Keep in mind I have never heard of Node.js until it was brought into Wappler. So I am very new to it.
I finally bit the bullet and decided to at least give the docs a try and see where I can get to. Without the templating docs I would have been totally lost. That will have to be well documented for new Wappler users.
It’s too late for me to use Node.js on my main project (unless there is a reliable converter). But I want to say that my first impressions once I figured out the basics is very positive. I have a couple personal sites that need to be redone and I am seriously considering upgrading my hosting package to support Node.
The new templating system is brilliant. I especially love how it creates the routes for you. I haven’t tried it with routes that include a variable yet. Full marks for the templating system. I haven’t had a chance to fully test it but as of now I really have no complaints about and wouldn’t change anything. I know I have been very hard on the team about the Pages Panel. But now I see where it has benefits. Well done.
The node site was very easy to set up initially. Even I could do it. The rendering speed of pages is VERY fast. Much faster than my MAMP Pro local sites. If that speed carries over to remote servers that may be a reason to switch right there. One thing about the server that gets set up with Wappler is that it uses localhost:3000 as the local address. What happens if you add a second or third Node site? Would that cause a conflict or does it automatically create new addresses with a different port number?
Aside from the templating system I don’t see anything that can be done in Node that can’t be done in PHP? I assume with the addition of Node the progression of PHP features will slow down. What kind of features for Node are planned that you cannot do with PHP (now or in the future)?
Overall, I have nothing negative to say about the Node integration and the templating system. I am going to play a bit more. But so far, my Node experience has been positive. Maybe not as scary as something like Docker after all. Wappler version 3 is shaping up to be a true winner.
I am amazed at what a small team like Wappler can accomplish.
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