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There are dozens of different programming languages and frameworks you can use in your project, but knowing which one will help you ship on time is crucial. Before sharing the five most popular backend frameworks, let’s discuss what a backend framework is?

What is a Backend Framework?

A backend framework is a software framework that makes it possible for programmers and developers to create a server-side web application with less hustle and perform the backend operations of an application. Backend Frameworks are known for their speed, scalability, and efficiency. At iBuildsoft we create web & mobile application templates built with React, Vue, Angular, and React Native to help you develop web apps faster.

Here are the five most popular backend frameworks of 2022 that you just need to know about.!

1. Ruby on Rails

Ruby on Rails is the most popular web framework for building web applications. The framework encourages well-known software engineering patterns and principles such as active record pattern, Don't repeat yourself, and Model–view–controller (MVC).

Pros:

• Easy Integration: with services like Google Maps, Twitter, Facebook, and many other social sites.
• No need for environment-specific configuration files like .ini files or .properties files.
• Maintainable Code: the code you write is more maintainable than what you'd normally write in other frameworks.

Cons:

• Lagging in Security Features: ROR has relatively few built-in security features, which makes it easier for hackers or other malicious users to gain access.
• Not much efficient when it comes to performance optimization. For example, there are no built-in ways to cache pages or assets in the framework itself (although third-party libraries do exist).
• Complexity: much more complex programming language than PHP or Python and can be harder to learn.
• No support for concurrent request handling: ROR supports only one process per server, so if you have an application that requires multiple processes then it may not be the best choice for you.

2. ASP.NET

ASP.NET is a free and open-source web framework designed for creating dynamic websites, web applications, and web services. It was developed by Microsoft to allow programmers to build dynamic websites and applications. ASP.NET supports three main development models: Web Pages, MVC (Model View Controller), and WebForms.

Pros:

• Includes libraries for common programming tasks: developers can write less code and avoid reinventing the wheel when building new applications from scratch.
• Built-in Authentication System: this makes it easy to implement features like password recovery, two-factor authentication (2FA), and others without having to deal with all of the underlying complexity yourself.
• ASP.NET is part of Microsoft's .NET software stack—which also includes the C# programming language—it allows developers to develop in languages other than C# if they want to use something like Visual Basic instead (although this might not always be possible).

Cons:

• Expensive: It is proprietary technology. Therefore, you'll need to purchase a subscription to Microsoft Visual Studio to use it.
• Difficult to Learn: because it uses a proprietary language called C# (pronounced "c-sharp"), which has its syntax and rules that must be followed when writing code, making it harder for beginners who are used to working with languages like Python or JavaScript.
• It doesn't support all operating systems equally well.

3. Django

Django is a Python-based free and open-source web framework, which follows the model-view-template architectural pattern. The main principles of this framework are fast development and solving problems as quickly as possible. Django has an active community that supports the product and solves users' issues.

Pros:

• Easy to learn · Large community support and documentation available online. ·
• Well-tested Code-Base, which means there are fewer bugs in this framework when compared to other frameworks like Ruby on Rails. 
• Can develop complex Web applications because it provides an all-inclusive stack for building complex websites without additional dependencies.

Cons:

• Hard Syntax: Some developers find Django’s syntax hard to learn because the syntax is different from many other languages, such as Python or Ruby.
• Slow Speed: it takes longer to process requests and return the response than other frameworks. It also means that your site will be slower than others and may not perform as well on low-end devices with slower internet connections. 
• No Built-in Support: It is used for databases outside of MySQL or PostgreSQL, which can be limiting depending on your needs.

4. Laravel

Laravel is an open-source PHP framework, which is based on the MVC (model-view-controller) architectural pattern. Some of its most popular packages are Socialite for social sign-in, Cashier for subscription billing with Stripe, Passport for OAuth2 server implementations, Scout for full-text search, and many more.

Pros:

• Many Functionality Features; include authentication, cache, sessions, routing, and more.
• An open-source framework that is free for anyone to use. Developers contribute ideas and code to improve Laravel and ensure it's always up-to-date with the latest trends and security practices.
• Many resources are available for learning Laravel, including books and online tutorials.
• High Speed
• High Security
• Easy Integration: this makes it easier for you to integrate third-party tools into your application.
• High Compatibility: As Laravel was written in PHP7, it allows it to run on almost every major operating system such as Windows, Linux, and UNIX.

Cons:

• Not Fit for Highly Customizable Applications
• Applications that need real-time data visualization will also be hampered by LARAVEL’s reliance on MVC.
• It requires that you install Composer on your computer, which can be challenging if you don't already have PHP installed.
• Not having Much Documentation: Since Laravel is relatively new, it doesn't have as much documentation and support as some more established PHP frameworks. It's easy to create bloated code if you don't know what you're doing.

5. NodeJS

NodeJS is a server-side scripting language that is used to create various web applications. It can be used as a standalone application or can be embedded in any system. JavaScript is the primary scripting language used in NodeJS.

Pros:

• It is fast as it doesn't need to run other processes or create new threads when it needs to do something.
• It can be scaled up or down based on how you want your application to work.
• It's easy to learn as it gets written in Javascript, which is one of the most popular languages in the world (if not THE most popular language).

Cons:

• If your application performs CPU-intensive tasks, this may not be the best option. Your application may also slow down if the code is too intense or runs too long.
• No Support for Older Browsers: because it uses technologies that are not supported in these browsers. This can be a problem if your application needs to run across all platforms and browsers.
• There is a lack of library support with the NodeJS backend, which is one of its biggest disadvantages, compared to other backend languages. In addition, there are some cases where the libraries still need a lot of work to become more stable and reliable.

How to Choose Among the Most Popular Backend Frameworks?

Does your business need a web app or a mobile app? Choosing the perfect backend framework can save you time and money by enabling you to manage and maintain your application. We recommend you pick a backend technology that is flexible, scalable, supports open-source technologies, has a large number of developers, has many libraries and plugins, and can be easily modified and upgraded.

You should consider the current trends and high-demanding frameworks if you have multiple options available. If you do not have enough coding knowledge, iBuildsoft is here to guide you well and provide you with the best services. Feel free to contact us and discuss your business details with our experts.