Node.js References

Scope: Use this page when you need the authoritative docs, package tooling references, or deeper production guidance beyond the labs.

Official Docs

Tooling

  • npm Docs for package scripts, publishing, and dependency management.
  • pnpm for fast, disk-efficient dependency installs.
  • Yarn for projects already standardized on that workflow.
  • nvm for version management across projects.

Server and frameworks

  • Express for minimal server routing and middleware patterns.
  • Fastify for structured, high-performance HTTP services.
  • hapi for configuration-heavy service design.
  • Socket.IO for real-time event-driven applications.

Testing and quality

  • Node test runner for built-in test support.
  • Vitest for fast unit and integration testing in JS and TS projects.
  • Playwright for end-to-end checks on web-facing Node apps.
  • ESLint for static quality checks and style enforcement.

TypeScript and architecture

Deployment path

  1. Study the matching lab and run the example locally.
  2. Use the official docs to verify runtime behavior and API details.
  3. Check package, test, and deployment docs before shipping changes.
  4. Write one short note about what the docs clarified beyond the lab.

Practice

Pick one Node topic, read the official documentation for it, then implement a small local example and document the trade-offs you observed. Start with installation, module style, and architecture before you reach for frameworks.

Back to roadmap: Node.js Roadmap