mongoose command.
Use your Express server, to create routes for CRUD operations.
Step 3: Set Up MongoDB
The next step is to employ MongoDB to make a needed database and collections to store your application’s data. If you prefer, you can either store your databases in MongoDB Atlas or download and launch a local instance.
Step 4: Realise the Frontend with Angular
To make a new Angular project, use the Angular CLI i ng new your-app-name.
Make your components and services able to connect to the Express API provided.
Use routing for navigation in your single-page application.
Step 5: Connect Everything
Make your Angular app to be making HTTP requests to your Express API. After developing your application, run plenty of tests to ensure that all the products and sub-products are integrated.
Limitations of MEAN Stack
The MEAN stack, comprising MongoDB, Express.js, AngularJS, and Node.js, is a popular choice for developing web applications due to its full-stack JavaScript approach. However, like any technology stack, it has its limitations. Here are some of the notable limitations of the MEAN stack:
Learning Curve:
Complexity: Each component of the MEAN stack has its learning curve, which can be steep for beginners. Mastery of JavaScript is required across both the client and server sides.
Integration: Integrating all the components to work seamlessly together requires a good understanding of each technology, which can be challenging for new developers.
2. Performance Bottlenecks:
Single-Threaded Nature of Node.js: Node.js operates on a single-threaded event loop, which might not be suitable for CPU-intensive operations as it can block the event loop and degrade performance.
Database Limitations: MongoDB, while flexible, may not be the best choice for applications requiring complex transactions or consistent ACID properties.
3. Scalability Challenges:
Horizontal Scaling: Scaling the application horizontally (i.e., adding more instances) can be more complex compared to some other stacks due to the need for efficient session management and load balancing.
Database Scaling: Although MongoDB is designed to scale out, managing sharding and replication can become complex and may require significant expertise.
4. Security Concerns:
Mongo, Express.js, Angular.js, and Node.js, being as MEAN stack, is another stimulating model for web applications and services because it employs JavaScript as language throughout Full Stack. Complexity: All of the components that are part of the MEAN stack are newcomers themselves and they come with certain levels of complexities allowing beginners to get frustrated easily. The main competency being required is JavaScript fluency, or the ability to work with both client and server sides.
Integration: Since all the components are put together in such a way that single items are all interconnected to work in harmony, the new developers are likely to find some difficulties in comprehending each device.
5. Single-Threaded Nature of Node.js:
Essential operations occur in Node.js within a single thread, termed the event loop, making the framework less appropriate for handling computationally rigorous tasks because executing tasks in this manner hinders the event loop and contributes to the decline in efficiency.
6. Database Limitations:
MongoDB can never be considered inflexible and this makes it unsuitable for certain sophisticated transactions platform or Anything that consistently demands ACID compliance. It can also become ineffective where there are complex join or transaction issues.
7. Horizontal Scaling: There is another drawback – horizontal scaling could be a little difficult compared to some other stacks because of the problems arising with sessions.
8. Database Scaling: MongoDB supports horizontal scalability, that is, scaling out and having to manage sharding and replication can be tricky and time-consuming even for a large number of clients.
Best Practices and Standards
Evolving Ecosystem:
The JavaScript ecosystem is relatively young and dynamic, so the practices can be outdated quite abruptly. It can be quite challenging to meet those standards by adhering to the current standards and checking on the quality of the code stack.
Community and Support:
Fragmented Community: Where MongoDB, Express.js, AngularJS, or Node JS all have very active and supportive communities, the Marger stack of MEAN could have slightly less at its disposal as a complete unit.
Database Constraints:
NoSQL Limitations: The objection to MongoDB might be true because MongoDB is a NoSQL database; therefore, it is not ideal for applications that have intricate transactions or deal with relations. A possible weakness is that it did not support ACID transactions in an earlier version, and has no schema check.
MongoDB, Express, and Angular NodeJS are beneficial in many ways; especially for javascript developers who want to work with a single language. But as we have seen, this comes with some challenges or disadvantages regarding the learning curve, performance, scalability, security, SEO, and tooling the application needs that must be weighed before deciding to include them in a project. This should be done so that you compare the specific needs of the project to the capability of the MEAN stack before embracing it.
The MEAN stack is formally significant concerning the web app development because it answers all the essential demands. JavaScript is used all over the stack especially its scalability and it is built and deployed faster making it appealing to developers when creating modern web applications. For anyone involved whether developing a small project or a large enterprise application, MEAN stack has everything you need.
We strongly recommend that if you are interested in embracing Full-Stack JavaScript development then, means you should embrace MEAN. Our team is available for help. Happy coding for everyone at Softronix Training Institute.
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