Do Node really sucks? And if yes, than why big companies using it ??

Every few weeks, I come across heated posts on Reddit, Twitter, or hashnode News with one common theme: "Node.js sucks. npm sucks. Use Go/Rust/Python/anything else."

And honestly? They're not totally wrong. Node has flaws but showing only one sided truth and comparing where only node is at bad.

here the real question: If Node.js/npm really sucks, why do companies like Netflix, PayPal, Uber, and LinkedIn still run massive production workloads on it?

Why People Say Node.js/npm Sucks

Dependency Hell: One npm install can pull in hundreds (or thousands) of packages. More dependencies = more chances for bugs or vulnerabilities.

Performance Concerns: For raw compute-heavy tasks, Node isn't as fast as Go, Rust, or C++.

Security Issues: Supply-chain attacks on npm packages have made headlines more than once.

Async Complexity: Callback hell used to be painful (though async/await has made this much better).

Package Quality: Not all npm libraries are well-maintained; some are just weekend hacks.

Fair points, right? But that's just one side of the story.

The Production Reality

When it comes to production, Node.js shines not because it's flawless, but because it's practical. Raw benchmarks may show Go or Rust running faster, but production systems don't live on benchmarks — they live on developer productivity, scalability, and business agility.

Node's event-driven model handles thousands of concurrent requests efficiently, its massive npm ecosystem accelerates development, and its lightweight runtime fits perfectly into modern DevOps workflows with Docker, Kubernetes, and serverless platforms.

For businesses, this means faster time-to-market, easier hiring from a huge JavaScript talent pool, and reduced overhead in maintaining separate tech stacks. In short, Node offers a balance that goes beyond theoretical risks: it provides a strong developer experience and the production readiness that real-world applications demand.

Node.js vs Other Options (Quick Comparison)

"Go and Rust may win benchmarks, but Node wins production because developer velocity, ecosystem support, and cloud-native compatibility matter more than raw CPU speed"

Why Node Shines in Production

This is where critics often miss the full picture. Real-world production isn't just about speed benchmarks — it's about developer velocity, maintainability, and scalability.

Fast Startup Times

Netflix cut startup time by 70% after moving from Java to Node. This means faster deployments, quicker serverless cold starts, and better user experience.

Concurrency at Scale

Node's event loop model is perfect for handling tens of thousands of simultaneous connections — chat apps, streaming, APIs.

Full-Stack JavaScript

One language (JS/TS) across frontend + backend = fewer context switches, faster shipping. PayPal and LinkedIn both cited this as a reason for adopting Node.

Ecosystem & Tooling

npm has a library for almost everything: auth, testing, monitoring, CI/CD, cloud integration. With Go/Rust, you often need to build or integrate things manually.

Cloud & DevOps Friendly

• Lightweight: perfect for Docker/Kubernetes
• Serverless ready: AWS Lambda, GCP Cloud Functions, Azure Functions all use Node as a first-class runtime
• Tons of monitoring tools (PM2, Datadog, OpenTelemetry)

What About Security?

Yes, npm has a dependency bloat problem. One tiny library update can break or compromise your app. But big companies manage this risk by:

• Using npm audit, GitHub Dependabot, or Synk for vulnerability scanning
• Vetting libraries carefully (not blindly npm install)
• Forking critical dependencies and maintaining them internally
• Having dedicated security teams to monitor supply-chain risks

And let's be real: every ecosystem has security risks. Remember Heartbleed in OpenSSL (C)? Or Log4Shell in Java? Security issues is not exclusive to Node. and recently where 16 Billion Apple, Facebook, Google And Other Passwords Leaked.

Case Studies

Netflix

Faster startup time (70% improvement), reduced server costs. (Switched from Java to Node for UI rendering, cut startup time by 70%, doubled developer productivity)

PayPal

Migrated from Java, doubled requests per second, cut response time by 35%. (Rebuilt checkout system in Node, handled 2x requests per second with fewer servers)

Uber

Uses Node for real-time dispatching (event-driven architecture).

LinkedIn

Moved from Ruby to Node, saw huge improvements in scalability and responsiveness. (27 Servers Cut and Up to 20x Faster)

"Big companies don't pick tools just because they're shiny or fast in benchmarks. They pick tools that are battle-tested, easy to hire for, and deliver real business value — and that's why Node.js often wins over Go and Rust."

The Bottom Line

Node.js/npm has flaws. It's not the fastest language, it has dependency bloat, and security requires careful handling.

But production systems care about more than raw speed. They care about:

Risk is Manageable

• Big tech has security teams and automated tools to audit dependencies
• They only trust vetted libraries, sometimes even fork them for internal control

Business Value > Theoretical Risk

• The productivity, ecosystem, and speed-to-market outweigh the dependency risk
• Security risks exist in any ecosystem (remember the Heartbleed bug in OpenSSL? Written in C)

Talent Pool

• Easier to hire and train engineers in JS/Node than Go or Rust at scale

Proven Battle Testing

• Node has been powering production workloads at scale for over a decade
• Companies trust it because it has worked for years

That's why big companies still bet on Node.js — not because it's perfect, but because it's practical.

TL;DR

Note: This isn't a full, apples-to-apples comparison between Node.js, Go, Rust, or any other language. Each has its own strengths — Go shines in microservices and networking-heavy systems, Rust in performance-critical and safety-first applications, and Node in web apps, APIs, and real-time systems.

At the end of the day, no tool universally sucks — it's about trade-offs. Node wins for developer productivity, ecosystem, and business agility. Go and Rust win for raw performance and resource efficiency.

Take away: Pick the tool that solves your problem, not the one that wins the benchmarks.

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