Any developer who has ever had to write software code for multiple platforms knows the benefit of avoiding it. This fact is one of the many benefits of developing in the Node.js environment, but there are many more extremely impressive benefits.
This post will cover books that help teach the concepts behind developing in the Node.js environment and the benefits accompanying it. You will see several books with their cover descriptions and some of the things they teach. Furthermore, you will also see a list of other recommended reads to teach and bolster your Node.js development.
Let's dive right in.
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10 Great Node.js Books That Teach Important Core Concepts
1. Node.js Design Patterns
The book kicks off by exploring the basics of Node.js, describing its asynchronous single-threaded architecture and the main design patterns. It then shows you how to master the asynchronous control flow patterns and the stream component, and it culminates into a detailed list of Node.js implementations of the most common design patterns and some specific design patterns exclusive to the Node.js world. Lastly, it dives into more advanced concepts such as Universal Javascript and scalability and it's meant to conclude the journey by giving the reader all the necessary concepts to be able to build an enterprise-grade application using Node.js.
What We Like:
This book covers many core conceptual practices behind Node.js, precisely those less subject to rapid change. Design patterns organize your code better and improve the efficiency of your coding and software functionality.
2. Beginning Node.js, Express & MongoDB Development
Learn how to build a Node.js app in a straightforward approach, removing all the frills of development, you get straight to the meat of the process. Each section is split into small, easy-to-digest pieces, making understanding the content easy to do and remember. This process culminates in learning how to deploy your blog to a server on Heroku. This book will teach you how to create scalable and efficient web applications using common development patterns.
What We Like:
This book does a great job of cutting out the fluff and teaching you the necessary skills to rapidly develop and deploy simple Node.js web applications.
3. Get Programming with Node.js
Get Programming with Node.js teaches you to build web servers using JavaScript and Node. In this engaging tutorial, you'll work through eight complete projects, from writing the code for your first web server to adding live chat to a web app. Your hands will stay on the keyboard as you explore the most important aspects of the Node development process, including security, database management, authenticating user accounts, and deploying to production. You'll especially appreciate the easy-to-follow discussions, illuminating diagrams, and carefully explained code!
What We Like:
This book offers eight unique projects you can complete to teach and commit the information to memory. Furthermore, it explores the entire development lifecycle in an easy-to-follow format, including security and deployment.
4. Advanced Node.js Development: Master Node.js by building real-world applications
This book delivers advanced skills that you need to become a professional Node developer. Along this journey you'll create your own API, you'll build a full real-time web app and create projects that apply the latest Async and Await technologies. Andrew Mead maps everything out for you in this book so that you can learn how to build powerful Node.js projects in a comprehensive, easy-to-follow package designed to get you up and running quickly.
What We Like:
This book teaches you how to build APIs using the latest Async and Await technologies which are very popular advanced development techniques in the current industry.
5. Distributed Systems with Node.Js: Building Enterprise-Ready Backend Services
In this hands-on guide, author Thomas Hunter II proves that Node.js is just as capable as traditional enterprise platforms for building services that are observable, scalable, and resilient. Intermediate to advanced Node.js developers will find themselves integrating application code with a breadth of tooling from each layer of a modern service stack.
What We Like:
This book focuses on developing enterprise-ready backend services capable of scaling up business needs. Focusing on intermediate-level or higher developers, it provides the tools to create reliable application architectures with distributed systems.
6. Automating with Node.js
If your job is loaded with manual work, why not write scripts that can deal with it for you? With this book, you will learn how to deal with many tasks, such as zipping files, emailing colleagues, and deploying your work at the press of a button.
The book is structured into two parts: The first part is a collection of recipes or building blocks that behave as individual global commands. These can be used as you go about your day and can be called at any time to speed up your workflow or for pure convenience. The second part is a walkthrough of creating a cross-platform build tool from the ground up that you and your team can use to speed up your workflow.
What We Like:
This book helps simplify arduous tasks, removing the monotony involved in tasks such as sending emails and zipping files. The book is also broken down into two sections to facilitate the learning process behind these skills.
7. Practical Node.js
Practical Node.js takes you from installing all the necessary modules to writing full-stack web applications. You'll harness the power of the Express.js and Hapi frameworks and the MongoDB database with Mongoskin and Mongoose. You'll also work with Pug and Handlebars template engines, Stylus and LESS CSS languages, OAuth and Everyauth libraries, the Socket.IO and Derby libraries, and everything in between.
What We Like:
This book is excellent for learning everything you need to know when building a full-stack software application, including design. You will also learn how to handle authentication, authorization, and other practical skills required for your development process.
8. RESTful Web API Design with Node.js - Second Edition
Starting with the fundamentals of REST, you will understand why RESTful web services are better data provisioning solutions than other technologies. You will start setting up a development environment by installing Node.js, Express.js, and other modules. Next, you will write a simple HTTP request handler and create and test Node.js modules using automated tests and mock objects. You will then have to choose the most appropriate data storage type, having options between a key/value or document data store, and also you will implement automated tests for it. This module will evolve chapter by chapter until it turns into a full-fledged and secure Restful service.
What We Like:
This book is a great read, teaching you the skills you need to design and build Restful Web APIs using the Node.js environment. This book is the second edition and has been updated to include the most up-to-date information at the time of publishing.
9. Secure Your Node.js Web Application
Bake security into your code from the start. See how to protect your Node.js applications at every point in the software development life cycle, from setting up the application environment to configuring the database and adding new functionality. You'll follow application security best practices and analyze common application coding errors as you work through the real-world scenarios in this book.
As an ever-evolving industry, the number of books out there that you can use to improve your coding skills is almost endless. Furthermore, they are constantly being updated with new changes and improvements to reflect the most current state of the industries they cover.
What We Like:
Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving subject for anyone in the software development industry. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in developing Node.js because it teaches the concepts behind securing your software applications.
Other Books Deserving Honorable Mentions
The books mentioned above are great and worth every second spent reading, as they will propel your development and lift your skills to the next level. However, they are far from the only options available, and the following books deserve at least an honorable mention. No matter what you decide to read, each will provide you with invaluable knowledge making you an even better programmer at every page turn.
- Node.js Web Development
- Web Development with Node and Express
- Learning Node
- Node.js in Action
- Node Cookbook
- Professional Node.JS
- Learning Node.js
- Smashing Node.js
- Mastering Node.js - Second Edition
Deciding Which Programming Books Are Best For You
This post covers a lot of different books, and not all programming books are created equal. Choosing the ones best for you depends on several factors. Some factors to consider may include what you wish to learn, what you want to improve, and how up-to-date the information is. But in the end, choosing books with high recommendations from other developers is a great place to start. Read reviews and research; the best books will be hard to miss.
