express vs faker vs lowdb vs miragejs vs json-server vs restify vs hapi vs sapper | Web Development Frameworks and Libraries Comparison

Package	Downloads	Stars	Size	Issues	Publish	License

express	41,994,852	67,527	197 kB	195	5 months ago	MIT
faker	1,974,512	-	10.1 MB	-	-	MIT
lowdb	847,402	22,232	22.9 kB	16	2 years ago	MIT
miragejs	288,048	5,500	2.29 MB	209	2 years ago	MIT
json-server	263,594	74,783	34.4 kB	719	a year ago	SEE LICENSE IN ./LICENSE
restify	243,844	10,713	352 kB	128	2 years ago	MIT
hapi	40,619	14,717	-	56	7 years ago	BSD-3-Clause
sapper	32,804	6,975	536 kB	259	-	MIT

Framework Type

express:
express is a minimal and flexible web application framework for Node.js that provides a robust set of features for building web and mobile applications. It is unopinionated, allowing developers to structure their applications as they see fit.
faker:
faker is a library for generating fake data. It is not a framework but a tool that can be used in conjunction with other frameworks to populate databases, create mock data for testing, and simulate real-world data scenarios.
lowdb:
lowdb is a small local JSON database for Node.js, Electron, and the browser. It provides a simple API for reading and writing data to a JSON file, making it easy to use for small projects and prototypes.
miragejs:
miragejs is a client-side mock server library that allows developers to simulate API responses in their applications. It is particularly useful for testing and developing front-end applications without relying on a real back-end.
json-server:
json-server is a simple and lightweight tool for creating a full REST API from a JSON file. It is not a framework but a quick solution for prototyping and testing front-end applications without the need for a back-end server.
restify:
restify is a Node.js framework specifically designed for building RESTful web services. It is optimized for performance and provides a set of tools and best practices for creating APIs that adhere to REST principles.
hapi:
hapi is a rich framework for building applications and services in Node.js. It is known for its powerful plugin system, configuration-driven approach, and emphasis on security and scalability, making it suitable for large and complex applications.
sapper:
sapper is a framework for building high-performance web applications with Svelte. It provides features like server-side rendering, routing, and code splitting, making it easier to create fast and efficient web apps.

Data Handling

express:
express provides middleware for handling various types of data, including JSON, URL-encoded, and multipart/form-data. It allows developers to easily parse incoming request data and handle file uploads.
faker:
faker generates fake data on demand, allowing developers to create realistic-looking data for testing and development. It does not handle data storage or retrieval but can be used to populate databases or create mock data sets.
lowdb:
lowdb allows for simple read and write operations on a JSON file. It provides a straightforward API for manipulating data, but it does not include advanced features like validation or querying out of the box.
miragejs:
miragejs allows developers to define data models and simulate API endpoints with custom responses. It provides a way to create realistic data interactions without a real back-end, making it useful for testing and development.
json-server:
json-server automatically handles data storage and retrieval from a JSON file. It creates a RESTful API that allows for CRUD operations on the data, making it easy to interact with and manipulate the data through standard API endpoints.
restify:
restify provides middleware for handling various data types, similar to express. It is focused on building APIs and includes features for data validation, serialization, and error handling to ensure robust data processing.
hapi:
hapi offers built-in support for data validation, parsing, and serialization. It provides a powerful schema validation system that ensures incoming data meets specified requirements before being processed by the application.
sapper:
sapper handles data fetching and routing in Svelte applications. It supports server-side rendering and provides a way to fetch data from APIs or other sources before rendering components, ensuring efficient data handling.

Routing

express:
express provides a simple and flexible routing system that allows developers to define routes for handling HTTP requests. It supports dynamic routing, middleware integration, and route parameters, making it highly customizable.
faker:
faker does not provide any routing capabilities, as it is not a web framework. It is a data generation library that can be used alongside any framework or application to create fake data for testing and development.
lowdb:
lowdb does not provide routing capabilities, as it is a database library rather than a web framework. However, it can be used in conjunction with a framework like express to create routes that interact with the lowdb database.
miragejs:
miragejs allows developers to define routes and API endpoints within the application. It provides a way to simulate network requests and responses, making it easy to test front-end code without relying on a real back-end.
json-server:
json-server automatically generates routes based on the structure of the JSON file provided. It creates RESTful endpoints for each key in the JSON data, allowing for quick and easy interaction with the data without manual route configuration.
restify:
restify offers a robust routing system designed specifically for building APIs. It supports dynamic routing, middleware integration, and provides tools for creating RESTful routes that adhere to best practices.
hapi:
hapi features a powerful and configurable routing system that supports dynamic routes, route validation, and middleware integration. It allows for fine-grained control over how requests are handled and provides built-in support for route grouping and plugins.
sapper:
sapper provides a file-based routing system that automatically creates routes based on the directory structure of the project. It supports dynamic routes, nested routes, and provides a seamless way to handle routing in Svelte applications.

Middleware Support

express:
express has excellent middleware support, allowing developers to integrate third-party middleware or create custom middleware functions to handle requests, responses, and errors. Middleware can be added globally or on a per-route basis.
faker:
faker does not have middleware support, as it is a standalone library for generating fake data. It can be used in any part of an application where fake data is needed, but it does not integrate with middleware systems.
lowdb:
lowdb does not have built-in middleware support, as it is a database library. However, it can be used with middleware in frameworks like express to handle data storage and retrieval.
miragejs:
miragejs supports middleware-like functionality through its route handlers and serializers. Developers can define custom logic for handling requests and responses, allowing for flexible and dynamic data interactions.
json-server:
json-server supports middleware by allowing developers to define custom middleware functions that can be executed during the request handling process. This feature enables the addition of custom logic, such as authentication or logging, to the generated API.
restify:
restify has strong middleware support, with a focus on API development. It allows for the integration of custom middleware and third-party modules, and provides built-in middleware for common tasks like parsing, logging, and error handling.
hapi:
hapi supports middleware through its plugin system, allowing developers to create reusable plugins that can encapsulate middleware functionality. It encourages a more structured approach to middleware compared to traditional frameworks.
sapper:
sapper supports middleware through its server.js file, where developers can define custom middleware functions to handle requests before they reach the application. This allows for tasks like authentication, logging, and data processing.

Ease of Use: Code Examples

express:

Simple API with express

const express = require('express');
const app = express();
app.get('/', (req, res) => res.send('Hello World!'));
app.listen(3000, () => console.log('Server running on http://localhost:3000'));

faker:

Generating Fake Data with faker

const faker = require('faker');
const randomName = faker.name.findName();
const randomEmail = faker.internet.email();
console.log(`Name: ${randomName}, Email: ${randomEmail}`);

lowdb:

Simple Data Storage with lowdb

const { Low, JSONFile } = require('lowdb');
const db = new Low(new JSONFile('db.json'));
await db.read();
db.data ||= { users: [] };
db.data.users.push({ name: 'Alice' });
await db.write();

miragejs:

Mocking API with miragejs

import { createServer, Model } from 'miragejs';
createServer({
  models: { user: Model },
  seeds(server) { server.create('user', { name: 'Alice' }); },
  routes() {
    this.namespace = 'api';
    this.get('/users', () => this.schema.all('user'));
  }
});

json-server:
Quick REST API with json-server
```
npx json-server --watch db.json
```

restify:

Simple API with restify

const restify = require('restify');
const server = restify.createServer();
server.get('/', (req, res) => res.send('Hello, Restify!'));
server.listen(3000, () => console.log('Server running on http://localhost:3000'));

hapi:

Simple API with hapi

const Hapi = require('@hapi/hapi');
const init = async () => {
  const server = Hapi.server({ port: 3000, host: 'localhost' });
  server.route({
    method: 'GET',
    path: '/',
    handler: (request, h) => 'Hello, Hapi!'
  });
  await server.start();
  console.log('Server running on %s', server.info.uri);
};
init();