Node.JS and Terminology

Question

Excuse my ignorance, but I'm trying to wrap my head around the whole Node.js vs Backbone.js thing. I think I'm figuring it out, could somebody verify this or help adjust my understanding?

Node.js is a platform which can serve and render HTTP?

Express.js is a framework for Node.js and handling routes?

Backbone.js is a front-end Javascript library which is not dependent on Node.js at all?

Is it common/acceptable to serve the Backbone.js HTML from Node+Express, or would another platform be better suited?

Answer 1

There is no Node.js vs Backbone.js, that's almost analogous to trees vs apples :)

Node is an environment for running JavaScript on a server. Backbone is a library for manipulating JavaScript in front or back-end applications. To answer your questions specifically:

Node.js is a platform which can serve and render HTTP?

Yes, but that is only one of many other uses .

Express.js is a framework for Node.js and handling routes?

Not just routes, it is a framework for structuring Node.js web applications. I would suggest the book Smashing NodeJS which takes you through building a web server and then shows how Express manages most of what you would have to do yourself.

Backbone.js is a front-end Javascript library which is not dependent on Node.js at all?

It is definitely not dependent on Node, but it can be used within the Node environment (since Node just runs JavaScript).

Is it common/acceptable to serve the Backbone.js HTML from Node+Express, or would another platform be better suited?

This shouldn't be asked on StackOverflow as it does not have a definitive answer. I would recommend a Google search for "node web frameworks" if you are looking for some recommendations, but it sounds like you should learn a bit more about web development before worrying about which framework to use.