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ExpressJS, first released in 2010, came in to address issues with Node.js and make Node.js easy to learn and use. ExpressJS, the brainchild of TJ Holowaychuk, is a Node.js web application framework which provides features that make building web and mobile applications with Node.js easier and more flexible. It also provides features for the easy and fast creation of robust APIs.
When Node.js was released in 2009, it was received with a lot of optimism and excitement. Node.js allowed server-side code to be written using JavaScript, something that had not been possible before. Revolutionary as it was, some problems became apparent with the use of Node.js. To put it simply, Node.js was complex. Working with Node.js required writing complex server-side logic to perform simple operations such as creating a server, listening for requests, handling requests and sending back a response. This not only made Node.js unpleasant to work with but also very difficult for beginners to learn.
ExpressJS has grown to become one of the most popular Node.js frameworks and it is extensively used in building the backend of applications and creating APIs. Some companies that use ExpressJS include Twitter, IBM, Uber, Lenovo and Fox Sports among many others.
When hiring an ExpressJS developer, an ideal candidate needs to have extensive knowledge of Javascript, an excellent grasp of Node.js and an in-depth understanding and experience working with ExpressJS itself. Additionally, an understanding of frontend technologies such as HTML, and CSS and frontend development frameworks and libraries such as React, Angular, and Vue among others is an added advantage.
Aside from their technical capabilities, you want ExpressJS developers that can effectively communicate, work easily with a team, innovate, problem solve and is keen on learning and improving their skills.
Based on their experience in programming, ExpressJS developers can be classified into entry-level, intermediate or senior-level developers. In each level of seniority, the following skills, knowledge and deliverables are to be expected from Express developers.
- An entry-level ExpressJS developer needs a solid understanding of JavaScript, Node.js, HTML and CSS and be able to develop simple web applications. Additionally, they need to be familiar with Express and be able to use Express to perform tasks such as creating servers, handling requests and routing, templating and working with APIs. Based on their experience, they should be able to troubleshoot and debug basic problems in code written in Javascript, Node.js, HTML or CSS. Most importantly though, they should be deeply interested in learning and developing using Express.
- An Intermediate ExpressJS developer needs to be conversant in building more complex applications using Node.js and Express. Additionally, they should be able to work with a database such as MongoDB or MySQL and build complex APIs. Additionally, they need to be conversant with handling sessions and cookies, validation, authentication, integrating payments to applications and file uploads. They should also have knowledge of security best practices when building using Express and also contribute to the design and architecture of applications built using Express.
- A senior ExpressJS developer should have extensive experience in Node.js, Express.js, a frontend framework and an in-depth understanding of web development concepts. They also need experience in DevOps, working with various databases, performing code optimization and handling complex errors that arise in development. Senior developers will be in charge of ensuring an application is secure, handles data efficiently and performs optimally. They should also advise and make decisions about an application’s architecture, technologies used in its development, and the security of applications. Importantly though, they need to have leadership skills and a willingness to mentor junior and intermediate developers. Full stack ExpressJS developers typically use the MERN or the MEAN stack which uses MongoDB, ExpressJS and NodeJS with either React or Angular.
When hiring an ExpressJS developer, the interview process should be a combination of non-technical and technical assessments to determine whether a candidate is a right fit. An effective interview incorporates the following key steps:
- Reviewing their application and resume - here you want to keenly review their resume to see if they meet the requirements and get a basic understanding of their skills and experience to see what they could bring on board.
- Technical Screening - get in touch with the candidate through a phone call or a video call and engage them in conversations around development and the role they are applying for. This is beneficial in assessing their technical knowledge and experience in web development and using Express. It also helps in getting a rough idea of whether a candidate is a right fit for your organization before taking their application to the next stage.
- Technical Interview - Assign the candidates a technical task to test their coding skills using JavaScript, Node.js and Express. This can be done by asking them to build a simple working express application or having them solve coding problems which require an understanding of Express.
- Non-technical Interview - This is crucial in assessing a candidate's soft skills such as communication, teamwork skills and leadership. This can be done by asking behavioural questions to determine how a candidate would deal with various situations. You can also ask them to talk about their experience working in a team, troubleshooting, problem-solving or how they’ve overcome challenges.
- Review References - Once a candidate has passed all the steps, reach out to the references they gave and get a third party's opinion on the candidate. This is a crucial step as it helps you find out if there are red flags you should be aware of in a candidate or something that a candidate failed to mention that could affect their application
- Contract offer to the right candidate
Throughout the application process, it is important to ensure there is clear communication with the candidate to help make the interview a pleasant experience for both parties.
We are currently hiring skilled and motivated ExpressJS developers to join our development team. As an ExpressJS developer at [company name] your responsibilities at the company will include:
- Working as part of a team developing and maintaining applications and APIs using ExpressJS and Node.js
- Adding and integrating a backend server-side logic to develop the frontend side of applications
- Writing clean, reusable, testable, documented and efficient code
- Integrating databases to applications and ensuring they perform optimally
- Developing and managing server-side components,
- Debugging, troubleshooting and fixing errors that may arise during development
- Integrating solid security and data protection protocols to guarantee the security and constant availability of applications
- Provide suggestions on areas of improvement and come up with ways to improve the performance of applications
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, or a related or valid experience in software development
- Solid understanding of JavaScript, Node.js and ExpressJS
- Familiarity with frontend technologies such as HTML and CSS, a frontend library such as React or frameworks such as Angular or Vue
- Experience working with Databases
- Keen attention to detail and the ability to debug code
- Knowledge in designing and creating APIs
- Expertise in building robust secure applications using Agile Development Methodologies
- Excellent communication skills and ability to work in a team
- Effective organization and time management skills
Some good questions to ask in an ExpressJS interview include:
Question 1: What is the difference between express middleware and routers?
This is an important question to ask to test a candidate's understanding of key ExpressJS concepts that make building with the framework easier and more flexible. It gauges the ability of the candidate to communicate and explain technical concepts in a clear, concise and easy-to-understand manner.
A great answer to this differentiates the two by saying middlewares in ExpressJS are functions that have access to request and response objects and are executed in a specific order. To move from one middleware to the next middleware in line, the next() function needs to be invoked until we get to the middleware that sends back a response. Routers on the hand guide how an application’s endpoints respond to client requests based on the paths used in the URL. Routers handle HTTP methods such as GET and POST.
A good answer to this question simply defines middleware and routing without giving more details on how they work.
Question 2: Write an ExpressJS application that handles both GET and POST requests sent to the same endpoint
This is an excellent question to test a developer’s familiarity with basic ExpressJS concepts, such as creating a server, listening for requests, creating middleware, moving requests from one middleware to another and handling both GET and POST requests.
A good answer to this may not handle requests that are neither GET of POST requests. Such a developer can be helped in critically thinking about possible situations that may arise when using an application.
Question 3: Write a piece of code that implements error handling in an express application
Error handling is an important concept in ExpressJS applications as errors are bound to occur and you don’t want them to break applications. It also tests a developer's ability to use middleware for error handling and their familiarity with status codes.
A good answer to this may handle the errors without sending status codes to give a hint on the type of error that might have occurred. Such a developer can be introduced to good debugging techniques and how to write code that is easy to debug.
Question 4: Write an ExpressJS application that shows how to implement a RESTful API for a to-do list application
This is a good question to gauge a developer’s familiarity working with RESTful APIs.
A good answer to this is an application that runs and parses data using .json() and stores values passed into the to-do list.
Question 5: Explain how you would optimize the performance of an Express.js application.
This tests a developer's understanding of application optimization and practices that help make an application run efficiently. This can be done by using a load balancer to distribute the load across multiple servers. This ensures optimal performance even with high demand.
Additionally, you can use a proxy server such as NGINX or caching responses to help in making the application more efficient and also optimizing how data is handled in the database by indexing to make reading and searching faster. Ensuring an application is updated with the latest security patches also helps. A good answer to this mentions some of the options given above.
The best way to evaluate whether a developer is a great match is by working with them. That's why we make it as easy as possible to get started. If a developer isn't working out within the first two weeks of your engagement, we'll work with you to find a better match and won't bill you for the original developer. It's a no-risk way for you to get the help you need even faster.
Developers in the Torc community set their own rates. The three primary factors that determine the cost of a Remix developer are:
- Experience - Everyone would prefer a senior developer but, let's be honest, 10+ years of experience isn't always required. If you consider the work the developer will be doing and the amount of support within your existing team they'll have access to, you might be better served with one or two junior Remix developers over one senior developer.
- Skill mix - Marketplaces operate under normal supply and demand dynamics. Developer rates often increase with more niche, complex, or in-demand skill requirements.
- Geography - While remote work has flattened the geographic pay disparity to some degree, where your developer lives does factor into their cost. In 2022, the median rate for Torc developers in Latin America was 29% lower than developers in the U.S., Canada, and Western Europe, while the median rates in Eastern Europe and Asia/Oceania were 24% and 40% lower, respectively.
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Once the job is finalized, our AI matching algorithm and team of technical talent specialists will get to work identifying great candidates from the Torc community. You can review their profiles and assessments, interview shortlisted candidates, and hire the perfect developer - all in under a week.
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