ExpressJS vs Sails.js: What are the differences?

Introduction

This Markdown code provides a comparison between ExpressJS and Sails.js frameworks, highlighting their key differences.

1. Language and Compatibility: ExpressJS is a minimal, unopinionated web application framework for Node.js, making it compatible with any JavaScript backend. On the other hand, Sails.js is built on top of Express.js and provides additional features like configuration and conventions based on MVC architecture.

2. Automatic Blueprint APIs: Sails.js has an automatic API generator called "blueprints" that allows developers to easily generate RESTful APIs based on predefined controller actions and models. ExpressJS does not provide such automatic generation of APIs, requiring developers to manually implement and configure their API endpoints.

3. Real-time functionality: Sails.js provides built-in support for real-time communication through WebSockets and a pub/sub system called "sockets". This allows developers to easily implement real-time features like chat applications. ExpressJS, on the other hand, does not have built-in support for real-time functionality, requiring developers to use external libraries or implement their own solutions.

4. Database Integration: While both frameworks can work with various databases, Sails.js provides a native ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) called Waterline. This ORM is agnostic to the database type and allows developers to easily switch between different databases without changing their code. ExpressJS does not come with a native ORM, requiring developers to choose and integrate a separate ORM library.

5. Community and Ecosystem: ExpressJS has a larger and more mature community compared to Sails.js. This means that ExpressJS has a wider range of available libraries, plugins, and resources, making it easier to find solutions and get help when needed. Sails.js, being a younger framework, has a smaller and less mature community with fewer available resources.

6. Flexibility and Extensibility: ExpressJS is known for its flexibility and minimalistic approach, allowing developers to have full control over their application's structure and architecture. This makes it easy to customize and extend ExpressJS applications according to specific project requirements. Sails.js, on the other hand, follows a convention-over-configuration approach, providing a more opinionated structure and predefined conventions. While this can speed up development by reducing the need for manual configuration, it may limit the flexibility of customization.

In summary, ExpressJS is a minimal and flexible framework with a larger community and more resources, while Sails.js provides additional features like automatic API generation, real-time functionality, and a database-agnostic ORM. The choice between the two frameworks depends on the specific needs of the project and the preference for flexibility versus predefined conventions.