Hey everyone, I’m new to backend development and I’m trying to figure out which framework to use for a project I have in mind. I want to build a CRUD API for a website that will have articles and job listings. I’ve heard about Express.js and Nest.js, but I’m not sure which one would be better for someone with little experience like me.
I know TypeScript is good for backend stuff, so I want to use that. But I’m wondering if Express or Nest would be easier to learn and work with for a beginner. Does anyone have experience with both? What are the pros and cons of each for a simple API project?
I’m also curious about how well these frameworks handle things like database connections and authentication. Any advice or personal experiences would be super helpful! Thanks in advance for your input.
As someone who’s worked extensively with both Express.js and Nest.js, I can offer some insights. For a beginner tackling a CRUD API project, Express.js might be the better choice. Its simplicity allows you to grasp core concepts quickly without getting bogged down in complex architecture.
Express.js is highly flexible, letting you structure your project as you see fit. This can be both a blessing and a curse - it’s great for learning, but you’ll need to make more decisions about project organization.
For database connections, you can easily integrate libraries like Mongoose or Sequelize. Authentication can be handled with Passport.js. These are common setups in the Express ecosystem.
While Nest.js offers more out-of-the-box, its learning curve might be steeper for a newcomer. It’s an excellent framework, but perhaps more suitable once you’ve got a solid grasp of Node.js basics and want to scale up to larger, more complex applications.
Ultimately, for your articles and job listings API, Express.js should provide everything you need while offering a gentler introduction to backend development with TypeScript.
hey there! have u considered looking into fastify? it’s kinda like express but faster and has built-in typescript support. might be worth checking out for ur project. what kinda database are u thinking of using? that could help narrow down ur framework choice too. curious to hear more about ur website idea!
hey silvia, i tried both express and nest. express is quick to learn, but nest gives a nice structure if you dont mind a steeper curve. if you’re starting out, express might be the way to go.