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Node.js Version 6 Released With LTS (sdtimes.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new dept.

dmleonard618 writes: The JavaScript runtime Node.js has reached version 6.0, and unlike version 5.0 this version will receive Long Term Support (LTS). LTS is meant to provide the release with long-term stability, reliability, performance and security. The LTS will begin in October. The current LTS release will go into maintenance mode and will only receive bug, security and documentation updates. Version 5.0 of Node.js will continue to be maintained for a few more months. The latest version features improved module loading, 96% of ECMAScript 2015 features, as well as reliability and security enhancements. "The Node.js Project has done an incredible job of bringing this version to life in the timeline that we initially proposed in September 2015," said Mikeal Rogers, community manager for the Node.js Foundation. "It's important for us to continue to deliver new versions of Node.js equipped with all the cutting-edge JavaScript features to serve the needs of developers and to continue to improve the performance and stability enterprises rely on."

58 comments

  1. Tails 2.3 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Is also out...

    https://tails.boum.org/news/ve...

  2. LTS Support by sconeu · · Score: 3, Funny

    I go to the ATM machine with my PIN number to get cash to send via my NIC card to their NOC Center to get my LTS Support!!!

    --
    General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
    1. Re:LTS Support by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > LTS Support

      For Node.js, they don't support it so "LTS support" is appropriate. LTS is the name of the version, and support is what you don't get.

    2. Re:LTS Support by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Automated Teller Machine machine
      Personal Identification Number number
      Network Interface Card card
      Network Operations Center Center
      Long Term Support Support

      Talk about redundancy

    3. Re:LTS Support by skrot · · Score: 1

      Hah, well spotted!

    4. Re:LTS Support by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think you meant to say "Whoosh!".

  3. Node.js means APPS! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Modern app appers know that Node.js is the appiest app of all apps, which is why you can app apps like Leftpad that can app apps while apping other apps!

    Apps!

  4. Node.js sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    Another latest shiny fad, something for resume fodder and Agile Development hipsters.

    1. Re:Node.js sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      so yada yada yada, kill it with fire? gotcha.

    2. Re:Node.js sucks by Shortguy881 · · Score: 1, Troll

      writing the same thing over and over in various nearly identical ways save for language and platform nuances

      You are clearly doing something wrong. You think after two decades of coding you would know better. Then again, you like Node.js, so your skill level is subject.

      --
      Brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants.
    3. Re:Node.js sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      And then because Node.js doesn't have something as obvious as printf(), you have to use a shitty module that later gets pulled, breaking your code because of terrible dependency management.

    4. Re:Node.js sucks by tomhath · · Score: 0

      printf? You're doing it wrong gramps. Get a real IDE and learn how to use the debugger.

    5. Re:Node.js sucks by NicknameUnavailable · · Score: 0

      writing the same thing over and over in various nearly identical ways save for language and platform nuances

      You are clearly doing something wrong. You think after two decades of coding you would know better.

      If you haven't had to rewrite practically everything you've made in at least a dozen different languages over the years you are still a newb, let the adults speak.

    6. Re:Node.js sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Cross-platform is possible with just about any language these days, even C. There is an effort to make the JavaScript framework in the browser automatically peel away the layers and safely JIT so that you get close to the speed of raw pointers with C in your browser. I forget the name of it, but it's been used to port some games and stuff.

      With cross-platform, it isn't about the language--the devil is in the details, the libraries underneath, etc. I don't know if Node.js is any better or worse when it comes to being a runtime that works in various environments. The point is, Node.js isn't special in this regard. Being able to cross-compile to desktops, phones, and web browsers is kind of a bullet point for any respectable language these days; but to reiterate, the hard part is having the library support you need across all those environments, and not having the subtle differences be too much of a PiTA.

    7. Re:Node.js sucks by CastrTroy · · Score: 3, Insightful

      This is one of the things I love about the .Net platform. A lot of the common problems have been solved. I don't have to worry about writing code to solve problems that have been solved for decades. I can focus on writing new code to solve the new problems are specific to the domain I am working in.

      --

      Anthropic principle: We see the universe the way it is because if it were different we would not be here to see it.
    8. Re:Node.js sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Poor dependency management on the part of idiot developers who relied on code hosted on someone else's server, you mean?

    9. Re:Node.js sucks by leptons · · Score: 1

      Came here for the node-bashing, was not disappointed. Nodejs is great, it's slashdot and the trolls here that are irrelevant.

    10. Re: Node.js sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow. You know nothing about the guy's industry or platforms, yet you immediately throw out a couple of personal but public insults. You are what's wrong with the Internet pal.

    11. Re: Node.js sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That was a reply to shortguy881 BTW.

    12. Re:Node.js sucks by tigersha · · Score: 1

      Just a shame about the totally convoluted horror of node's APIS, but OK.

      --
      The dangers of excessive individualism are nothing compared to the oppressiveness of excessive collectivism
    13. Re:Node.js sucks by tigersha · · Score: 1

      The problem is that Javascript's standard library is so deficient it beggars belief. The relevant NPM was about left-padding string something which pretty much every language in the world has built in. You HAVE to use a lot of external deps in JS, since the library is a desert. That said, this is a JS problem, not a Node problem.

      --
      The dangers of excessive individualism are nothing compared to the oppressiveness of excessive collectivism
    14. Re: Node.js sucks by Shortguy881 · · Score: 0

      There is no good excuse for writing the same code over and over and over again. As a developer, my job is to work smart, not repetitively. This is a shortfall on the developer's side, period.

      --
      Brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants.
    15. Re:Node.js sucks by Shortguy881 · · Score: 0

      No, real developers don't rewrite entire software packages based on the javascript flavor of the month. You either have no say in what work you do, you flip flop technologies to much, or you have no idea how to write modular software, or a combination of these. Any way you cut it, I have a hard time calling anyone who rewrites the same code over and over again a real software developer. Perhaps a script kiddy.

      --
      Brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants.
    16. Re: Node.js sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm not your pal, buddy.

    17. Re:Node.js sucks by NicknameUnavailable · · Score: 0

      So you've never made a cross-platform (both server and client, desktop web and mobile) app before? Ever? Hard to consider you as even remotely experienced if you've never written anything requiring at least a dozen languages. Opinion dismissed as incompetent.

    18. Re: Node.js sucks by NicknameUnavailable · · Score: 0

      There is no good excuse for writing the same code over and over and over again. As a developer, my job is to work smart, not repetitively. This is a shortfall on the developer's side, period.

      Nope. As a code monkey your job is apparently to work within a single platform.

    19. Re: Node.js sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ASM.js

    20. Re:Node.js sucks by Tablizer · · Score: 1

      Even in .Net one often spends a lot of time dealing with the screwy HTML/JS/CSS/DOM stack and UI issues rather than focus on domain logic itself.

      Every stupid device renders the UI different enough or handles JS/DOM actions different enough to create headaches.

      We should learn from desktop kits and use coordinate vectors and server-side formatting instead of client-side formatting/layout, as I ranted about a month ago. Client-side layout formatting is evil.

      The Web is labor drain for devs. Sure, it gets us a nice paycheck, but is not economically rational beyond ourselves.

      We are doing it wrong! I would much rather solve domain needs than micromanage UI's. I'd feel productive and helpful again rather than a slave of DOM.

      --
      Table-ized A.I.
    21. Re:Node.js sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The problem in the GP's post is not that JavaScript lacks functionality, it's that people relied on external deps hosted on someone else's server.

      If you use a JS library or framework, you make a copy and host it on the same server as your app. To do otherwise is dangerous and foolish.

    22. Re: Node.js sucks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm not your buddy, mate.

  5. Not just LTS, but LTS support! by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1

    Good, it's about time we had long term support support. But what about long term long term support support?

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    1. Re:Not just LTS, but LTS support! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't think JS script could handle such a thing, no matter how many wrapper API interfaces you bolt onto it.

  6. Small correction by campuscodi · · Score: 1

    The Node.js press release says 93% not 96%

  7. Node.js is a good tool by tomhath · · Score: 1

    There aren't any perfect tools for web development, but Node is probably the best we have. Far better than languages designed for server side like C/C++ or embedded programming like Java.

    1. Re:Node.js is a good tool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This.

      For web development, Nodejs kicks butt.

    2. Re: Node.js is a good tool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So explain to me why it is better than something like java for web development?

    3. Re: Node.js is a good tool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      because it's not java?

    4. Re: Node.js is a good tool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm actually interested in an answer from someone who has had proper experience in both languages and is aware of java's event driven model equivalent frameworks (like akka / vertx) to explain why one should move to nodejs

    5. Re: Node.js is a good tool by tigersha · · Score: 1

      I can call in on this, having experience on all of them (and in Erlang).

      Vert.x can kick node's ass twice over on a Sunday as far as performance goes. The problem is that anything Java is always going to be very verbose and cumbersome and all the appserver are like steering an oil tanker as opposed to a speedboat. Where the oil tanker can schlep much more around the speedboat is much more fun to drive.

      Java is a drag to work with in general, node is fast. But in the long run vert.x APIs are much better than those of node. Javascript sucks with all it stupid callback hell. Java is a much more mature language and you can build vertx modules in pretty much anything that runs on the JVM. All of the stuff javascript does now was done in functional languages back in the 70s and 80s. Then functional languages started abstracting with monads and Javascript still needs to catch up. There is some glimmer of hope with React and RxJs, but were are not there yet. Until then, node is stuck in the remote past, and VertX is not quite.

      Akka/Erlang with Actors is heaven opposed to can give node's callback hell but it requires a bit of a different way of thinking.

      --
      The dangers of excessive individualism are nothing compared to the oppressiveness of excessive collectivism
    6. Re: Node.js is a good tool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Callback hell? When was the last time you wrote Javascript, 1994?

  8. Such Incredible Job by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    At the end of the day, though, it's still javascript.

    1. Re:Such Incredible Job by St.Creed · · Score: 1

      ECMAscript, actually. And that is a very cool functional language, IMO. It has a few warts, but all in all I've been playing with it recently to build myself a Neo4J library for D3, and it is very easy to learn, while having very powerful language aspects.

      --
      Therefore, by the (faulty) logic you're using, you're just a cow with a keyboard - osu-neko (2604)
    2. Re:Such Incredible Job by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ECMAscript, actually. And that is a very cool functional language, IMO.

      ECMAscript isn't really a language, though; it's a language standard. Yes, it's hair splitting, but people implement ECMAscript-compliant languages, not ECMAscript itself.

    3. Re:Such Incredible Job by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I wouldn't really call a language that implicitly creates a global variable when you use an undefined identifier a functional language. But it's usable.

  9. Node.js is badass rockstar by Billly+Gates · · Score: 3, Funny

    It is the most coolest thing since the invention of the transistor.

    --
    http://saveie6.com/
  10. Re:Erlang aka OPT is AWESOME!! by Billly+Gates · · Score: 1

    Yo yo kids node.js is sooo out of date man. All the hipsters now use Erlang reborn man

    --
    http://saveie6.com/
  11. Public PSA announcement, for your FYI by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Make sure it's an AUTOMATIC ATM machine and keep that Personal PIN Number PERSONAL, y'hear.

  12. "Long term"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    So in the Javascript community, "long term" means about 3 weeks, right? I've met fruit flies with a longer attention span than the average Javascript developer.

  13. Learning from mistakes? by Kohlrabi82 · · Score: 1

    LTS means that node.js will ship with an implementation of left-pad?

    1. Re:Learning from mistakes? by tigersha · · Score: 1

      Maybe they should start with the basics first. Like finding checking if an array contains a specific element. Leftpad is for advanced users.

      --
      The dangers of excessive individualism are nothing compared to the oppressiveness of excessive collectivism
  14. It's Weird Times by Carcass666 · · Score: 2

    I'm using Microsoft Code to author Node.JS routines to run on AWS Lambda, accessed via AWS's API Gateway. Simple routines for data access and business logic are quick to write and scale like nobody's business.

    Node has its quirks, and I do get nervous about NPM; but once you drink the Promise KoolAid, and if you stick with well supported libraries, it's a pretty efficient.

    Being a long-time .NET developer (quit smirking) I am finding a lot to like (as well as more stuff to work around, but there are compromises with any development platform).

    1. Re: It's Weird Times by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm also a .net dev ready to start using nodejs. I've already just grown a long beard and wear pants that expose my ankles

    2. Re: It's Weird Times by tigersha · · Score: 1

      Don't worry, soon the half-naked 18-year old nubile groupies will show up at your door with a bag full of joints.

      --
      The dangers of excessive individualism are nothing compared to the oppressiveness of excessive collectivism
  15. Re: Erlang aka OPT is AWESOME!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That is one hilarious video, watch past minute 2 to get to the good stuff, "Outlaw Techno Psychobitch"

  16. Define "long term" by ip_vjl · · Score: 1

    We're all used to the summaries leaving out important information, but if you're going to write a whole article focusing on the "Long Term Support" you should be expected to at least mention what "long term" means for the project in question. (Apparently, 2 years.)

    https://github.com/nodejs/LTS#...

    1. Re:Define "long term" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, it's not even two years. Actual support is 18 months, or 1.5 years. Then it goes into Maintenance mode that only fixes "critical" bugs and security problems. So yeah, it's a joke.

      Also note that a LTS comes out every 12 months. So really, how much maintenance can you expect those six months?

  17. Resist the temptation! by paradisaeidae · · Score: 0

    https://www.semitwist.com/mirr...