What can node.js do that php cannot and vice versa?

Question

I am developing web applications using the WAMP stack. I use javascript jQuery extensively and want to start learning about node.js, but what specific problems can a node.js address have that I can’t do in php, or what additional benefits will node.js provide me with in relation to the other server side languages. I am also interested in knowing its limitations, to help me decide what and how much can be achieved using it.

Answer 1

A few thoughts on node.js vs PHP ... some of them are just my opinions ...

node.js Benefits

• Improved event / concurrency model for high traffic applications
• Code reuse between client / server
• Pretty much everything is open source and available on github
• Clean / bare bones, closer to bare metals - include only what you need (my opinion)

node.js disadvantages

• You need to learn how to code in a conditional way, and not in a traditional linear way.
• fewer frameworks / technologies than PHP, many of them less mature.
• Less well-known / accepted if you are working on commercial / government projects (although its very popular, PHP is more “acceptable” to many end users / clients)
• Intensive computing operations can block the server, so you should be a little careful.
• Do you want to use a proxy server (nginx) if you configured node.js server