Node.js web frameworks have revolutionized the way developers design and implement web applications, providing powerful tools to simplify the coding process. Express, one of the first successful Node.js web frameworks, established a strong foundation with its middleware pattern, while Fastify, a newer entrant, brings lessons learned from previous frameworks and a unique focus on performance. However, as these two frameworks evolved, their project health trajectories have diverged significantly.
Express burst onto the scene as the best-of-breed web framework from 2010-2015, with its middleware pattern proving instrumental in its success. This pattern involved registering middleware functions in an array and looping through these functions each time a request was made to the server.
Despite its early success, Express encountered numerous challenges, including the exit of its original creator and technical lead in mid-2014, the sale of the project, and the subsequent acquisition by IBM. In the aftermath, project maintenance fell by the wayside, and Express has been in a state of decline ever since.
Over the past four years, Express has seen a steady drop in contributions and infrequent releases, with the last one being eight months ago. This decline reflects the project's current leadership struggles in fostering a new community around Express and managing the project single-handedly against numerous challenges.
Code frequency over the history of express
Fastify, on the other hand, has capitalized on the industry's need for a high-performance Node.js framework. This framework combines lessons learned from earlier frameworks with a focus on performance in terms of CPU/Memory and high-performance DevEx, ergonomics, and technical debt prevention and reduction.
Fastify's approach contrasts sharply with Express's middleware pattern. Instead, Fastify introduces true encapsulation through an asynchronously bootable plugin system that follows a pure functional pattern. This innovation and an active group of core maintainers and ecosystem authors have propelled Fastify to the forefront of Node.js frameworks since 2017.
Code frequency over the history of fastify.
The project health of a framework is crucial in the world of software development. A vibrant and active project reflects the commitment of the developer community to innovate, fix bugs, and address security vulnerabilities, ensuring the project's longevity and relevance.
However, when project health declines, as in the case of Express, the consequences can be severe. Technical debt accumulates as bugs and security issues go unaddressed, increasing the risk for developers relying on the framework. Infrequent releases mean fewer new features and improvements, stifling innovation and hindering the framework's ability to stay competitive. Moreover, a declining project may eventually become abandoned, leaving its users needing support or updates.
Express releases are few and far between.
Fastify releases frequently.
While Express was once a trailblazer in the Node.js web framework landscape, it's declining project health signals potential challenges ahead for developers relying on it. In contrast, Fastify, with its strong focus on performance, unique functional patterns, and robust project health, offers a promising alternative for developers seeking a reliable and innovative framework.