Brilworks Software

Introduction

Just like technology, architectural style is a crucial concern in software development. This is why understanding different architectural patterns is important. While it may not be possible to cover all patterns in a single article, the focus of this particular article will be on microservices.

In this article, we will discuss what microservices are and the key differences between monolithic and microservices architectures. We will also discuss the benefits and disadvantages associated with Microservices.

By the end of this article, you will better understand microservices architecture and its benefits. You will also be able to decide whether microservices architecture is the right choice for your next project.

Monolithic vs. Microservices

Monolithic Structure

To understand Microservices fully, we need first to understand monolithic structures. It is more traditional architecture. Monolithic architecture is a time-tested approach that involves building everything as one big application.

Microservices

Microservices, on the other hand, are individual, self-contained services that can be deployed and scaled independently that involve breaking down an application into a bunch of smaller, independent services.

Why Microservice?

For small business owners, it can be a pain to scale if your app has monolithic architecture.

When you approach a company for application development, they will likely ask you about the architectural style you want to use. This is an important decision, as it can have a significant impact on the development cost and scalability of your application.

Monolithic architectures are simpler to develop and maintain, but they can be difficult to scale. If one part of the application becomes overloaded, it can affect the entire application. Microservices architectures are more complex to develop, but they are more scalable. If one service becomes overloaded, it will not affect the other services.

Here is an example to help you understand the difference between monolithic and microservice architectures.

Imagine you have a social media app that has user management, posting, commenting, and liking features. If one service, say user management, gets a lot of traffic, it will use more resources and affect the other services. This is because all the services are tightly coupled together. To fix this, you would need to scale the entire application, which can be time-consuming and expensive.

A better approach is to break the services down into microservices. This means that each service will be responsible for a specific task, such as user management, posting, or commenting. This makes the services loosely coupled, which means that if one service gets overloaded, the others will not be affected. This makes it much easier to scale the application because you can simply scale the individual services that need it, not the entire application.

Characteristics of Microservices

Autonomy: Microservices exhibit loose coupling, enabling independent deployment, development, and scalability. This facilitates the effective management and maintenance of microservice-based applications.

Componentization: A prevailing approach involves dividing a system into smaller components. This permits individual focus on specific services or components, enabling independent modification and deployment without compromising the overall integrity of the application.

Specialization: Each service is designed to address a specific problem or provide a distinct set of capabilities. If a service becomes overly complex, it can be further broken down into smaller, more specialized services.

Benefits of Microservices

1. Agility

Microservices promote agility by dividing project work into small, independent teams. This approach allows each team to focus on a specific aspect of the application without affecting the other teams. This results in more efficient and faster work, as each team can work independently and focus on their own tasks.

Although working together can also be productive, having independent teams working simultaneously can reduce the development cycle. This is because each team can work on their own tasks without having to wait for the other teams to finish their work. This allows us to develop more customer-ready applications in less time.

2. Flexible Scaling

E-commerce platforms and other service-based applications often require frequent scaling of their systems. However, smaller companies may find it costly and labor-intensive to allocate more resources and scale the entire application. In contrast, microservices have gained popularity because they offer flexible scalability. This is why tech giants like Amazon, Netflix, eBay, and others have adopted microservices to achieve flexible scaling.

3. Easy Deployment

Loose coupling of services also promotes the easy deployment of applications by enabling the deployment of specific services that have undergone continuous improvements. This eliminates the need for developers to extensively rework the entire codebase. As a result, businesses can effortlessly include new features as required without significant effort.

4. Technological Freedom

In a microservices architecture, teams can choose the tools and technologies that work best for them. This means that they can use the latest tools, or they can stick with tried-and-true solutions. They can also use a mix of different tools, depending on the specific needs of each microservice.

For example, you start building a microservice that requires storing a lot of data. You could use a traditional relational database, but this might not be the best choice. Relational databases are not designed for high-performance storage, so you might end up with a slow and inefficient microservice.

Instead, you could use a NoSQL database, which is specifically designed for high-performance storage. NoSQL databases are more flexible than relational databases, so you can choose the right data model for your needs. This will lead to a faster and more efficient microservice.

The flexibility of microservices architecture allows you to mix the best tools and technologies for the job.

5. Reusable Code

Imagine you have a big piece of software that does many different things. Instead of having all the code in one huge chunk, you divide it into smaller, well-defined parts called modules.

These modules are like building blocks that have specific functions. For example, one module might handle user authentication; another module might handle database operations, and so on. Each module can be used independently to perform its specific task.

Now, the good thing is that these modules can be reused in different parts of the software. So, if you have a module that handles user authentication, you can use it not only in one part of the software but also in other parts that require user authentication. This saves time and effort because you don’t have to write the same code multiple times.

Similarly, in a microservices structure, you can reuse services if the same functionality is needed in different parts of the software. This promotes efficiency by avoiding redundant code and allowing the same service to be utilized in multiple areas as needed.

6. Resilience

With microservices, applications are divided into smaller, independent services that work together. If a single microservice doesn’t work, it doesn’t bring down the entire application. Instead, the application gracefully degrades its functionality, meaning it can still continue operating to some extent without crashing completely.

Why Spring for Microservices

Microservices can be developed using various programming languages and technologies. However, one of the most widely used frameworks for building microservices is Spring Boot using Java/Kotlin. Spring Boot has gained popularity for various good reasons.

Building microservices using SpringBoot is effortless and fast.

Spring Cloud provides tools for devs to build some of the common patterns in microservices in no time.

It comes with production-ready features like metrics, security, and embedded servers.

The Spring community is massive. If you ever get stuck, there are plenty of Spring developers out there to help you out.

Challenges With Microservice Architectures

Microservices are not all sunshine. Though they are great for scalability and flexibility, they also come with a few challenges. Let’s take a look at some of the inherent complexities of microservices architectures.

Automating the Components: The number of smaller components in a microservices architecture can make it difficult to automate everything. This includes builds, deployments, and monitoring. It is important to have a solid automation strategy in place to ensure that all of the components are managed effectively.

Perceptibility: The distributed nature of microservices can make it difficult to monitor and identify problems. It is important to have good visibility into all of the components in order to troubleshoot issues quickly. Centralized logging and dashboards can help to improve perceptibility.

Configuration Management: The configuration of microservices can be complex and difficult to manage. It is important to have a centralized configuration management system in place to ensure that all of the components are configured consistently. This will help to avoid errors and inconsistencies.

Debugging: Debugging microservices can be challenging because there are so many moving parts. It is important to have a good understanding of the architecture and how the components interact. Centralized logging and dashboards can also help with debugging.

Consistency: It is important to have some consistency in the way that microservices are implemented, deployed, and monitored. This will help to avoid chaos and make it easier to manage the architecture. However, it is also important to allow for some innovation and flexibility.

Quick summary: This article presents guidelines for Node.js developers to follow to secure their applications against potential vulnerabilities arising from the use of third-party tools. It complies with essential guidelines, which we will refer to as Node.js security best practices, to ensure the security of Node.js applications.

What is Nodejs?

Node.js is a runtime environment that enables developers to use JavaScript beyond web browsers (or the front end) using various frameworks. It runs on Chrome’s V8 engine, allowing JavaScript developers to apply their skills to back-end development using the same language.

What is Nodejs Security?

While Nodejs is secure itself, it relies on open-source packages as in the fast-paced world, companies and developers do not want to invest their in reinventing the wheel. The packages make development easy and fast. However, this convenience can also introduce vulnerabilities in the application.

NPM, an open-source platform containing over two million packages, serves as a valuable resource by providing millions of packages to JavaScript developers. On the one hand, it makes it easy to use packages. On the other hand, it may pose potential risks.

Node.js developers heavily depend on open-source third-party packages.

In 2021, 77 percent of respondents from the United States report using open source to modernize their IT infrastructure, a report from Statista shows.

Despite the fact that over 78% of organizations make use of open-source projects, only about 40% of organizations use formal security rating tools to assess the security of these packages, while only about 27% of open-source projects are audited on a regular basis, a report reveals.

Like others, Nodejs applications are vulnerable to security breaches. Therefore, it becomes imperative to take the necessary steps to enforce strong security measures.

This article is a compilation of tips and advice from experts on how to secure Node.js applications. However, if you need technical assistance to enforce strong security measures on your existing Nodejs app, you can check out our Nodejs development services. Our team of professional IT experts will thoroughly assess your application for security vulnerabilities.

Best Practices for Nodejs Security

1. Enable Strong Authentication Method

Strong authentication is all about implementing the latest security measures to safeguard sensitive pieces of information. As you know, data breaches are no longer a rarity. They are a daily occurrence, and even the biggest tech companies are not immune. In recent years, Google, Twitter, and other big-name companies have all experienced data breaches that led to them redefining their authentication mechanism. Here are a few methods to be considered:

Limit login attempts in a fixed period of time.

Enables mandatory two-factor authentication to access sensitive data and services.

Enable more than a basic authentication — choose standard authentication methods like OAuth, OpenID, etc.

Implement strong password policies for user management and operations.

2. Make Use of Security-related plugins

These tools help you identify security weaknesses such as unsafe RegEx, unsafe use of eval(), use of non-literal filenames, etc., in your node applications when you write code. Overall, they can help detect these security flaws easily.

Eslint and Tslint are well-known code analytics tools for JavaScript and TypeScript projects for security checks in Node applications.

3. Limit concurrent requests

Limiting concurrent requests helps prevent Nodejs applications from being unresponsive due to overwhelming requests at the same time. By using a middleware or balancer, you can limit the number of requests. Ngnix is a widely used service for load balancing; however, you can also make use of middleware express-rate-limiter or rate-limiter-flexible package.

4. Avoid blocking the Event Loop

Nodejs includes EventLoop to run JavaScript code and Worker Pool for intensive tasks, which makes it a scalable platform that can handle too many requests. All incoming requests and outgoing responses flow through the Event Loop.

Node.js leverages V8 (JavaScript engine) for code executions, which is fairly fast for many common operations. However, if callbacks have large complexities or regexp and JSON operations occur in your program, it can lead to Event Loop blocking.

The common issues that may trigger Event Loop blocking are vulnerable regular expressions. Follow the below tips to avoid Event Loop blocking.

Use asynchronous operation whenever possible. Node can fairly handle asynchronous I/O operations.

Offload the CPU-intensive tasks to prevent blocking.

Complex regular expressions can lead to catastrophic backtracking; therefore, keep your regular expressions simple.

Use promises and async/await

As described above, middleware can help your performance of various operations efficiency; they can also lead to blocking. Don’t use unnecessary middleware.

Reduce the complexity of the callbacks.

Storyblok is a popular headless CMS that offers a range of features that make content management easy. In this article, we will focus on the visual editor, which is one of Storyblok’s most powerful features, allowing users to edit content effortlessly. If you are curious to find out what makes Storyblok stand out from those old-school CMS platforms, don’t miss out on reading the article “Discover Storyblok Key Features & Benefits.”

Visual Editor

Storyblok’s powerful visual editor lets users seamlessly edit content with a live preview, making it accessible even to non-technical individuals. At the same time, it serves as a platform where team members can collaborate, publish, and maintain content.

Let’s check out what awesome features it has at its core and learn how to work with Visual Editor.

Editing modes: Visual and Form Only

The StoryBlok gives you two options to edit your content:

1. Visual 2. Form Only

In Visual mode, you can make changes to your content with a real-time preview, allowing you to edit content as you browse the page. It’s a super handy tool to customize your content effortlessly. On the other hand, if you prefer a more structured approach, you can choose Form Only mode, allowing you to edit content in a form-based interface.

Understanding the Visual Editor

The visual editor serves as a real-time preview of the page you are currently editing. You can click on any part of the preview to modify it.

When you click on a specific part of the preview, the corresponding content block appears in a new panel on the right side of your screen. This allows you to edit content and apply changes specifically to that particular block.

Alternatively, You can toggle the content panel with the content button at the top-right of the screen. Just click the content button to open/close the panel.

The content panel makes it easy to rearrange your content by dragging and dropping your content block. Just click on drag a block to the new location you want. The blocks will snap into place when you release them.

Hint: Save your regulatory changes to keep them safe, as saving your content doesn’t make it live. It’s worth noting that saving and publishing are different actions. Saved content isn’t visible to users until you publish it. Once you click publish, all the saved content will become live and visible to your audience.

Adding a new block

Choosing the preview screen size

The visual editor lets you preview your content on different screens. There are two methods to do so:

Use the Responsive view button to change the screen size to one of the default views (desktop, tablet, or mobile).

2. On the preview screen, you can also adjust the size to your preference using the slider on the right side of the screen.

Rich text editor

Storyblok’s rich text editor is a powerful tool that allows you to create and format text with providing advanced styling options. You can use it to add headings, bold, italics, underline, links, bullet points, and more. And if you make any mistake, you can easily undo or redo it.

You can preview the content, just like with the Visual Editor, to see what your results will look like before you publish.

Entry configuration and page settings

When you create a Story, you have the option to set some settings in the content areas. You can also make changes to those settings directly within the Story itself.

Navigating between different entries

Storyblok makes it easy to reuse your content. You can navigate between different content entries or Stories without leaving your current one. This means you can copy content from one Story and paste it into another without having to open the second Story first. This is a great way to save time and keep your content consistent.

To navigate between different content entries in Storyblok, you can click on the arrow in the top left corner of the screen, right next to the entry name. The arrow points to the current entry, so make sure you’re clicking on the correct one. You can also use the search bar to find your content more easily.

Java is an incredibly popular and versatile programming language that is used in web, mobile, and desktop application development. On the other hand, Kotlin is a newer, more advanced version of Java, and it has a bunch of modern features that Java doesn’t have. However, if you are used to Java, there are several things you can miss in Kotlin.

In this article, we will compare the syntax, features, performance, and cost associated with developing programs in both languages so you can understand which language is suitable for your project.

Introduction

Java is a versatile, mature, platform-independent, general-purpose programming language that has maintained its prominence for more than two decades. Kotlin is a newer programming language inspired by Java, with a handful of modern features that help developers write programs in a more concise way.

Both languages are used in the development of a variety of applications. However, there are some scenarios where you may prefer one over the other, which we will discuss in a later part of this article. For example, Kotlin has an upper in Android application development while Java is still dominating the server-side, web, and desktop applications.

In fact, Kotlin was developed to address some of the limitations in Java, which has contributed to its growing popularity. Since it is fully interoperable with Java (you can use existing Java libraries, APIs, frameworks, and code and even mix both in one project), it also adds to the functionalities of Java.

Considering these factors, the debate among developers has consistently revolved around Java vs Kotlin. While no programming language can definitively claim superiority, a particular language may prove more suitable once your specific requirements become clear.

Let’s explore some key factors that deserve your attention to help you make an informed decision.

Syntax: Java vs. Kotlin

Kotlin is like a concise poem, while Java is like a verbose essay.

Kotlin is designed to support both object-oriented and functional programming paradigms, which allows developers to write code that is both expressive and concise. Additionally, Kotlin offers a more concise syntax.

Here is a simple program to calculate the sum in Java and Kotlin that compares the conciseness of the two languages:

In Java

public class JavaProgram { public static void main(String[] args) { int sum = 0; for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++) { sum += i; } System.out.println("The sum is: " + sum); } }

In Kotlin

fun main() { var sum = 0 for (i in 0 until 10) { sum += i } println("The sum is: $sum") }

Both programs perform identical tasks, but it’s the Kotlin program that glides gracefully with a touch of readability. For example, in Kotlin’s for loop, it doesn’t just use the mundane “for" keyword and the mundane "i < 10" condition – it has "until" keyword, making the program more human readable.

In addition to this, there is a wealth of improvement Kotlin has to offer for Java developers, including a few of them, such as you don’t need to explicitly specify the data type, Kotlin’s function declaration is shorter, etc.

On the other hand, Java requires variables and expressions to be declared explicitly. Therefore, Java has a relatively verbose syntax, with many keywords and punctuation marks.

Kotlin is also a statically typed language, but it has a more concise syntax than Java. Kotlin uses type inference to automatically determine the types of variables and expressions, which can make code more readable and maintainable.

In terms of writing programs, Kotlin has the upper hand, and you can express the same functionality with less code in a concise way.

Comparison: Java vs. Kotlin

Features: Java vs. Kotlin

More specifically, Kotlin is a newer language with modern features compared to its counterpart, Java. They share many common features, but there are also several distinct features that developers often evaluate from their perspective.

Features such as Explicit nullability and Extension functions help developers write more reliable and maintainable codebases in Kotlin. On the other hand, Kotlin does not have the ternary operator, static members, checked exceptions, and protected features.

Checked exceptions: Java requires developers to handle checked exceptions explicitly. This helps to prevent errors.

Higher-order functions: These functions can take other functions as arguments or return functions as results. This can be useful for writing more concise and reusable code.

Static members: Static members are members of a class that can be accessed without creating an instance of the class. This can be useful for sharing code and data.

Strictfp: The Strictfp keyword can be used to declare a method as having strict floating-point semantics. This can be useful for some specific tasks, but it can also make code less efficient.

Data classes: Data classes are a simple way to create immutable data classes. This can be useful for writing more concise and efficient code.

Ternary operator: Ternary operator is a shorthand way to write conditional expressions. This can be useful for writing more concise code.

Coroutines: Coroutines are a lightweight way to write asynchronous code. This can be useful for writing more responsive and efficient code.

Varargs: Varargs is a feature that allows a method to accept a variable number of arguments. This can be useful for writing more concise and flexible code.

Native methods: Native methods are methods that are implemented in a native language, such as C or C++. This can be useful for writing code that is more efficient, or that needs to interact with native code.

Extension functions: Extension functions can be added to existing classes without having to modify the classes themselves. This can be useful for adding new functionality to existing classes without having to make breaking changes.

Type inference: Type inference is a feature that allows Kotlin to infer the types of variables and expressions. This can make code more concise and easier to read.

Smart casts: Smart casts are a feature that allows Kotlin to cast variables to their inferred types automatically, making code more concise and easier to read.

Inline functions: Inline functions are functions that are expanded inline at the point of use. This can improve performance, but it can also make code more difficult to read.

Type aliases: Type aliases are a way to create new names for existing types. This can be useful for making code more concise and readable.

Null safety: Among these features, Null safety is a great addition to Kotlin, which saves time for developers as developers don’t need to deal with null NullPointerException. They are a significant problem in Java projects.

Performance: Kotlin vs. Java

They both have similar performance, as they are compiled to bytecode and run on the JVM. Kotlin may have a slight advantage over Java in certain cases. However, Java code is typically compiled faster than Kotlin, especially when using reflection.

On the other hand, Kotlin may outperform Java for small and simple programs, as some benchmarks have shown that Kotlin has better performance than Java in these cases. Additionally, Kotlin’s unique features, such as null safety and immutable data structures, can also contribute to the performance of Kotlin programs.

NullPointerException can reduce the number of runtime exceptions, resulting in improved performance of the application.

In summary, choose Java if you need to develop large and complex applications, as it is a mature language with robust resources. Kotlin is a newer language, but it is taking over Java for small application development due to its concise syntax and modern features.

Community Support: Java vs. Kotlin

Java

Java has been around for a long time and has a massive community. This translates into a wealth of resources, libraries, frameworks, and essential tools for developers. You can find solutions to almost any issues that you may encounter.

Additionally, Java has a great ecosystem of tools and IDEs, like Eclipse and IntelliJ IDEA, backed by a robust community of contributors.

Kotlin

Kotlin is relatively new, but its community is growing rapidly. You will also find many libraries and several frameworks available for Kotlin development, and support is available from Google and other companies. Kotlin’s official website, along with online communities like Stack Overflow and GitHub, provides ample resources for learning and troubleshooting.

Welcome back to our blog on Java best practices. In our previous post, we talked about the practices of writing clean code and described what are the benefits of employing these practices. If you missed our last article, you can read it here.

Recap: What is Clean Code and Why Does it Matter?

Clean code is the practice of writing code that is easy to read, understand, and maintain. When your code is well-organized and follows established standards, it communicates its intent clearly without the need for extensive explanations. Clean code offers numerous benefits, as mentioned below.

Readability: Clean code follows standards and norms that make it a breeze to read and understand. No more squinting at the screen and scratching heads!

Maintainability: Keeping your code clean enhances its maintainability. So when the time comes for updates and tweaks, you won’t be diving into a code jungle with a machete.

Collaboration: Clean code brings harmony to team collaborations. Multiple developers can work together without stepping on each other’s toes.

Debugging Magic: With clean code, debugging becomes a walk in the park. The clues are all laid out, making it easier to chase those pesky bugs away.

Peace of Mind: Ahh, the blissful feeling of knowing your code is a work of art — clean, bug-free, and ready to take on the world!

Let’s dive right into the second part of our Java best practices journey. In this part, we will be exploring some more methods that will level up your Java coding game.

1. Avoid Redundant Initialization

Avoid unnecessary assignments to variables, as Java automatically initializes primitive types and reference types with default values when they are declared as class or interface fields. For instance:

Boolean fields are automatically set to false.

Fields of types byte, short, int, long, char, and float are initialized to zero.

Double fields are initialized to zero, represented as 0.0d.

Reference fields are initialized to null.

Hence, it’s advisable to avoid explicitly initializing these fields to their default values, as it becomes redundant and unnecessary. Consider the following examples:

// Bad Practice: Redundant Initialization

public class Employee {

// Redundant initialization

private String name = null;

private int age = 0;

private boolean active = false;

}

// Good Practice: No Initialization Needed

public class Employee {

// No initialization needed

private String name;

private int age;

private boolean active;

}

The redundant initialization adds extra code without changing the class’s behavior or state. In contrast, the good practice of omitting the initialization makes the code more concise and clear.

Keep in mind that this rule applies only to “fields” of a “class” or an “interface.” Local variables declared within a method or block must be explicitly initialized before use to avoid compile-time errors.

2. Minimize Mutability

Mutability refers to the ability of an object or data to be changed after its creation. While it has its advantages, it also introduces challenges, such as difficult to debug program. Therefore, it’s important to use mutability carefully and consider the trade-offs between mutability and immutability based on the specific requirements of your program.

Immutability is a powerful technique that helps reduce bugs caused by unexpected changes. Hence, it is good practice to minimize mutability in classes and variables. You can use the “final” keyword for constants and variables that should remain unchanged.

final int MAX_ATTEMPTS = 3;

final String API_KEY = “abc123”;

3. Handle Exceptions Properly

Use exception handling to handle errors and exceptional cases.

Use logging to record errors and other important events.

Use clear and informative error messages.

No Empty Catch Blocks: When you are programming, exceptions, or unexpected events, are inevitable. There are various methods exist to deal with unexpected events. An empty block in Java is used for error handling, but it allows the program to continue running without throwing an error.

This means that when an exception is thrown in the try block, the catch block simply catches the exception and does nothing else. Therefore, you should avoid using empty catch blocks, which can lead to the silent failure of the program.

In this example, catch block is empty, and when we run this method with the following parameter [“123”, “1abc”]

The method will fail without any feedback. It will return 123, even though there was an error. This is because the exception is ignored. It’s important to handle exceptions so that we know when something goes wrong. Ignoring exceptions can lead to silent failures, which can be difficult to debug further.

Always handle exceptions appropriately to prevent unexpected crashes and ensure graceful error recovery. Use specific exception types rather than catching generic Exception classes. For instance:

Consider the following code snippet:

public int aggregateIntegerStringss(String[] integers) {

int sum = 0;

try {

for (String integer : integers) {

sum += Integer.parseInt(integer);

}

} catch (NumberFormatException ex) {

}

return sum;

}

In this example, catch block is empty, and when we run this method with the following parameter [“123”, “1abc”]

The method will fail without any feedback. It will return 123, even though there was an error. This is because the exception is ignored. It’s important to handle exceptions so that we know when something goes wrong. Ignoring exceptions can lead to silent failures, which can be difficult to debug further.

Always handle exceptions appropriately to prevent unexpected crashes and ensure graceful error recovery. Use specific exception types rather than catching generic Exception classes. For instance:

// Avoid

try {

// Risky code

} catch (Exception e) {

// Exception handling

}

// Prefer

try {

// Risky code

} catch (IOException e) {

// IOException handling

}

4. Optimize I/O operations:

Minimize the number of I/O operations and use buffered streams or readers/writers for efficient reading and writing of data.

// Avoid

FileInputStream fis = new FileInputStream(“myfile.txt”);

int data;

while ((data = fis.read()) != -1) {

// Process data

}

fis.close();

// Prefer

BufferedInputStream bis = new BufferedInputStream(new FileInputStream(“myfile.txt”));

int data;

while ((data = bis.read()) != -1) {

// Process data

}

bis.close();

5. Tips to write well-performance code:

Use parallel processing when applicable: Take advantage of parallel streams or multi-threading to parallelize computationally intensive or I/O-bound tasks, improving overall performance. However, ensure proper synchronization and handle thread safety.

List<Integer> numbers = Arrays.asList(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10); int sum = numbers.parallelStream().mapToInt(Integer::intValue).sum();

Use records: Records to create immutable data classes that automatically generate useful methods like equals, hashCode, and toString.

Compare constants: Constant should always be first in comparison in equals to avoid null pointer exception.

// Bad Practice

user.getRole().equals(UserRole.ADMIN);

// Good Practice

UserRole.ADMIN.equals(user.getRole());

Avoid if else: You can see how we have avoided writing the else part, and the code looks clean.

The following code can be improved:

if(user.isAdmin){

// execute code

} else {

throw error

}

Like this:

if(!user.isAdmin){

throw error

}

//execute code

Long Methods: Making Things Short and Sweet: We can split long methods into smaller ones, each with its own job. This makes the code easier to understand. We can also use a trick called AOP(Aspect-Oriented Programming) to help with some tasks that happen a lot.

// Bad Practice

public class LongMethod {

public void complexTask() {

// A lot of steps here

}

}

Break down long methods into smaller ones.

// Good Practice

public class MethodBreakdown {

public void firstStep() {

// First step logic

}

public void secondStep() {

// Second step logic

}

// …

}

Divide responsibilities of the controllers: We can make things easier by splitting big controllers into smaller ones. Each smaller controller can handle just one job. This makes everything clearer and tidier. We can use special marks like @RestController and @RequestMapping to do this.

// Bad Practice

@RestController

public class MainController {

@GetMapping(“/api/items”)

public List<Item> getItemsAndPerformOtherTasks() {

// Multiple tasks done here

}

}

Divide responsibilities between controllers.

// Good Practice

@RestController

@RequestMapping(“/api”)

public class ItemController {

@GetMapping(“/items”)

public List<Item> getItems() {

// items logic

}

}

@RestController

@RequestMapping(“/api”)

public class TaskController {

@GetMapping(“/tasks”)

public List<Task> getTasks() {

// tasks logic

}

}

6. Code formatting

Proper code formatting is one of the key aspects of writing clean code. Consistent formatting promotes better readability of the codebase. Regarding formatting, indentation, blank lines, and line length are crucial aspects of code formatting. The proper indentation, character limit and separate blocks make the codebase pleasant to read.

Indent code with four spaces.

Limit line length to 80 characters.

Use blank lines to separate blocks of code.

What is Clean Code?

Clean code is all about making your code easy to read and understand for yourself and others. When your code is well-written and organized, you don’t have to explain it in detail to your teammates because it speaks for itself.

It saves you time in finding errors. It’s needless to explain the benefits associated with clean code writing practice as a coder; you might be aware of them. However, if we have to summarise the key benefits of well-written code, below are the key advantages:

Readability: Code that follows a standard is easier to read and understand, which makes it easier for other developers to work on it. The “Standard” refers to the norms developed by the developer’s community on how to write different aspects of code.

Maintainability: It plays a crucial role in enhancing maintainability in software development. When written using standards and thumb of rules, it becomes easier to maintain and modify the code for the developers and other team members.

Collaboration: It makes it easier to collaborate on well-written code. This is especially important for large projects in which multiple developers are involved.

Debugging: It is easier to debug. This is because the code is more consistent and easier to understand.

Peace of mind: You can have peace of mind knowing that the code is readable, maintainable, and bug-free.

There are numerous advantages to writing clean code, which involves following a set of rules and practices commonly used by professional developers. These practices assist individuals in creating well-organized and tidy code. In this article, we will walk you through the methods that will help you master the art of clean code writing and give you a clear understanding of what clean code is all about.

Does Clean Coding Matter?

Yes, It matters a lot. Especially in today’s digital world, when apps are getting bigger and more complex, so are our codebases. Therefore it becomes essential to develop a habit of writing clean code.

“Remember, your job is not writing code that is only understandable to a machine; it should be easier to read for humans. “

1. KISS, DRY, and YAGNI

These three acronyms represent three valuable rules of thumb in software development as the following:

Keep It Simple, Stupid: The simplest solution is often the best one.

When you’re writing code, don’t try to be too clever. You want to be innovative, but don’t let that get in the way of writing good code. Over-engineering can make your code harder to understand. The principle of KISS is all about keeping things simple. Let’s understand it with an example; Imagine you’re developing a method in Java that calculates the sum of two numbers. Following the KISS principle, the code would look like this:

public int calculateSum(int a, int b) { return a + b; }

Now the complex implementation is as the following;

public static int calculateSum(int… a) {

int result = 0;

for (int i = 0; i < a.length; i++) {

result += a[i];

}

return result;

Don’t Repeat Yourself — Avoid duplicating parts of code by putting it into a single system or a method. Simply put, always try to write reusable logic, functions, components, modules, etc. Let’s understand it with this example:

Without adhering to dry principle:

public class AreaCalculatorWithoutDry {

public static void main(String[] args) {

// Calculate areas

double rectangleLength = 5;

double rectangleWidth = 8;

double rectangleArea = rectangleLength * rectangleWidth;

System.out.println(“The area of the rectangle is: “ + rectangleArea);

double circleRadius = 3;

double circleArea = 3.14 * circleRadius * circleRadius;

System.out.println(“The area of the circle is: “ + circleArea);

// More code…

// Later in the code, you need to calculate the area of another rectangle

double anotherRectangleLength = 6;

double anotherRectangleWidth = 10;

double anotherRectangleArea = anotherRectangleLength * anotherRectangleWidth;

System.out.println(“The area of the rectangle is: “ + anotherRectangleArea);

// More code…

}

}

Code adhering to dry principle:

public class AreaCalculatorWithDry {

public static double calculateRectangleArea(double length, double width){

return length * width;

}

public static double calculateCircleArea(double radius) {

return 3.14 * radius * radius;

}

public static void main(String[] args) {

// Calculate areas

double rectangleLength = 5;

double rectangleWidth = 8;

double rectangleArea = calculateRectangleArea(rectangleLength, rectangleWidth);

System.out.println(“The area of the rectangle is: “ + rectangleArea);

double circleRadius = 3;

double circleArea = calculateCircleArea(circleRadius);

System.out.println(“The area of the circle is: “ + circleArea);

// More code…

// Later in the code, you need to calculate the area of another rectangle

double anotherRectangleLength = 6;

double anotherRectangleWidth = 10;

double anotherRectangleArea = calculateRectangleArea(anotherRectangleLength, anotherRectangleWidth);

System.out.println(“The area of the rectangle is: “ + anotherRectangleArea);

// More code…

}

}

You Ain’t Going to Need It — It advocates the principle of implementing the only required functionality in development and avoiding adding unnecessary (or extra) features. In simple words, build only what you need now.

import java.util.HashMap;

import java.util.Map;

public class ShoppingCart {

private Map<String, Double> items;

public ShoppingCart() {

this.items = new HashMap<>();

}

public void addItem(String itemName, double price) {

items.put(itemName, price);

}

public void removeItem(String itemName) {

items.remove(itemName);

}

public double calculateTotal() {

double total = 0;

for (double price : items.values()) {

total += price;

}

return total;

}

public static void main(String[] args) {

ShoppingCart cart = new ShoppingCart();

// Adding items to the cart

cart.addItem(“Shirt”, 25.99);

cart.addItem(“Jeans”, 39.99);

// Calculating the total price

double total = cart.calculateTotal();

System.out.println(“Total price: $” + total); // Output: Total price: $65.98

// Removing an item

cart.removeItem(“Shirt”);

// Recalculating the total price after removing an item

total = cart.calculateTotal();

System.out.println(“Updated total price: $” + total); // Output: Updated total price: $39.99

}

}

In this example, we have created a simple ShoppingCart class that allows users to add items, remove items, and calculate the total price. We did not include unnecessary features like handling quantities, discounts, payment methods, or shipping options, as the focus is on building only what is needed for a basic shopping cart functionality.

2. Single Responsibility

Each module or class in your code should only do one thing. It is known as the “Single Responsibility Principle” (SPR). When a class or method has a single responsibility, it becomes easier to maintain, understand, and test the codebase. Having multi-functionality can affect unrelated parts of the program. So, if you find yourself writing a module or class that does too many things, break it up into smaller, more focused modules or classes.

Ensure that each method has a single responsibility. Split complex methods into smaller, focused ones, which improves code readability, testability, and reusability. For example:

// Avoid

public void processStudentData() {

// Lengthy code block

}

// Prefer

public void calculateAverageGrade() {

// Code to calculate average grade

}

public void updateStudentRecord() {

// Code to update student record

}

3. Well-described commits

A commit is a snapshot of the changes made to a repository at a specific point in time. It helps developers track changes over time. Therefore, it should be clear, concise (keep it under 50 characters if possible), and meaningful. Start your commit message with a capitalized verb that describes the change you made, e.g., “Fix bug with global search input deleting user text.”

4. Descriptive Names & Naming Conventions

Meaningful and consistent naming is always important, which makes code more readable.

For example, consider the following variable names.

int a = 10;

double b = 3.14;

String c = “Hello”;

These names are too short and vague. They do not tell us anything about what they store or what they are used for. A better way to name them would be:

int age = 10;

double pi = 3.14;

String greeting = “Hello”;

Conventions are not strict rules. It refers to a set of agreed-upon rules, practices, or guidelines that developers follow to maintain consistency and improve code readability. It involves appropriately naming variables, functions, classes, and other elements.

a. Packages: Package names should be in lowercase, with multiple words separated by periods. For example com.Example.MyApp.

Good Practice (Following Conventions):

Package Name: com.example.myapp

Bad Practice (Not Following Conventions):

Package Name: com.Example.MyApp

b. Classes and Interfaces: Class and interface names should be written in CamelCase, starting with an uppercase letter. For example: MyClass, MyInterface is a proper way of naming classes and interfaces. While, Myclass, Myinteface can lead to confusion and may make code harder to understand.

c. Methods: Method names should be written in camelCase, starting with a lowercase letter. For example: calculateArea(), sendMessage().

Good Practice:

calculateArea()

sendMessage()

Bad Practice:

CalculateArea() (Doesn’t start with a lowercase letter)

send_Message() (Uses underscore instead of camelCase)

d. Variables: Variable names should also be in camelCase, starting with a lowercase letter. For example: firstName, age, totalAmount.

Good Practice:

firstName

age

totalAmount

Bad Practice:

FirstName (Doesn’t start with a lowercase letter)

age_of_person (Uses underscore instead of camelCase)

Total_Amount (Mixed use of underscore and camelCase)

e. Constants: Constant names should be written in uppercase letters, with words separated by underscores. For example: MAX_VALUE, DEFAULT_TIMEOUT, PI.

Good Practice:

MAX_VALUE

DEFAULT_TIMEOUT

PI

Bad Practice:

MaxValue (Should be uppercase)

DefaultTimeout (Should be uppercase and use underscores)

Pi (Should be uppercase)

f. Enums: Enum names should be written in CamelCase, starting with an uppercase letter. Enum constants should be written in uppercase letters, separated by underscores. For example: enum DayOfWeek { MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY,FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY }

Good Practice:

enum DayOfWeek {

MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY

}

Bad Practice:

enum dayOfWeek {

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

}

enum DayOfWeek {

monday, tuesday, wednesday, thursday, friday, saturday, sunday

}

5. Document Code using Comments

Use comments to explain the purpose of the code, not the mechanics.

Use Javadoc-style comments to document classes, methods, and fields.

Use single-line comments for quick explanations or to comment out code temporarily.

Comments are notes that programmers add to their code, explaining what the code does. The machine ignores comments, but humans can read them. They are really helpful for finding specific sections of code. If you’ve properly commented on your code, you will easily find the section you’re looking for, even if you last saw it a while ago.

Documenting your code with comments is essential, especially when working on a project with others or planning to revisit your code. Comments can help others understand your code and also aid you in remembering what your code does.

In Java programming, comments are of two types: single-line and multi-line.

Here are some examples of single-line and multi-line comments:

// This is a single-line comment

/* This is a multi-line comment

that can span multiple lines */

For example, consider the following code:

// This method calculates the area of a circle

public static double calculateArea(double radius) {

// The formula for the area of a circle is pi * r²

return Math.PI * Math.pow(radius, 2);

}

This code has too many comments that are redundant or obvious. A better way to write it would be:

// Calculates the area of a circle given its radius

public static double calculateArea(double radius) {

return Math.PI * Math.pow(radius, 2);

}

6. Ordering Class Members by Scopes

It is a widely followed convention in object-oriented programming languages. Ordering class members by scope makes the program readable. In Java, class members have four scopes: public, protected, default, and private. Public members can be accessed from anywhere, protected members can be accessed from the same package or subclasses, default members can only be accessed from the same package, and private members can only be accessed from the same class.

A good convention for ordering class members by scope is to put public members first, then protected members, then default members, and then private members. You can also put constructors and nested classes in their sections.

public fields

protected fields

default fields

private fields

public constructors

protected constructors

default constructors

private constructors

public methods

protected methods

default methods

private methods

nested classes

You can also use the IDE plugin or code formatting tools to arrange and organize the members based on their scope. You can use the Eclipse Code Formatter plugin for Eclipse or the Reformat Code feature for IntelliJ IDEA.

What is Fintech?

“Fintech” is an abbreviation for “financial technology.” It refers to the use of technology that aims to improve and automate the use of financial services. Fintech service providers leverage specialized software and algorithms to help consumers better manage their finances.

An Insight into the Fintech Market

It incorporates various aspects of financial activities, from banking systems and mobile payment to digital lending and cryptocurrency services to wealth management and Neobanking and many more. As individuals across the globe increasingly embrace digital financial offerings, the demand for fintech services has experienced exponential growth. And It is evident that this demand will continue to expand, especially considering the vast number of users who have not yet stepped into the digital world.

Hence, if you are considering entering the fintech industry, this may be the optimal time to strategize and begin the development of a fintech app. However, you may be wondering about the costs associated with creating a fintech app. In this article, we will comprehensively explore all aspects of the costs of fintech app development.

Let’s start by answering this question.

How much does it cost to develop a fintech app?

The short answer is that there’s no fixed price. The cost of making a fintech app depends on several factors, like the features, the type of app, the tech stack, the goals, etc. Generally, it costs between $30,000 and $500,000. But it can vary depending on the app’s scale and functionality.

Fintech apps come in all shapes and sizes, from banking solutions to payment apps. Let’s break down the fintech apps into different categories and then talk about their cost to make it clearer.

Types of Fintech Apps and Associated Cost

1. Banking Apps

Banking apps allow users to perform a variety of financial activities without having to visit a physical bank branch. Users can log in to Internet banking or use mobile apps to carry out banking tasks, such as:

Account management: View account balances, recent transactions, and other account details.

Fund transfers: Transfer money between accounts, pay bills, or send money to friends and family.

Branch locators: Find the nearest bank branch or ATM.

Account-related activities: Deposit checks, set up direct deposit, or order checks.

Card management: View credit card statements, make payments or dispute charges.

Applying for cards: Apply for a new credit card or debit card.

Investment trading: Buy and sell stocks, bonds, and other investments.

Loan applications: Apply for a loan, such as a mortgage or car loan.

Security features: Set up two-factor authentication or other security measures to protect your account.

Financial management: Track your spending, set budget goals, or create a financial plan.

These are just some of the many features that banking apps offer. With a banking app, you can do all of your banking from the convenience of your own home or on the go.

2. Lending Apps

The lending industry is undergoing remarkable growth. Thanks to technology, which has addressed the shortcomings of the traditional system, which requires people to visit in person and go through manual processes. On the other hand, lending service providers with digital applications now offer loans with online verification processes, which significantly reduces the need for labor-intensive tasks.

The average cost of developing a lending app ranges from $50,000 to $400,000, depending on the features included. Some of the key features of a lending app include:

Loan application: Users can easily apply for a loan through the app by providing their personal and financial information.

Loan eligibility: The app should be able to quickly and accurately assess a user’s eligibility for a loan based on their credit score, income, and other factors.

Loan terms: The app should allow users to compare different loan terms, such as interest rates, repayment periods, and fees.

Loan disbursement: The app should be able to disburse the loan amount to the user’s bank account quickly and easily.

Loan repayment: The app should allow users to track their loan payments and make payments on time.

Customer support: The app should provide 24/7 customer support to help users with any questions or issues they may have.

Personalized recommendations: The app can use artificial intelligence to make personalized recommendations to users about loans that are right for them.

In-app chat: The app can provide in-app chat support so that users can easily get help from customer service representatives.

Social media integration: The app can be integrated with social media platforms so that users can share their loan experiences with others.

Rewards program: The app can offer a rewards program to encourage users to use the app and make timely payments.

The specific features that a lending app includes will depend on the target market and the goals of the lending service provider.

3. Investment Apps

These apps allow users to invest in various services, such as mutual funds and other types of investments. Users can invest in services, buy stocks, mutual funds, trading apps, cryptocurrency exchanges, and other apps that are all the rage. The cost of developing these apps ranges from $60,000 to $150,000 or more, depending on the features.

Here are some common features that you might find in an investment app:

Account Management: Users can create accounts and update their personal information, including email, phone number, and other information.

Portfolio Tracking: The app allows users to monitor their investment portfolios in real time, including the performance of individual assets and overall portfolio growth.

Buy and Sell: It allows users to buy and sell orders for various assets, such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies.

Research and Analysis: The app provides tools for conducting research on various investments, including access to news, financial reports, and market analysis.

Watchlists: Users can create watchlists of assets they’re interested in, making it easy to track their performance and receive relevant updates.

Educational Resources: The app offers resources to help users learn about different investment options, strategies, and market trends.

Performance Visualization: Graphs, charts, and reports help users visualize their investment performance over time.

News and Alerts: The app sends notifications about relevant market news, asset price changes, and other events that might impact investments.

4. Mobile Payment Apps

Mordor Intelligence Research & Advisory. (2023, July). Mobile Payment Market Size & Share Analysis — Growth Trends & Forecasts (2023–2028). Mordor Intelligence.

A recent report reveals that 66% of Americans believe that smartphone payments will eventually replace credit cards and cash. Speaking of mobile payments, it has come a long with the addition of new features to enable users to make payments to a local shop nearby them or for online purchases. Developing a mobile payment app cost ranges from region to region. Hoover, the cost of developing mobile payment apps ranges from $40,000 to $300,000.

Here are some common features you might find in a mobile payment app:

Registration and Authentication: Users can create accounts, set up usernames, and passwords and enable enhanced security methods such as two-factor authentication.

Linking Payment Methods: Users can link their bank accounts, credit/debit cards, or digital wallets to fund transactions.

Contact List Integration: Users can sync phone contacts to send payments to friends and family.

QR Code Payments: QR codes for quick payments at physical stores or to other app users.

NFC (Near Field Communication) Payments: To make contactless payments by tapping their phone against compatible payment terminals.

Bill Splitting: Users can divide bills among multiple people and send payment requests to friends or groups.

In-App Chat: Many apps include messaging features to communicate.

Transaction History: A record of all past transactions, including payments made and received, with dates and amounts.

Push Notifications: Real-time notifications for transactions, payment requests, and account activity.

Merchant Payments: The app can be used to pay at physical and online stores that accept mobile payments.

5. Personal Finance Apps

These apps empower users by allowing them to meticulously track both their income and expenses, thereby facilitating informed financial planning. Developing a personalized financial app typically entails an investment ranging from $50,000 to $300,000.

Here are some common features you might find in a personal finance app:

Expense Tracking: The app helps users record and categorize their expenses, offering insights into spending habits.

Budgeting Tools: Users can set up budgets for different categories and track their spending against these budgets.

Transaction History: A detailed record of all financial transactions, including income and expenses.

Bill Reminders: The app sends notifications to remind users of upcoming bills and due dates.

Income Management: Users can input and track their various sources of income.

Debt Management: Users can input and track their debts, including credit cards, loans, and mortgages.

Expense Analysis: Visual representations (graphs, charts) of spending patterns to help users understand where their money is going.

Savings and Investment Tracking: Users can input and track their savings and investment accounts to monitor growth.

Expense Categorization: Automatic categorization of transactions and the ability to manually categorize transactions.

Financial Reports: The app generates detailed reports, such as spending summaries and income reports.

Cash Flow Analysis: Tools to analyze cash flow and understand patterns in income and expenses.

Syncing Bank and Card Accounts: Users can link their bank and credit card accounts to automatically import transactions.

Investment Insights: Basic investment advice or insights to help users make informed decisions.

Expense Goals: The user can set financial goals for spending categories and monitor progress.

Cash and Credit Balances: Clear visibility into available cash and credit balances.

Synchronization with Other Apps: Integration with other financial apps and platforms for a financial overview.

Educational Resources: Tips, articles, and resources to improve financial literacy.

Family Sharing: Many apps allow multiple users within a household to share and manage finances collectively.

Exploring Additional Variables Influencing the Cost of a Fintech App

Let’s start with web development.

When we talk about web development, we are basically essentially talking about the front-end and back-end (also referred to as server-side). Express is a backend development Nodejs framework.

What is a Nodejs Framework?

This section is for those who are not familiar with frameworks. If you already know what a framework is, please feel free to skip ahead.

Writing an application from scratch is time-consuming and tedious, especially in today’s fast-paced world, and initial setup may involve a lot of boilerplate code, such as setting up ports and defining route handlers; frameworks help to save time and effort by providing a pre-built set of tools and libraries that can be used to quickly and easily create a web application. This can free up developers to focus on the things that matter most — writing logic and advanced functionalities.

What is Express js?

The image shows how a tech stack contributes to complete web development. For instance, when it comes to data storage, a Database (e.g., MongoDB) is required, and for writing the front end, various frameworks exist today, such as Angular.js.(in MEAN stack).

Similarly, you need to use a backend-specific language or framework for the backend. Some popular backend languages include Python, Java, JavaScript (Node.js), and PHP, while Django, Express.js, and Flask are some of the popular backend frameworks.

If you want to use JavaScript in the backend, you typically need to use the Node.js runtime environment. Node.js allows you to run JavaScript code outside of a web browser, which makes it possible to use JavaScript for both the front end and back end of a web application.

On top of Nodejs, several frameworks have been created, among which is Express. More precisely, it is a layer built around Node.js that significantly simplifies the process of working within the Node.js environment and reduces development complexity.

Express is an open-source web application framework for Node.js. It provides a robust set of features for building web and mobile applications, including routing, middleware, template engines, seamless database integration, and a wealth of features for developing advanced features and functions.

Note: In this article, when we refer to web applications with Express, we are explicitly referring to the development of “back-end services or APIs.”

Features of Express

1. An array of pre-built tools

The framework includes an array of tools for web applications, routing, and middleware for building and deploying large-scale, enterprise-ready applications.

2. Node package manager

It comes up with a Node package manager and a command-line interface(CLI), allowing you to create project structures, generate routes, controllers, and other components, as well as manage dependencies and configuration settings.

3. Middleware

Middleware in Express is used as snippets of code that intercept requests and responses, manage errors, and perform various other tasks, helping you to perform actions like validation, logging, and authentication in a reusable and modular way.

4. Routing

ExpressJS offers developers a straightforward routing system that simplifies the handling of HTTP requests. In addition, it allows you to define your own special paths and rules for these requests.

Applications of Expressjs

It is termed as a versatile framework that developers employ for constructing APIs, single page and real-time applications, microservices, proxy servers, CMSs, backend for mobile applications, authentication, authorization mechanisms, and many more services. Below is a list of the application you can build using Express js.

1. APIs for Single Page Application

Single-page applications (SPAs) are a popular type of web application that loads all of the content for the page in one go. This means that the user does not have to wait for the page to reload when they interact with it, which can provide a smoother and more responsive experience.

Some popular examples of SPAs include Gmail, Google Maps, and Spotify. These apps are able to provide a great user experience because they only need to load the content once, and then they can dynamically update the content based on the user’s actions. This makes for a very fluid and interactive experience. Express is used for developing back-end services, or APIs, for single-page applications to fetch data.

2. Real-time applications

Real-time applications are increasingly popular as they allow users to interact with each other in real time. Some popular examples of real-time applications include multiplayer games, chat apps, and collaboration tools. Express is used in developing real-time applications.

It helps you build the basic structure, like handling web pages and buttons, and when you want your website to instantly update without needing to refresh the page, Express.js and socket.io can work together.

Express.js can take care of the regular stuff your website needs, like showing pages and handling regular requests. While WebSockets enables real-time data exchange between the server and clients.

3. Streaming applications

Streaming applications are becoming increasingly popular as they allow users to watch movies, TV shows, and other content on demand. Some popular examples of streaming applications include Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+.

You can leverage Express in streaming applications for a variety of tasks, including handling requests, serving media files, developing authentication and authorization modules, implementing search and recommendations, and many more functionalities.

4. Fintech application

Some popular fintech applications that are built with Express.js include Robinhood, Coinbase, and PayPal. Leveraging the robust functionalities of Express.js, these applications efficiently manage intricate financial transactions.

5. APIs

APIs are software intermediaries that allow different systems to communicate with each other. They are widely utilized by different systems for integrating payment gateways, social media integrations, and e-commerce integrations. Brillworks has developed a suite of APIs and applications for the business consulting and media preservation industries, which includes critical functions such as company setup, visa services, corporate services, file management, customer portal, CMS portal, bulk upload, etc.

In 2022, 28% of the consumers had used BNPL services which was 18% at the beginning of the year. As a result, popular BNPL apps achieved an unprecedented surge in downloads. In this article, We’ll give you the figures on why it’s becoming so popular. Following that, we will discuss the features the app should contain.

What is Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL)?

BNPL is a short-term financing option that allows customers to make purchases and repay them in multiple equal payments. Various fintech app providers offer different repayment timelines. These providers may charge minimal fees or offer interest-free service to the users.

While technically, a credit card is also a BNPL service, but with subtle differences.

BNPL is all about lending small amounts to individuals who have poor credit scores or no income source. Furthermore, getting a BNPL account is typically easier than getting a credit card. This is because BNPL providers don’t do a hard credit check, making it easier for an individual to avail BNPL services.

Without further delay, let’s begin and learn about the essential features of a BNPL and what to consider when developing one.

Features:

1. Interest-free days & Eary EMI-conversion

Interest-free service, and clarity in the EMI conversion process.

Many established apps in the BNPL services don’t charge fees, as their target audience mainly includes students and those with meager incomes. If you start charging fees for using your app, it might not be as attractive to potential customers. But hey, here’s a workaround. You can impose a service charge only if they can’t make their payment on time.

It’s important to remember that you will be competing with established players in the market. Therefore, focusing on features such as interest-free days can be a key strategy. Additionally, ensuring clarity in the in-app EMI conversion process is crucial.

A good example of an effortless EMI conversion process is a BNPL app developed by Brilworks. The company has gone the extra mile by introducing EMI conversion right at the checkout process, providing transparency by showing if the charges are applicable for the EMI option.

This truly innovative approach shows how the team was incredibly focused on creating a more straightforward and user-friendly experience. This prime example showcases how effortless and seamless EMI conversion can be for customers.

Tips:

You can levy the service charge to a higher amount.

Make sure the interest-free days are at least 30 days, just like or even more than what other service providers offer.

Keep it real and be totally transparent about your service charges.

Make sure your customers know exactly what they’re getting themselves into before they start using your app.

2. Payment Ease

The payment process should be easy to understand, even for people unfamiliar with BNPL apps.

When users are making payments, they want the whole process to be smooth during checkout. And that’s even more crucial when it comes to BNPL apps. Remember, people are not going to choose net banking over debit or credit cards because they can easily make payments with cards. The same goes for BNPL services — simplicity is the name of the game!

There are a few things you can do to make the payment process more straightforward for users. The payment process can make or break things; this is where you can work seriously. The easier it is, the more likely customers are to use it over other payment modes. Therefore, the payment page is where you can reinvent the process.

Here is a straightforward method to make payment a breeze for users. Imagine this: users need to authorize and link their BNPL service (or account) once on a specific platform, and done, they can make payment with just one click, without entering the account details, from then on.

However, to prevent unauthorized payment, you may consider adding OTP verification or a more straightforward method of “in-app approval.”

Additionally, you must provide an alternative OTP option which is a tested and established method to ensure the right person is making payment. You know, that one-time password sent to verify the transaction adds an extra layer of security and gives users more confidence in the process. Also, you may allow users to make smaller payments without involving two-factor authentication.

By making the payment process easy and secure, you can increase your chances of attracting and retaining users.

Tips:

Provide them with an additional option to complete the payment process.

Enable a single-tap payment facility.

An in-app payment approval facility can speed up the transaction process.

3. NFC

Besides conventional payment methods such as net banking and debit/credit card transactions, having a contactless and convenient payment method — NFC (which refers to as near-field communication) can be a great way to encourage customers to make payments easily using their NFC-compatible devices near compatible terminals while on the move.

This contactless payment feature could be a strong selling point for your app, as it can save customers time and effort compared to traditional payment methods.

4. User-Centric Homepage

The development of the homepage depends on your project’s requirements. For example, if you plan to team up with merchants and reward customers for making payments, you can dedicate a special offer or promotional section on the homepage.

Now, one significant aspect to highlight on the homepage is the “payment reminder.” When users open the app, they receive reminders about their due dates and the amount they have to pay.

Brilworks, having developed several BNPL apps, found that payment options, transaction history, user management, and a dedicated section to keep users informed about their transactions were among the hottest features that major clients requested on their homepage.

Tips:

Keep the homepage simple and clutter-free.

Feature most used functionalities on the homepage.

Place Profile Management and Transaction History at the top for easy access.

Use intuitive icons and quick actions for user-friendly navigation.

5. Pin or Password Protection

“Security in fintech apps is not an option; it’s a necessity.”

A BNPL app contains financial information; therefore, it should have an extra layer of security. So, users can pick their style — a PIN, password, or biometrics authentication — whatever floats their boat. The additional security ensures that only authorized users can access the app.

But the most important is onboarding should be straightforward. So, when users register, you can provide them the freedom to set up their authentication right then, or if they feel like taking it easy, they can totally skip it for now and do it later whenever they’re ready.

Check out this slick example of how Brilworks crafted the “Not Now” button, allowing users to bypass the security setup process upfront. So, they can dive right into the app, and whenever they’re ready, they can easily configure their choices at their own pace.

6. Referral Program

Referral program — let your users be the marketers.

A referral program is a marketing strategy where you allow your existing customers to become your marketers and earn rewards for promoting your app. This is a great way to get the word out about your app and attract new users. In exchange, you can reward the referees with promotional credit, discount vouchers, or some sort of benefit.

Referral programs are a great way to raise awareness about your brand and market your app.

Tips:

Make the rewards valuable enough to motivate users to refer their friends.

Make it easy for users to refer their friends. The referral process should be straightforward.

Track the results of your referral program. This will help you figure out which rewards are most effective and how you can fine-tune your program.

What Does it Mean by Best Practices?

It goes in the coding world — there are no strict rules, but some guidelines (more like suggestions) that many coders tend to avoid while writing code. When you’re first starting out, it can be tempting to skip over coding guidelines. After all, your code might work just fine without them. But as your codebase grows bigger, you’ll start to realize that adhering to guidelines is essential for keeping your code healthy and maintainable.

There are several benefits that we have discussed in our Java blog; you can read our blog about the benefits of clean code and best practices.

1. Use TypeScript with Your React Native App

TypeScript is a statically typed programming language which means it requires explicitly defining the data types for variables, functions, and other elements. This not only leads to more reliable code but also helps developers catch bugs during the compilation process.

Consider the following to calculate order pricefunction calculateOrderPrice(order) { return order.price + 1200; }

The current code works fine, but it doesn’t tell us much about what properties the order object contains, which could lead further to a crash if we try to access a property that doesn’t exist.

To prevent the crash and enhance readability, we can use TypeScript. TypeScript is a programming language that adds types to JavaScript. This means that we can specify the type of each property in the object, which will help us avoid errors.interface Order { price: number; name: string; taxPercentage: number; } function calculateOrderPrice(order: Order) { const { price, taxPercentage } = order; const taxValue = price * taxPercentage; return price + taxValue; }

Here is the same function, but now you and your editor are aware of the object properties and their types in code, which makes it easier to extend the functionality.

2. Functional Components over the Class Components

In React Native, you will have two main components: Functional and Class components. But functional components are the way to go in React Native. They’re simpler, more concise, and faster than class components. This makes them easier to read, write, and test. Plus, they can improve your app’s performance.

If you’re not sure what components are, they’re functions that return React elements. So if you’re looking for a way to improve your React Native code, use functional components over class components. They’re the future of React Native development.

Class Component Exampleimport React, { Component } from 'react'; class ClassComponent extends Component { constructor(props) { super(props); this.state = { count: 0, }; } incrementCount = () => { this.setState({ count: this.state.count + 1 }); }; render() { return ( <View> <Text style={styles.h1}>Class Component</Text> <Text>Count: {this.state.count}</Text> <Button title='Increment' onPress={this.incrementCount}/> </View> ); } } export default ClassComponent;

In this class component example, we’re using the Component class from react to create a component. State is managed within the component’s constructor, and the render method defines the component’s UI.

Functional Component Exampleimport React, { useState } from 'react'; const FunctionalComponent = () => { const [count, setCount] = useState(0); const incrementCount = () => { setCount(count + 1); }; return ( <View> <Text style={styles.h1}>Functional Component</Text> <Text>Count: {count}</Text> <Button title='Increment' onPress={incrementCount}/> </View> ); }; export default FunctionalComponent;

In this functional component example, we’re using the useState hook from react to manage state. The component is defined as a simple JavaScript function that returns JSX to render the UI.

3. Import your dependencies in order

When you have a bunch of imports in one file, it could be a headache trying to find that one specific import you need if you have not organized your imports properly. Therefore it is essential to order imports in a consistent way.

At the same time, you should also ensure that the dependencies have a proper sequence of imports. If the order is not correct, it can affect how components behave and lead to bugs that are hard to find.

Here’s an example of how you can organize your imports:

External imports — react

Internal imports, like relative paths — ../button

In folder imports like ./styles.ts

The imports may be sorted alphabetically in every group

Every group must be divided by white space

import React from 'react'; import { TouchableOpacity, View } from 'react-native'; import { Button, Card } from '../components' import { MainLayout } from '../layouts' import { StyledCard } from './styles.ts'

You can use formatting tools like Eslint and Prettier to automate and enforce the correct import order to avoid such issues.

4. Use Path Alias to avoid long imports

Path aliases are a way to create shorter and more meaningful import paths in your code. This can be helpful when you have a deep or nested folder structure, and it can make your imports easier to read and understand.

For example, instead of writing a long import like this:import { IconButton } from '../../components/buttons'; import { CircleButton } from 'components/buttons'; OR import { CircleButton } from 'buttons';

Here’s how to use path aliases in both TypeScript and React Native to create shorter and more meaningful import paths in your code.

Here’s how to use path aliases in both TypeScript and React Native to create shorter and more meaningful import paths in your code.

Path Alias in TypeScript

Create or update the tsconfig.json file in your project if it doesn’t exist already.

Set the baseUrl to . , which represents the root of the directory. This sets the starting point for all path aliases.

Add path aliases to the paths object. In this example, we have two path aliases defined:

// tsconfig.json { "extends": "expo/tsconfig.base", "compilerOptions": { "strict": true, // Path alias config "baseUrl": ".", "paths": { // This needs to be mirrored in babel.config.js // Components is a directory with sub directories "components/*": ["src/components/*"], // We want to expose the exports of the buttons index file "buttons": ["src/components/buttons/index"] } } }

Now, TypeScript will be able to understand and parse the following imports:import { CircleButton } from "components/buttons" import { CircleButton } from "buttons"

2. React Native Path Alias

First, install the babel-plugin-module-resolver as a developer dependencyyarn add - dev babel-plugin-module-resolver npm install babel-plugin-module-resolver - save-dev

Now we can update the babel.config.js file to use the **module-resolver**plugin and point to our directories.**// babel.config.js** module.exports = function (api) { api.cache(true) return { presets: ["babel-preset-expo"], plugins: [ [ "module-resolver", { alias: { // This needs to be mirrored in tsconfig.json components: "./src/components", buttons: "./src/components/buttons", }, }, ], ], } }

Responsive style properties in React refer to the use of functions to create an adaptive user interface or a layout that adjusts to various screen sizes and orientations. Developing a responsive React Native app can be done in multiple ways, and one of them is by using react-native-normalize. This handy library offers functions that help you create responsive layouts effortlessly.

5. Implement Crash Analytics Tools

Crash analytics tools are like your magic tools that keep an eye on your app 24/7. They do real-time monitoring to help you identify crashes and errors. These tools analyze the crash data and give you the lowdown on what’s causing the chaos.

So, if you’re in the development process, and suddenly, the app crashes out of the blue. With the implementation of crash analytics, you can easily find the root causes of these crashes.

There are a bunch of awesome crash analytics tools out there, like Sentry, Firebase, Crashlytics, and more. They’re like your trusty companions, helping you debug and rescue your app from potential crashes.

No-code tools allow anyone to build digital solutions — no coding or technical skills are required. As businesses rapidly move towards digital space, the demand for digital tools (including no-code tools) is growing.

According to a report, the no-code tools market is projected to grow by 25% in 2023, reaching a market value of $8 billion. This represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of $1 billion annually from $3.47 billion in 2019.

Similar to other technologies, no-code tools are growing in popularity and numbers. This is why you might be looking for these tools. They abstract away the complexities associated with programming languages, providing visual-editor to create websites and applications.

Over the past few years, these tools are breaking into mainstream development technologies. Consequently, a range of tools appears today. Therefore, it can be overwhelming to pick the right one for your needs.

Also, we cannot overlook the fact that each tool is designed for different types of users, ranging from beginners to advanced. We’ve used a bunch of different no-code tools, and here are our top picks.

But before we begin, let’s talk about what no-code tools are.

No-Code Tools: An Overview

Basically, no-code tools are types of software that allow an individual to build digital applications without writing code, also enabling non-technical people to create applications. They provide a visual interface that makes it easy to develop an app. This means anyone can build digital applications regardless of their technical skills.

While some tools may offer the ability to use code simultaneously, providing an alternative for those with coding knowledge. In 2023, the no-code tools have reached a level of maturity where they can be used to develop all kinds of advanced software.

1. Adalo: Build Custom Responsive Apps

Adalo is our top pick for several reasons, as it provides access to various tools with its free plan. When considering usability, it is one of the most accessible tools for those just starting. It demands minimal effort for anyone to learn how to use it. It appears at the top if we rank in terms of ease of use.

Furthermore, Community-generated templates are the cherry on top. The templates come fully equipped with screens, database collections, actions & more. Simply select your template & start customizing, further alleviating the development efforts. Also, you can opt for premium plans to add advanced functionality to your app.

Adalo has customized plans to suit the specific needs of founders & entrepreneurs, small & medium businesses, freelancers & agencies, and big enterprises & organizations.

Also, the premium plans come up with a range of features such as the ability to use custom fonts, have a custom domain for your app, access various APIs such as the collection API and notification API, as well as integration with Xano — a no-code backend development tool.

Overall, when it comes to user-friendliness, it is likely at the top. In terms of affordability, it is also recommended. Although, if we want to opt for a more affordable one, we will discuss Webflow later in this article. All these factors make it an excellent choice for beginners.

Key Features:

Connect Stripe and IAPHub components for user payments.

Integrate with Zapier to automate tasks.

Over 1 million apps have been developed using it.

Custom actions for advanced functionality.

Component marketplace with pre-built components, design tools, and payment options.

Templates and UI kits for various use cases like appointments, e-commerce, social media, and delivery.

Integration with popular third-party tools like Google Maps, Zoom, Google Sheets, Airtable, Mailchimp, and more.

2. Bubble: Build anything without code.

Bubble is one of the most powerful tools; however difficult to master because it has a complex interface. It is exclusively for advanced users and is also a more expensive option.

However, Bubble is an established and mature no-code like Adalo, with robust community support. It boasts a staggering number of over 2.3+ million apps created.

It may take time to gain the necessary proficiency to use this tool effectively, as it requires technical knowledge. However, in this context, technical knowledge does not refer to coding skills since it is a no-code tool. Instead, it requires learning the technical knowledge of effectively utilizing a no-code tool.

On the bright side, becoming adept with this tool empowers users to create complex web applications that may not be built with alternative tools.

Bubble is an excellent solution for individuals looking for a tool that provides unparalleled customization freedom. With Bubble, you have the ability to customize every aspect, including the look, feel, and even the option to incorporate custom code if desired.

As a market leader, Bubble provides advanced tools for implementing advanced features, which is reflected in its pricing plans being comparatively higher than others. Furthermore, the strong community and customer support it offers to contribute to its overall value proposition, making it a worthwhile consideration.

Key Features:

Powerful Community Support

Unparalleled Customization Freedom

Complex Web Application Creation

Advanced Feature Implementation

Market Leader

3. Webflow: Versatility for Designers and Developers

Webflow lets you create whatever website you want to create — from SaaS websites to e-commerce stores. A range of templates to get you started and a drag-and-drop user interface enables you to launch websites quickly. The reason it is our top pick is because it provides users with a multitude of tools. So, if you are looking for a rapid website-building tool, Webflow emerges as a superior choice compared to Bubble and Flutterflow.

It is used by over 3.5 million users, including prominent names from the tech industry. Also, you can generate codes that can be utilized by developers. It is an additional option, which makes it a versatile tool where both non-technical individuals and coders can collaborate.

In terms of rapid development, it has the same ability as Adalo, but it has limited features compared to Adalo. And plans are also slightly more expensive than those of Softr and Adalo.

Talking about features, it has a diverse array of elements like sliders, tabs, background videos, etc. Optional but useful, it lets you create reusable components and CSS classes.

It’s worth noting that Webflow is more beneficial for users with a higher level of technical knowledge. The platform offers templates, content management, tutorials, and post-publishing features, including SEO tools, making it a comprehensive package for website creation.

Key Features:

Versatile website creation for SaaS, e-commerce, and more.

Templates and a drag-and-drop interface for quick launches.

A multitude of tools for comprehensive website development.

Developer-friendly with code generation for collaboration.

Rapid development like Adalo, with some feature limitations.

Reusable components and CSS classes for efficient design.

Suitable for users with higher technical knowledge.

Comprehensive package with templates, content management, tutorials, and SEO tools.

Optional elements like sliders and background videos for enhanced customization.

The healthcare industry is evolving, and it is important to stay up-to-date on the latest trends. The year 2023 brings forth an array of transformative healthcare trends that shape the future of medical practices and patient care.

We are observing a surge in personalized medicine, online pharmacy, virtual care, and many others, transforming the healthcare industry. These trends have paved the way for precision medicine, where treatments are tailored to individual patients based on their genetic makeup and specific health needs.

Also, AI-powered healthcare tools are empowering healthcare providers with advanced diagnostic capabilities and improved patient outcomes. While it is still in its early stages, it has the potential to revolutionize healthcare.

Online pharmacies are a recent and popular example, which shows the growing influence of technology in the healthcare sector. The online pharmacy market emerged a few years ago and is projected to surpass $261.684 billion by 2030.

Due to the emergence of AI(artificial intelligence), the industry is poised to undergo further changes in the upcoming years.

These trends include a range of advancements, such as remote and virtual care, the integration of artificial intelligence, patient engagement solutions, EHR software, and the utilization of healthcare data intelligence. These developments have the potential to reshape the way the healthcare industry operates.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most innovative healthcare technologies that are being developed right now.

1. Telehealth

The COVID-19 pandemic played a significant role in accelerating the adoption of telehealth, which led to improved patient care. And the advancement of mobile /laptop devices has propelled telehealth’s rapid growth and adoption further.

Telehealth involves communication technology to engage with patients virtually. Furthermore, it allows patients to connect with healthcare professionals without leaving their premises, providing a convenient option for patients and doctors.

Furthermore, it significantly lower costs as healthcare institutions no longer need to invest in setting up physical resources, and healthcare professionals can enjoy increased flexibility and enhanced communication experiences. This mutually beneficial arrangement contributes to telehealth’s rising adoption and continued growth.

Benefits

Improved patient care through virtual engagement

Convenient access to healthcare from the comfort of home

Rapid growth and adoption due to advancements in mobile devices

Cost-effective alternative for healthcare institutions

Increased flexibility and enhanced communication for healthcare professionals

2. Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)

IoMT is a network of smartphones, wearables, and sensors that allows remote patient monitoring. These intelligent devices enable machine-to-machine communication that reduces the burden on healthcare providers. They can send your health and fitness data as per given instructions to make informed decisions.

As a result, many corporations are investing significant resources and capital into developing healthcare solutions, leading to the proliferation of wearable devices and integrated health applications within smartphones.

IoMT has the potential to replace the traditional way of monitoring healthcare as it dramatically enhances the monitoring experience.

Benefits

Real-time monitoring

Automated health report

Reduced costs

Remote assistance

3. Patient Engagement Market Solution

According to Accenture’s report, a majority of people have shown keen interest in technology-based digital solutions. This interest is particularly evident in the increasing popularity of technology-driven patient engagement solutions.

The market for digital patient engagement solutions is projected to experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.3% between 2021 and 2030. This signifies the widespread acceptance and adoption of these tools in the market.

Patient engagement solutions encompass various aspects of patients’ information management, including schedules and appointments. And, these tools can go the extra mile by delivering personalized content to educate patients. Not only do they serve as marketing tools, but they also play a crucial role in maintaining patients’ data and information.

Benefits

Automated appointment scheduling

Personalized content marketing

Effective communication with patients

Efficient data management of patients

Amazon Web Services (AWS): A Brief Overview

AWS (Amazon web services) is the world’s leading cloud infrastructure service, with a market share of over 30% as of 2023, which accounts for a significant portion of Amazon’s overall revenue.

It incorporates a comprehensive suite of cloud services (including computing, storage, networking, databases, analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence), enabling businesses across the globe to develop and run their applications on AWS without physical infrastructure stuff.

AWS Partner Network (APN)

While the AWS partner network (APN) is a global community of businesses that make use of AWS resources and expertise to solve technical problems and develop products on AWS infrastructure to market and sell products (or services). The network has over 1,50,000 partners from 150 countries across the globe.

If you are interested in becoming an AWS Partner, there are a few things you need to know. First, you must meet the AWS Partner Program requirements. What are these requirements? Let’s have a look at the requirements to become an AWS partner.

Requirements

These requirements include having a certain level of technical expertise and experience and a “commitment to providing excellent customer service.” Once you have met the requirements, you can apply to become an AWS Partner.

Annual Fee: The annual fee for enrolling in this program costs $2500, regardless of partner tier, against which the partners will receive $3,500 worth of AWS Promotional Credits upon payment of the Annual APN Program Fee.

Monthly Recurring Revenue: You generate monthly recurring revenue of at least $1500 or fulfill necessary launched opportunities criteria for a specific tier.

Valid Reviews & Customer Satisfaction Responses: You must have customer reviews — at least two reviews for Advanced and six reviews to be eligible for the Premier tier (we will discuss AWS partner tiers later in this article). In addition, it requires at least twenty and thirty customer satisfaction (CSAT) responses for the Advanced and Premier tier, respectively.

AWS Certification: AWS certification is a must-have to show your team has required AWS skills for customers. The certification will demonstrate to your customers that you have the expertise to meet their needs.

You’re good to go if you fulfill all the abovementioned requirements (including AWS certification, monthly recurring revenue, fee payment, and valid reviews). And now you’ll be able to figure out which tier category you fall into.

AWS Partner Tiers

AWS offers three tiers of partner programs, each with its own set of benefits.

Select tier: To apply for this tier, you must have at least a team of two AWS Foundational Certified and two AWS Technical Certified Individuals. And you must have launched three opportunities with a total MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue) of at least $1,500.

2. Advanced:

Certification: For the advanced partner program, you must have at least a team of four AWS Foundational Certified and six AWS Technical Certified Individuals, with at least three of those being professional or specialty certificate holderns. And you must have launched 20 opportunities with a total MRR of at least $10,000. In addition, you have at least two satisfied customer reviews and feedback. In addition to this, you must have two valid reviews in a public forum or 20 Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) Responses and must have a partner business plan.

3. Premier:

Certifications: Premier Partners must have at least 10 AWS Foundational Certified Individuals and 25 AWS Technical Certified Individuals, with at least 10 of those being Professional or Specialty certifications.

Experience: Premier Partners must have launched at least 50 opportunities with a total MRR of at least $50,000.

Public forum reviews: Premier Partners must have six valid reviews in a public forum or 30 Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) Responses.

Partner Business Plan: Premier Partners must have a partner business plan.

Competencies: Applicants for the Premier Tier must have at least 3 AWS competencies, one of which must be either the MSP or DevOps competency.

Benefits of AWS Partner

AWS Promotional Credits: You’ll get AWS credits to use AWS services, depending on your tier. Select partners get $3,500, Advanced partners get $5,000, and Premier partners get $10,000.

Additional AWS Promotional Credit for AWS Certification Attainment: You’ll get more AWS credits if you or your team members get AWS certifications. You’ll get $300 for up to two Associate certifications and $500 for each Professional or Specialty certification.

Discounted AWS Training: You can get heavily discounted training packages through select APN Training Partners.

Access to AWS Solutions Training for Partners (STP): You can attend one-day training sessions on how to deliver various workloads and AWS solutions.

Access to Partner Development Resources: You’ll get access to resources to help you develop your AWS skills and expertise.

Access to Partner Solutions Resources: You can get help from Partner Solutions Architects (PSAs) with solution-level questions.

AWS Partner Solutions Finder Listing: Your company will be listed in the AWS Partner Solutions Finder so that AWS customers can find you.

Access to APN Marketing Central: You can create co-branded campaigns with AWS using APN Marketing Central.

Market Development Funds (MDF): Advanced and Premier partners can get MDF to help them market their AWS solutions.

Highlighted Case Studies: Advanced and Premier partners can have their case studies highlighted on the AWS website.

React vs. Angular: How to Choose the Right Framework for Your Next Project?

Whether you are a developer, a business owner, or a startup, you are often faced with the dilemma of choosing the right tool for your next project or learning. There are so many options out there; it can be overwhelming and confusing to know where to start. When it comes to web development tools, two popular choices are — React vs Angular. React is a JavaScript library created by Meta, while Angular is a framework developed by Google.

Remember, no development tool or language is perfect for all kinds of development. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses.

For example, React is more lightweight and beginner-friendly but doesn’t offer as many features as Angular. Therefore, not suitable for developing complex and large applications. On the other hand, Angular is more complex and has a steeper learning curve; it offers more features, reducing developers’ reliance on third-party tools.

Though React is more popular than Angular, popularity alone cannot be the sole determining factor in choosing the right development tool. It is important to take into account various other factors, including a budget, learning curve, and numerous other aspects.

Read on to discover which tool is right for you. In this article, we will discuss React vs Angular, and we will provide some scenarios where one tool is better than the other. By the end of this article, you will have a much better understanding of the two tools and be able to make an informed decision about which one is right for you.

React vs. Angular: What’s the Difference?

1. Structure

React lets you build applications using components. Typically, components are JavaScript functions. It has a component-based structure where logic is stored in reusable pieces used to build user interfaces. The components are encapsulated in JSX files, which combine JavaScript and HTML. It is worth noting that it is only a rendering library.

Angular also includes a component-based structure. However, it differs in their approaches to achieving componentization. In Angular, components are decorators that store metadata of a class, method, or property, allowing you to mark a class as a component.

2. Data-Binding

Data binding involves keeping the data in the model (data source) and the view (UI) synchronized. Its purpose is to ensure that both the view and the model remain updated.

Unlike some other frameworks, React primarily focuses on rendering, which means it follows a unidirectional data flow. In other words, changes in the model are reflected in the view, but changes in the view do not automatically update the model. Nevertheless, it is possible to achieve bidirectional data flow in React by utilizing third-party tools.

On the other hand, Angular has MVVM(Model-View-ViewModel) architecture which by default enables bi-directional data flow.

Although React and Angular both possess data binding capabilities, Angular includes built-in support for both one-way and two-way data binding. On the other hand, React primarily emphasizes one-way data flow but offers optional backing for two-way data binding through external libraries or customized implementations.

3. Performance

In terms of performance, ReactJS and Angular both have their strengths depending on recent developments and updates. But when it comes to task-based benchmark tests, Angular showcased better performance. Angular particularly shines in scenarios where specific tasks are executed.

ReactJS shines over its competitor in terms of site-load time due to the opposite approaches it takes in rendering content. As you may already be aware, React utilizes a virtual DOM that loads specific portions initially and compares them to the original DOM, making targeted changes rather than modifying the entire DOM.

It is important to note that Angular offers ahead-of-time (AOT) compilation, which enables developers to achieve similar performance levels as React-based applications.

4. DOM Manipulation

One notable difference between the two is the approach to DOM manipulation. React utilizes a virtual DOM. On the other hand, Angular manipulates the real DOM, which can be resource-intensive. Due to its virtual DOM manipulation, React has an advantage over Angular in terms of performance.

5. Language and learning curve

React is a compact JavaScript library, unlike its counterpart Angular, which is a comprehensive framework encompassing various features. For beginners who may have limited familiarity, React is easier to grasp.

In contrast, Angular’s learning curve becomes steeper as time progresses. Since it is a substantial framework that demands a significant learning effort. However, the transition to Angular becomes much smoother if you come from a statically-typed languages background like Java or C#.

6. Community support and popularity

Both React and Angular are widely popular and utilized by renowned companies worldwide. React benefits from support by Meta, whereas Angular is maintained by Google. However, in terms of popularity, React is more popular than Angular. It is worth noting that while React’s popularity continues to grow, Angular’s popularity has been declining, according to the Stack Overflow 2023 developer survey.

React holds the crown when it comes to popularity and community support, Additionally, React’s extensive availability of learning resources is definitely an advantage worth considering.

7. Developer productivity

React is a lightweight library, whereas Angular is a comprehensive framework. This means that Angular has a wider range of built-in options and tools. However, learning and utilizing these tools in Angular may require a significant time investment. On the other hand, ReactJS is relatively easy to get started with and can be combined with other tools to enhance productivity.

When it comes to tools, React can be used with tools such as Create React App, Redux, Babel, Webpack, React Router, DevTools, and Jest. These tools simplify project setup and aid in React developer’s productivity.

While Angular provides tools like Protractor, Forms, Angular Material, AngularFire2, Karma, CLI, and many in-built tools, these tools streamline development tasks, offer debugging capabilities, and simplify project setup.

8. Development Cost

Generally, React is less expensive to develop than Angular. This is because React is a lightweight library that requires fewer resources to run, leading to lower development costs.

In addition, React has a large pool of skilled developers available. React’s popularity and maturity make it easier to find skilled developers at a lower cost. However, the cost of the development also depends on the size and complexity of the project.

What is a White Label Application?

White label apps are generic applications that are created by one company but personalized and branded by another company to use as their product. The term “white label” comes from placing a generic or blank label on a product, allowing purchasers to apply their branding.

White Label Development: Prioritizing Marketing over Development

White label application development is a convenient solution for businesses that lack the resources for application development. Businesses can prioritize their marketing strategies by opting for white-label apps as a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution while relying on a specialized third-party company to handle the development aspect.

An Exemplary Use of White Label App

For instance, a small restaurant may desire a solution that allows customers to pre-book and reserve seats or order food without complex or unnecessary functionalities. In such cases, white-label sellers can serve these industries by offering rebranded software tailored to their needs.

White label apps offer resellers the flexibility to customize various visual elements, such as adding logos and brand names and making other modifications according to their specific requirements. This customization allows them to sell or utilize the app under their brand identity.

Key Benefits of a White Label App

White label apps prove to be cost-effective application development for end-customers and resellers. Developers provide a pre-packaged app featuring generic functionalities. As a result, the expenses associated with app development are considerably reduced. Furthermore, you can promptly acquire a market-ready solution since the app is already prepared.

Rebranding white-label applications requires minimal effort and resources, allowing you to deliver a market-ready application in a shorter timeframe.

Investing in white-label applications reduces the commercialization risk as the templates you utilize have already been tested and proven successful.

Limitations with a White Lable App

While white-label apps offer a high level of customization, achieving specific functionalities that differentiate your key services can be challenging. The degree of customization is lower when compared to an app that is specifically developed according to your requirements.

In such a scenario, it is advisable to assess your needs, especially if the app requires multiple specific functionalities. Opting for a generic app may not be a wise decision because it does not allow you to select your preferred technology stack and tailored features.

The choice of technology that powers an application is highly significant as it directly affects the performance and speed of the app.

How much does it cost to develop a white-label mobile app?

The price of a white-label solution varies based on the application’s features, but on average, it falls within the range of $20,000 to $50,000. Basic applications usually start at a monthly cost of a few hundred dollars.

However, the specific plans and prices can vary depending on the functionality required for the app. Numerous app builders provide additional features and allow multiple revisions as part of their offerings. Overall, it only requires a little investment from the resellers.

Also, the cost of a service can vary based on the option you choose. In the case of a subscription-based service, the cost is lower compared to purchasing the entire source code of a full application. Sellers frequently integrate various modules tailored to your specific needs, which directly impact the application’s functionality and overall cost.

When choosing a subscription, you gain the advantage of continuous upgrades. However, if you decide to discontinue the subscription, your access to the application will be revoked.

On the other hand, with opting one-time purchase, you typically pay a single upfront fee that the seller grants you complete access to the application, including the source code and any associated rights or licenses. It provides greater freedom and complete ownership over the service or application.

If you’re curious about discovering the best open-source projects in the Node.js domain, this article walks you through the best Node js open-source projects in GitHub in 2023.

A Brief History of NodeJS

Let’s start with the inception of Nodejs.

Ryan Dahl created Node.js in 2009 as a response to the limitations of existing servers at that time, which could not handle high-volume concurrent connections. Node.js enabled developers to utilize JavaScript for server-side scripting; as a result, developers could create web application development using a single language.

Initially, Node.js was exclusively available for Linux and Mac operating systems. However, In June 2011, Microsoft and Joyent collaborated to develop a native Windows version of Node.js, thereby extending its compatibility with Windows operating systems.

Node.js served as the foundation for the development of various frameworks and libraries, including Express, Socket.io, Hapi, Koa, and Ghost. In addition to libraries and frameworks, many tools were built upon Node.js to enhance its functionality and cater to different use cases.

Subsequently, Node.js expanded its capabilities in 2017 with the inclusion of HTTP/2 support. Consequently, These advancements led to a surge in the number of projects developed around Node.js, with approximately 80,000 open-source projects currently on the internet.

What is Node.js?

NodeJS is a server-side built on the Google Chrome V8 engine. It is an open-source, single-threaded, and cross-platform environment that provides faster execution of JavaScript programs, also allowing Javascript outside the browser. Since it uses event-driven, non-blocking I/O architecture, it is widely popular among web app developers. On the whole, It has gained immense popularity, leading to the development of numerous open-source projects centered around it.

Use Cases of Node.Js

Node.js is a versatile platform that can be utilized for creating various software solutions, including web applications, APIs, microservices, real-time chat applications like instant messaging apps, command line tools, streaming applications, IoT applications, and desktop applications compatible with multiple platforms.

Best Node.js GitHub Open Source Projects

In this article, we have included these metrics in figuring out the best projects.

Stars: The project has more than 10,000 stars on GitHub. The number of stars is often indicative of a framework’s popularity and the level of interest it receives from developers.

Active community: We have taken into account projects that have an active and engaged community. An active community indicates that the project is well-supported and has a vibrant community of developers who contribute to its growth and improvement.

Use cases: Also, we have considered the popularity and relevance of a project in various use cases. A widely used and well-suited project for multiple use cases indicates its versatility and potential to address different development needs.

Cross-Platform App Development: An Overview

Statista report shows that over 3.5 million apps are available in the Google Play Store and over 1.6 million in the Apple App Store.

In addition to these two prominent platforms, other well-known operating systems such as Windows and Linux are widely used, along with macOS and various other platforms. Failing to be present on one platform means not being visible to millions of potential customers.

The challenge lies in developing and maintaining two separate codebases, which can be overwhelming. Therefore, many companies refrain from developing applications for multiple platforms.

However, there exists a solution — cross-platform app development, which strikes a balance between these factors.

But, when the topic of cross-platform development arises, a crucial concern generally appears — the performance of the application.

It could be possible that performance concerns could be a major factor holding you back from exploring cross-platform development options, right?

Ultimately, the performance of an app relies on the chosen tech stack during development. The above-mentioned app demonstrates that cross-platform solutions can perform similarly to native apps. What matters most is the optimization and, furthermore, selecting the appropriate framework.

Now let’s start by defining cross-platform.

What is Cross Platform App Development?

Cross-platform app development refers to the development of applications that can run on multiple operating systems. Typically, a significant portion of app development is done using a single language, while native development involves the use of operating system-specific tools and languages.

For instance, Android development commonly employs Java and Kotlin, while iOS development relies on Objective C and Swift.

In contrast, cross-platform mobile app development aims to create apps that can run identically on both platforms, utilizing primarily one language. This approach enables efficient management of the codebase.

Nevertheless, one drawback of cross-platform apps is their limited access to native components, which somewhat impacts their performance.

Programming Languages Used in Cross-Platform Development

Languages like JavaScript, C#, Dart, etc., are primarily used for developing cross-platform applications. Let’s briefly understand how does work.

The Role of Framework in Cross-Platform App Development

Each operating system has distinct sets of rules, application programming interfaces (APIs), and user interface components. Frameworks act as a bridge, taking care of the process of translating and making the developer’s code compatible with the underlying system.

Also, the use of frameworks enables developers to write code without needing in-depth knowledge of the native language of the operating system (OS) they are targeting. Instead, frameworks offer a solution by providing a layer of abstraction that conceals the intricacies of the underlying language and technology. This abstraction allows developers to code using a preferred language. Though you may somehow need to use some native languages as eventually it cannot be eliminated, however.

The frameworks offer pre-built tools and libraries that assist in achieving maximum with less effort.