I recently signed up for a Node.js course because I believed JavaScript would be a key player on the server side. It struck me as odd, however, that many job ads emphasize technologies such as .NET, PHP, and Java, with hardly any mentioning Node.js. Additionally, while some suggest Python isn’t used for the backend, JavaScript seems even less represented. Can someone shed light on why JavaScript is not as prevalent for backend tasks?
My experience has shown that although JavaScript via Node.js has grown in popularity for backend tasks, many companies continue to rely on technologies that have been deeply embedded in enterprise systems for years. In my previous roles, I noted that the mature ecosystems and extensive libraries available in languages like Java and .NET make them appealing for large-scale systems that require robust support. Additionally, the asynchronous paradigm in JavaScript, while powerful, can introduce complexities that some teams find more challenging to manage compared to traditional synchronous models.
i reckon it’s a mix of historical stability and trust existing with languages like java and php, plus node’s async quirks can complicate things for legacy systems. its trying hard, but older firms stick to what they knw.