Unicorn vs nginx: What are the differences?

Introduction

Unicorn and nginx are both popular web server software that have their own distinct features and functionalities. While they are both designed to serve web applications, there are key differences between the two.

1. Scalability: Unicorn is best suited for applications that are designed to handle many concurrent requests at a time. It uses a "one process per request" model, which means that it spawns a new worker process to handle each incoming request. This allows Unicorn to handle a large number of concurrent connections efficiently. On the other hand, nginx is known for its high scalability and performance. It uses an event-driven architecture and can handle thousands of concurrent connections with ease.

2. Load Balancing: Unicorn does not have built-in load balancing capabilities. It is typically used with a reverse proxy server like nginx or HAProxy to distribute incoming requests among multiple Unicorn instances. Nginx, on the other hand, comes with built-in load balancing features. It can distribute incoming requests among multiple backend servers based on various algorithms like round robin, IP hash, etc.

3. Websockets Support: Unicorn does not natively support Websockets, which are used for real-time communication between a client and a server. It is not designed to handle long-lived connections and does not provide the necessary functionality for implementing Websockets. Nginx, on the other hand, provides full support for Websockets and can handle the bidirectional communication required for real-time applications.

4. Static File Serving: Nginx is known for its efficient handling of static files. It is often used as a reverse proxy server or a front-end proxy server to serve static files directly from disk. It can also cache static files in memory, resulting in improved performance and reduced load on the backend application servers. Unicorn, on the other hand, is primarily designed to handle dynamic requests and is not as efficient at serving static files.

5. Configuration: Unicorn is a Ruby application server and is typically configured using Ruby code. It requires a separate configuration file and does not have a built-in configuration interface. Nginx, on the other hand, uses a declarative configuration syntax that is easy to understand and modify. It provides a variety of configuration options and can be customized to meet specific requirements without requiring any coding.

6. SSL/TLS Support: Nginx has extensive support for SSL/TLS protocols and can handle encrypted connections with ease. It can be easily configured to use SSL certificates, enable HTTPS, and enforce HTTPS redirection. Unicorn, on the other hand, does not have built-in SSL/TLS support. It relies on a reverse proxy server like nginx or HAProxy to handle SSL/TLS termination.

In Summary, Unicorn is a Ruby application server that is well-suited for applications requiring high concurrency, while nginx is a powerful web server known for its scalability, load balancing capabilities, Websockets support, efficient static file serving, easy configuration, and extensive SSL/TLS support.