FeathersJS vs Sails.js: What are the differences?

Introduction: FeathersJS and Sails.js are both popular Node.js frameworks. Despite having similarities, they also have key differences that set them apart.

1. Real-time Capability: FeathersJS has built-in real-time capabilities through WebSockets and primed for real-time applications, whereas Sails.js requires additional modules like Socket.IO for real-time features.

2. Modularity: FeathersJS is modular by design, allowing developers to choose the components they need for their projects, while Sails.js comes with a more monolithic structure where all components are included by default, which might lead to unnecessary bloat in the project.

3. Database Support: FeathersJS supports a variety of databases out of the box including MongoDB, MySQL, and more, making it more flexible for different project requirements. On the other hand, Sails.js primarily focuses on providing ORM for MongoDB and Waterline for object-relational mapping.

4. API Development: FeathersJS is designed specifically for building APIs and microservices, with lightweight endpoints and a focus on RESTful services, while Sails.js is a more full-fledged MVC framework suited for building web applications or larger projects with complex server-side logic.

5. Community and Ecosystem: FeathersJS has a smaller but more focused community that emphasizes real-time applications and microservices, resulting in quicker support and updates for related features. In contrast, Sails.js has a larger and more diverse community with support for a broader range of use cases, but potentially slower updates and resolutions for specific niche features.

In Summary, FeathersJS excels in providing real-time capabilities, modularity, diverse database support, and API development focus, while Sails.js offers a more monolithic structure, ORM emphasis, and a broader community and ecosystem to support a variety of use cases.