Node.js is a popular open-source JavaScript runtime environment, used for building fast, scalable and efficient server-side applications. However, it is not suitable for every type of application. Specifically, Node.js is not good for CPU-heavy applications, real-time applications, and large applications.
Before we explore what Node.js is not good for, let’s first understand what Node is and how it works. Node.js is a server-side JavaScript runtime environment, built on Google Chrome’s V8 JavaScript engine. It allows developers to write JavaScript code that runs on the server and communicates with the client using HTTP, which makes it easier to create dynamic web applications.
For CPU-heavy applications, such as video transcoding or image manipulation, it is better to use a language such as C++ or Java, which are better suited for these types of applications. Real-time applications, such as chat apps or games, should use a technology such as WebSockets or SignalR, which are better suited for real-time communication. For large applications, a more structured language such as Java or C# can be a better choice, as Node.js tends to