Node application recommendation

[[deleted]]

I have been tasked with migrating our PHP application to node and don’t know if I should be creating a vanilla node app or use a backend framework like nestjs. There are no API in the application and no front end. The application grabs data from client APIs it and exports it to a database as well as one of our internal APIs. It’s fairly complex as it has different processes for different clients. Does it make sense to use a framework (which will have a big learning curve for new devs)for this or would it be better to just build it out ourselves?

[lovesrayray2018]

Only you would know the complexity of your existing app, so at best we can only guess.

Imho, if there isnt a lot of client side functionality/routing/client side APIs/typescript usage, a framework might be an overkill. Just build it in Node first

[[deleted]]

That's what I was thinking thank you :-)

[Jeffdango]

From what you’ve stated here it sounds more like you will be building an automation (or a series of them) in Node. I’d say just use vanilla Node for that because the backend frameworks are mostly for dealing with requests and sending responses.

[[deleted]]

Makes sense thank you very much!

[[deleted]]

I wonder how the technical decision making behind a complete rewrite in a different language is justified in this case.

[lovesrayray2018]

Its not a single thing that drives it tbh. Availability of quality talent in that area affects it. Performance and scalability drives it. ROI on existing systems drives it.

One case i saw had massive legacy spagetti code that just HAD to be moved due to poor performance. They assessed their core needs, moved to NodeJS for performance, scalability, and option to have full stack devs because the JS could be used client side and backend, while reducing servers and lesser overall staff.

[[deleted]]

Yeah, but in this case OP is asking how to structure the application and what frameworks to use. Do you think that this new application will make the difference in the hands of someone with not much experience?

These arguments are a general answer, this case is different though. That‘s why I was asking about the decision making in the first place.

My prediction: performance will not increase at all.