Blockchain technology has taken the tech world by storm in recent years. This is due to its various promises of a tamper-proof system, transparency, and decentralization. Right from its inception, since the days of Bitcoin to the present with Non-Fungible Tokens, smart contracts, and more, the technology has continued to evolve.
However, as groundbreaking as this innovation has been, it does present certain challenges, especially for developers looking to capitalize on this technology. Another aspect of development, and probably its most important one, is the language used to create web or mobile applications. Here, Node.js has emerged as a popular choice among developers across the world.
Once again, however, this language has its fair share of challenges. This guide explores the various challenges that blockchain and Node.js present to developers, along with what opportunities they provide.
This guide will come in handy when you’re looking to hire Node.js developers, as it can help you assess their insights and skills with respect to the opportunities in the market.
Node.js Opportunities for Developers
Node.js and its continuous growth over time present various opportunities for developers. Let’s have a look at the major ones.
An Increase in Real-Time Applications
Real-time applications have become extremely popular due to their ability to provide users with instant updates at the right time. Businesses in various domains are leveraging these to ensure greater traffic and customer engagement.
Node.js’s ability to handle multiple requests in a fast-paced environment makes it the perfect language to develop such apps. The real-time app trend is only set to grow in 2023 and in the next few years. It presents a lucrative opportunity for developers and businesses that are yet to venture into the realm of real-time applications.
The Growth of Serverless Architecture
Serverless architecture is a method of deploying applications without the need to manage databases, servers, or other such infrastructure. This gives developers the precious time they need to continually improve their applications.
This trend has already been adopted by big organizations in the market, including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and more. They’ve also greatly benefited from it.
With various advantages such as rapid development, a pay-as-you-go pricing model, and more, serverless architecture is set to be among the most game-changing Node.js opportunities for developers.
Internet of Things (IoT)
With IoT becoming extremely popular over the past few years, Node.js presents various opportunities for developers to build connected devices. While IoT has been seen to work with a myriad of different devices, Node.js offers the ideal platform to build IoT applications.
Challenges with Node.js
While Node.js offers various opportunities, it also presents various challenges, some of which are described below.
Extensive Stack
The biggest challenge with Node.js is that it doesn’t offer developers any guidelines on how code should be written. As a result, businesses must ensure they hire Node.js developers who are experienced and know how to build an application from an individualized approach.
Challenges With Scalability
Being a single-threaded process, scaling a Node.js application can often be a challenge. This is especially the case if you’re building a CPU/MEM-heavy application that needs to be divided into smaller microservices for easier operation. While there have been minor improvements over the years to help fix this issue, some other ones are still at the experimental stage.
Poor Documentation
IT projects generally tend to be document-heavy. These documents help developers understand how the app must work, and how its various components relate to and interact with each other.
However, with Node.js, this process is often tricky and results in the development process getting extended. This, in turn, can inhibit the implementation of new features and affect an app’s performance.
Blockchain Opportunities for Developers
With the opportunities and challenges presented by Node.js out of the way, we now move on to Blockchain.
Non-Fungible Tokens
The world of business has been seeing the increased popularity of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). These constitute units of data that can’t be interchanged and are stored on the blockchain, and individuals can transact in them using different cryptocurrency forms.
They can play a key role as proof of ownership in the art world and can be used to trade digital art, images, video, and more.
The Emergence of Metaverse
Metaverse has been the talk of the town ever since its birth. Big tech giants are finding ways to integrate metaverse workplace services. It is an immersive 3D world that uses an amalgamation of Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and more to improve the work, play, and communication experiences. Thus, Metaverse offers massive scope for developers.
Additional Safety and DeFi Solutions
The increasing popularity of DeFi solutions led to the emergence of DeFi 2.0 in 2022. This trend is only set to grow and create new opportunities for developers to design new and improved products in time.
Challenges With Blockchain
Every coin has two sides, and blockchain is no different. After discussing the merits, it is crucial to also familiarize yourself with the challenges it presents.
Scalability
One of the biggest drawbacks of blockchain technology is that it has high computational requirements, especially with an increasing number of users and transactions over time. As a result, integrating blockchain in apps that require fast transactional speeds can be a challenge.
While experts are trying to develop solutions to these challenges, it will be a while till blockchain can ensure seamless transactions.
Security Risks
While blockchain’s security is one of its biggest strengths, it comes with its fair share of security challenges. There have been a few hacks and security breaches in the past. Having said that, the potential for monetary losses and damage to the integrity of the network is relatively high.
Complexity
Last but not least, the network’s complexity is one of the biggest barriers that stand in the way of developers leveraging blockchain’s full potential. The need for high levels of technical expertise often discourages developers and businesses alike from engaging with it.
However, experts are continuously working on solutions to reduce the barriers to entry, so more businesses could capitalize on it with time.
Conclusion
Blockchain is among the most revolutionary innovations in the tech world. It presents various opportunities for developers, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. The same can be said for Node.js.
Utilizing both these technologies requires experienced developers who understand their intricacies and how they can be used to the maximum potential. Hence, it’s crucial that businesses hire Node.js developers with extensive experience with these technologies to make their products future-proof.
