Node.js

Node.js holds a special place in my developer story: it was the technology where everything began. In 2019, during high school, I took my first steps in programming by creating Discord bots using Node.js. What started as a hobby transformed into the spark that ignited my passion for software development.

The Origins: Discord and the API Ecosystem

My first Node.js projects revolved around the Discord ecosystem. Developing bots taught me fundamental concepts that I still apply daily: event-driven programming, WebSocket connection management, authentication with external APIs, and structuring applications that must remain active and responsive 24/7.

Those early bots, however simple, introduced me to the world of backend development: state management, data persistence, logging, error handling, and deployment on remote servers. It was practical training ground that prepared me for the professional challenges that would come in the following years.

Full-Stack JavaScript

Node.js allowed me to take my JavaScript skills beyond the browser, creating a natural bridge between frontend and backend. The ability to use the same language on both sides of the stack is a significant advantage: code sharing, uniform validation, consistent data models, and a single syntax to master.

This full-stack JavaScript experience enables me to have a complete view of web applications, understanding how architectural choices on the backend influence the frontend experience and vice versa. When I develop APIs, I always think about how they will be consumed by the client; when I write frontend code, I am aware of what happens behind the scenes on the server.

NPM and Dependency Management

The NPM ecosystem is one of the largest and most dynamic in the software development world. I have learned to navigate it effectively: selecting reliable packages by evaluating maintenance, security, and community, managing dependency versions with semver, resolving conflicts and vulnerabilities, and structuring projects with clean module management.

I know the differences between dependencies, devDependencies, and peerDependencies, and know when to use each category. I use tools like npm audit to monitor security and keep dependencies updated with strategies that balance stability and access to new features.

CLI Tools and Automation

Node.js excels at creating command-line tools, and I have leveraged this capability in numerous contexts. From boilerplate code generation to automating repetitive tasks, from data migration tools to deployment scripts, Node allows me to create utilities that improve my and the team's productivity.

A concrete example is my own resume: the PDF representing it is dynamically generated using Node.js and the PDFMake library. This approach allows me to maintain content in a structured format and generate professional output with a simple command, ensuring consistency and ease of updates.

Architecture and Patterns

Experience with Node.js has led me to understand architectural patterns specific to server-side JavaScript applications: managing the single-thread with the event loop, efficient use of worker threads for CPU-intensive operations, streaming to handle large volumes of data without overloading memory.

I am familiar with different code structuring patterns: from simple modular approaches to more complex architectures like microservices. The choice always depends on the specific project needs, expected scale, and team competencies.

Integration with Other Systems

Node.js integrates naturally with a wide range of technologies. I have experience using drivers for SQL and NoSQL databases, communicating with external services via REST and GraphQL, implementing queue systems with Redis, and integrating with cloud services.

The non-blocking nature of Node makes it particularly suitable for I/O intensive applications: APIs that aggregate data from multiple sources, proxies and gateways, real-time notification systems, and applications handling many simultaneous connections.

From Hobby to Profession

The journey from those first Discord bots to the enterprise applications I develop today represents continuous growth. Node.js remains a tool I use regularly, alongside other backend technologies like PHP and Go depending on project needs. Familiarity with this runtime and its ecosystem is a valuable resource that allows me to always choose the most suitable tool for the problem to solve.