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Luke Sun

Developer & Marketer

MERN Stack Explain

Published: Sat Dec 24 2022 , 7 minutes reading.

MERN stack refers to a collection of JavaScript-based technologies used to develop web applications. It stands for MongoDB, Express.js, React.js, and Node.js.

MongoDB is a NoSQL database that stores data in a JSON-like format. Express.js is a back-end web framework for Node.js, used to handle routing and other server-side functionality. React.js is a front-end JavaScript library for building user interfaces, commonly used for building single-page applications. Node.js is a JavaScript runtime that allows developers to run JavaScript on the server-side.

Together, these technologies provide a full-stack solution for building web applications, with a particular focus on simplicity and scalability.

What are the benefits of MERN stack?

  • JavaScript Everywhere: Because all parts of the stack use JavaScript, it allows for a seamless transition between the front-end and back-end, and for developers to work on both sides of the application with the same language.

  • Open-Source and Community Support: All components of the MERN stack are open-source and have a large and active community, which means there are many resources, tutorials, and support available to developers.

  • Scalability: MongoDB is a NoSQL database, which means it is highly scalable and can handle large amounts of data and high traffic loads.

  • High performance: Node.js is built on the V8 JavaScript engine from Google Chrome, which is known for its high performance.

  • Flexibility: React.js allows for the building of reusable UI components, which makes the development process more efficient and flexible.

  • Strong ecosystem: The npm package manager that comes with Node.js provides a vast collection of pre-built modules and packages that can be easily integrated into the project, making the development process faster and more efficient.

  • Popularity: MERN stack is widely used and popular among developers, which means that it’s easy to find developers with experience in this stack and also many resources available to learn and work on.

LAMP and MEAN are both popular stacks for full-stack web development, but they have some key differences:

Language: LAMP uses PHP for the back-end, while MEAN uses JavaScript for both the front-end and back-end. This means that developers working with LAMP will need to be proficient in PHP, while developers working with MEAN will need to be proficient in JavaScript.

Database: LAMP uses a relational database management system, while MEAN uses MongoDB, a NoSQL database. This means that LAMP is better suited for applications that require complex relational data structures, while MEAN is better suited for applications that handle large amounts of unstructured data.

Framework: LAMP uses Apache and PHP to build web applications, while MEAN uses Express.js, AngularJS, and Node.js. This means that the development process and the structure of the application will be different between the two stacks.

Popularity: LAMP is a mature and well-established stack that has been around for a long time. It’s widely used, and there are many resources and tutorials available. MEAN is a newer stack and is not as widely used or supported, but it has a growing community and is gaining popularity.

Scalability: LAMP is not as good for building high-performance and high-traffic web applications as MEAN. MEAN is more flexible, scalable and can handle large amounts of data.

The cost of hosting a web application built with LAMP or MEAN will depend on a number of factors, including the hosting provider, the size of the application, and the number of users. However, generally speaking, the cost of hosting a LAMP and MEAN application should be similar.

  • LAMP: LAMP is based on open-source technologies, which means that the cost of hosting a LAMP application can be quite low. Many hosting providers offer shared hosting plans that are suitable for small to medium-sized LAMP applications. Larger applications may require a dedicated server or a virtual private server (VPS), which can be more expensive.

  • MEAN: MEAN is also based on open-source technologies and the cost of hosting a MEAN application can be quite low, as with LAMP. However, as MEAN is less popular than LAMP, the number of options for hosting provider may be limited.

  • Cloud Hosting: Both LAMP and MEAN can be hosted on cloud hosting providers like AWS, Azure, GCP, etc. The cost of hosting on these providers can vary depending on the resources you need, but generally, it’s scalable, and it’s more flexible than traditional hosting.

The cost of developing a web application using LAMP or MEAN can vary depending on a number of factors, including the complexity of the application, the size of the development team, and the hourly rate of the developers. However, generally speaking, the cost of developing a LAMP and MEAN application should be similar.

  • LAMP: LAMP has been around for a long time and it’s a well-established stack, there are many resources and tutorials available. This means that it’s relatively easy to find developers with experience in PHP and MySQL. Additionally, because LAMP is open-source, the cost of the tools and software required to build a LAMP application is typically low.

  • MEAN: MEAN is a newer stack and is not as widely used or supported as LAMP, it’s less mature and more difficult to find developers with experience in the stack. Additionally, developers working with MEAN will need to be proficient in JavaScript, which can be more difficult to find and more expensive than developers proficient in PHP.

  • Development Time: LAMP may take less time to develop than MEAN, as the former has more resources and tutorials available, and it’s been around for a long time. MEAN, on the other hand, is a newer stack and may take more time as developers may need to learn and adapt to the stack.

  • Maintenance: LAMP may have a lower maintenance cost than MEAN as it’s a well-established stack, and there are many resources available for troubleshooting and debugging. MEAN, on the other hand, may have higher maintenance costs as it’s a newer stack and fewer resources are available.

It’s important to note that the development cost is not only dependent on the stack, but also on the team’s experience, project’s complexity and the hourly rate of the developers. Therefore, it’s recommended to evaluate all the factors before making a decision.

Summarize Comparisons

In summary, LAMP and MEAN are both popular stacks for full-stack web development, but there are some key differences between the two.

  • Popularity: LAMP is a well-established stack that has been around for a long time, and it’s widely used and supported. MEAN, on the other hand, is a newer stack and is less mature, and less popular.

  • Development Cost: LAMP has many resources and tutorials available, it’s relatively easy to find developers with experience in PHP and MySQL, and the cost of the tools and software required to build a LAMP application is typically low. MEAN is a newer stack, not as widely used or supported as LAMP, and it’s more difficult to find developers with experience in the stack.

  • Hosting Cost: Both LAMP and MEAN can be hosted on cloud hosting providers, the cost of hosting on these providers can vary depending on the resources you need, but generally, it’s scalable, and it’s more flexible than traditional hosting.

  • Development Time: LAMP may take less time to develop than MEAN, as the former has more resources and tutorials available, and it’s been around for a long time. MEAN, on the other hand, is a newer stack and may take more time as developers may need to learn and adapt to the stack.

  • Maintenance: LAMP may have a lower maintenance cost than MEAN as it’s a well-established stack, and there are many resources available for troubleshooting and debugging. MEAN, on the other hand, may have higher maintenance costs as it’s a newer stack and fewer resources are available.

Ultimately, the choice between LAMP and MEAN will depend on the specific requirements of the application and the skill set of the development team. Both stacks have their own advantages and disadvantages and it’s important to evaluate all factors before making a decision.