ExpressJS vs Sails.js vs hapi: What are the differences?

1. Architecture: ExpressJS is a minimalist framework that provides a lot of flexibility and control over the application's architecture. Sails.js, on the other hand, is a full-fledged MVC framework with built-in support for features like ORM, WebSockets, and REST API generation. hapi is a configuration-centric framework that emphasizes a plugin-based architecture, allowing developers to easily add and remove functionality as needed.

2. Ease of Use: ExpressJS is known for its simplicity and ease of use, making it ideal for small to medium-sized applications. Sails.js, with its MVC structure and automatic generation of REST APIs, is better suited for larger and more complex applications that require a lot of built-in features. hapi, with its focus on configuration and plugins, requires more setup but offers a high level of customization and scalability.

3. Community Support: ExpressJS has a large and active community with a wide range of plugins and middleware available for developers. Sails.js also has a strong community but is more focused on enterprise applications, while hapi has a smaller but dedicated community with a focus on building secure and scalable applications.

4. Real-time Capabilities: Sails.js is known for its built-in support for WebSockets and real-time communication, making it a popular choice for applications that require real-time features. ExpressJS and hapi can also support real-time capabilities through the use of third-party libraries and plugins, but Sails.js simplifies the process with its integrated functionality.

5. Performance: ExpressJS is considered to be faster and more lightweight compared to Sails.js and hapi, making it a popular choice for applications that require high performance. Sails.js and hapi, while providing more built-in features and functionality, may have slightly lower performance due to their additional overhead.

6. Learning Curve: ExpressJS has a shallow learning curve and is easy to get started with for beginners. Sails.js, with its MVC structure and built-in features, may have a steeper learning curve but can be easier to work with once the basics are understood. hapi, with its configuration-centric approach, may require more initial setup and have a steeper learning curve for developers who are not familiar with this style of framework.

In Summary, ExpressJS, Sails.js, and hapi each offer unique advantages and trade-offs in terms of architecture, ease of use, community support, real-time capabilities, performance, and learning curve. Developers should choose a framework based on the specific requirements of their project.