Node.js or PHP: Development with the best server side environment

The mobile application development industry is divided in the debate of which is better among as Node.js and PHP. There is a very essential debate that has come to occupy space in the mobile app development and web app development world with developers confused between both environments.  

It began with the launch of Google V8 JavaScript Engine while JavaScript started entering the blackened development domain. In a few days, Node.js was ready to become the best JavaScript framework of both current and future years to come.  

The debate has now become more serious when both Node.js and PHP has come up with their best features in order to capture the app development market. While Node.js coming up with its Node.js version offers better diagnostic capabilities and error handling improvements, PHP with its PHP 7.3 version will offer advantages like trailing comma in functions calls with flexible nowdocs and heredocs. 

Node.js vs. PHP: 

Based on performance, PHP is a lot more reliable and stable as compared to the Node.js. However, when compared on the basis of speed, we find that Node.js is faster than PHP with reasons behind its speed being: excellent callback functions continued server connection and V8 engines which help increase speed. In terms of development, when a developer codes on PHP, the experience is faster and simpler when compared to Node.js as there don't need t include converters or compilers. The language established has no hosting limitations while on the other hand, Node.js is more complicated as it calls for a more complex preparation and server infrastructure. 

In the case of Database, PHP works well irrespective of the engines utilized with a MySQL while also supporting other databases like Postgresql and MariaDB. On the other hand, Node.js provides different libraries for using SQL also using JSON to interact with a new form of NoSQL databases. 

The PHP language is supported by more number of hosting services than Node.js making the integration and deployment of PHP easier than Node and calling for a server that has SSH access for running applications. 

Practically, while PHP is greatly used for web app development, Node.js can be used effectively in a lot of places including multithreaded apps, game, servers, browsers, web apps. 

Lastly, PHP keeps a constant track of updates and development, the team keeps coming up with new ideas and features in order to provide high execution speed. Similarly, Node.js also keeps on constantly developing with one additional benefit. It has all the modern functions in one distribution with no such fragmentations. It serves as an advantage for developers who have to waste no time on the reworking of the code. 

Let us look at some of the Pros and Cons of both the environment: 

Node.js 

Pros: 

• The framework can be used to serve a lot of concurrent events. It helps the developers to easily make solutions to maximize CPU usage and computer memory. 
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• Node.js is also a server-side environment giving a complete range of advantages that any developer expects across the app development stack. When using a single language for both back-end and front-end development, the end product comes better functions and fewer bugs. 

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• There are limited dependencies and guidelines when using Node.js. It comes with no particular rules requiring developers to choose a set architecture or pattern. 
• As it is identical to JS, it is comparatively easier to learn Node and ideal when working with large files. 
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Cons: 

• Intensive CPU activities like editions of graphics, generation of audio and videos are not ideal for the framework. It becomes difficult to develop the graphic-centric app as the applications made by Node are very responsive. 
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• The usage of complicated code structure causes an issue while using Node.js just like some other JavaScript frameworks. 

PHP :

Pros:  

• The environment has a strong code base having platforms like Joomla, Drupal and WordPress enabling Rapid Application Development. An e-commerce website can be developed within minutes through PHP. It also makes PHP perfect for developing CMS (Content Management System). 
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• PHP offers a precise app development solution whether it is running on server or platform making it easier for small companies to create, share, and manage apps without the least knowledge of SSH console commands. 

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• As PHP started working effectively on the web with its priorities to manage HTML, it comes as a highly beneficial solution for developers who wish to avoid creating an overload of the client side while creating a CMS. 
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Cons: 

• In PHP, the developers can easily combine HTML with the language of syntax making it more difficult for them to extend their PHP apps with new functions. In contrast to JavaScript frameworks, managing codes with huge code base have become difficult in PHP. The client-server model of PHP is slower than Node as it is outdated. 
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• Another point apart from the two mentioned above is that PHP does not distinguish the business logic and views, backend development is rarely thought about by it. As a result, it becomes difficult to add new functions to the codebase. 
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Use PHP when:

        You have software stacks like Lamp stack. 

      CM’s like WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, etc. 

•  Servers like Maria DB, Sybase, Oracle, MySQL, etc. 
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Use Node.js when: 

• You have software stacks like MEAN stack. 
• Technologies such as Backbone.js, Angular.js, jQuery, Ember.js, etc. 
• Single-page applications. 
• Server side environment technologies like MongoDB, Express.js, etc.