Javascript Platforms for Development
Node.js is a new-comer on the Internet Web Server block. It is programmed in Javascript, and it is something worth watching in the ICT4D arena for these reasons:
- It runs on light-weight hardware, like the Raspberry Pi and requires much fewer hardware resources than traditional systems like apache, IIS or Java based servers.
- Javascript has been taught in Web classes for decades and although the latest released version 5 has not been around that long, the familiarity with grassroots basics is widespread.
- There are a multitude of free materials that help Africans learn about Javascript including https://webmaker.org/en-US (Our partner VSA is planning lessons with this system)
- Previously server programmers and web developers used different languages. Now they can use the same language and development libraries.
- With HTML5 and CSS, technologies that work seamlessly with node.js, one can implement cross-platform apps for smart phones -- an increasingly important component of development in Africa.
At eKhaya ICT we have a wealth of experience with node.js and Javascript frameworks for the browser.
We have taken part in the Kapenta JS project, which includes a light-weight Javascript server infrastructure for mobile phones. This is one of the first Javascript peer-to-peer frameworks for mobile phones and is in active use in some of our customer projects.
Posted: September 25th 2014 07:08
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