Node Cookbook is great for deeper understanding of Node.js programming

; Date: Wed Oct 31 2012

Tags: Reviews »»»» Security »»»» Node.JS »»»» Web Development »»»» Node Web Development »»»» Books

Have you heard that Node.js is an up-and-coming software development platform?  Maybe you've read an introductory book to Node.js, like my book (www.amazon.com) Node Web Development (see link in sidebar), but want something more in-depth?  A new book, Node Cookbook, fits the bill in providing a more in-depth study of using Node.js for software development, while assuming you're already familiar with the basics of Node.

The book is written in the "Cookbook" format, meaning that it is a series of "recipes" with an overall theme per chapter.  Each recipe starts with the task at hand, and ends with a discussion if why/how/theory.  This format works for some kind of people, and not for others.  The author of this book carries out this pattern fairly well and you learn a lot in each recipe.

The book contains a fairly complete tour of many aspects of developing typical applications with Node.js.  Namely:-

  • Making a web server:- Most of Node applications are web apps, making the HTTP Server object a core part of a Node developer's life.  
  • Exploring the HTTP Object:- More in-depth look, including its use as a client to an HTTP server.
  • Working with Data Serialization:- Covers both JSON and XML for data exchanges.
  • Interfacing with Databases:- CSV, SQL & MySQL, MongoDB, Mongoskin, CouchDB/Cradle, Redis.
  • Transcending AJAX: Using WebSockets:- This is about pseudo-realtime interaction with a web browser using WebSockets, and since that protocol isn't supported by all browsers the chapter also goes over socket.io.
  • Accelerating Development with Express:- All aspects of using the Express framework to build a web application.
  • Implementing Security, Encryption and Authentication:- Security and authentication is an absolute must for preventing abuse of the web or security threats on the web.
  • Integrating Network Paradigms:- Node.js isn't just for web applications, it has built-in support to implement any network protocol.  The chapter goes over sending e-mail, SMS, SMTP, and the virtual hosting paradigm.
  • Writing Your Own Node Modules:- Goes over npm and the Node module format.
  • Taking it Live:- Hosting an application on a Platform as a Service (PaaS) provider.

The chapter on security and authentication is information that's vital to understand and to bake into your applications.  I touched briefly on this in Node Web Development, but the format/scope of that book didn't allow deep enough coverage.

One of the core attributes Node.js offers is rapid efficient handling of requests, making it a great platform for developing applications with high interactivity between code in a web browser, and code on a server.  The chapter on WebSockets offers a good foundation for launching yourself into that world.

Node.js has built-in support for developing any network protocol, even though it's mostly presented as a Web Application development platform.  The chapter on Network Paradigms is a good start at explaining this to a developer, but this chapter somewhat misses the mark.

The chapter on writing Node modules is basic information the reader should already know, and for example is covered in Node Web Development.  I do not understand the placement of this chapter at the end of the book when it is really basic knowledge required for bootstrapping a developer into being a Node developer.

Overall this is a very good book covering programming in Node, and is a great follow-up book from introductory material like my own book.

About the Author(s)

(davidherron.com) David Herron : David Herron is a writer and software engineer focusing on the wise use of technology. He is especially interested in clean energy technologies like solar power, wind power, and electric cars. David worked for nearly 30 years in Silicon Valley on software ranging from electronic mail systems, to video streaming, to the Java programming language, and has published several books on Node.js programming and electric vehicles.

Books by David Herron

(Sponsored)