> People use Node because of the availability of the packages, not the other way around.
That is not why I use Node. Incidentally, I also use Bun.js, and pnpm for most package management operations. I also use Typescript instead of raw JS.
I use Node and these related tools fundamentally because:
- I like the isomorphism of the code I write (same language for server and client)
- JS may have many warts, but IMO it has many advantages many other languages lack, it is rapidly improving, and TS makes it even more powerful and the bad part parts manageable. One ting that has stuck with me over the many years of using JS/TS is just how direct and free-of-ceremony everything is. Want a functional style? It supports it to some extent without much fuss. Want something akin to OOP? You can object literal with method-style function, "constructors" that are regular functions, even no-fuss prototypical inheritance, if you want to go that far. Also, no need for any complicated dependency injection (DI), you can just implement pure DI with regular functions, etc. I don't get why you hate JS/TS so much.
- I use Bun.js as an alternative to Node that has more batteries included, so that I can limit my exposure to too many external packages. I add packages only if I absolutely need them, and I audit them thoroughly. So, no, although I may use some packages, I am not on the Node ecosystem just because I want to go on a package consumption spree.
- I use pnpm for installing and managing package, and it by default prevents packages from taking any actions during installation; I just get their code.
