Introduction to MEAN Stack: What it is and How it Works

The MEAN stack is a web-developing application based on the JavaScript framework. MEAN stack is a fusion of four key technologies that develop the layers of the stack.

Introduction to MEAN (MERN-TEST) Stack

The MEAN stack is a web-developing application based on the JavaScript framework. MEAN stack is a fusion of four key technologies that develop the layers of the stack. These include MongoDB, Express, Angular, and Node and MEAN stack is an abbreviated form of these constituents.

MongoDB: Document database

Express (.js): Node.js web framework

Angular (.js): A client-side JavaScript framework

Node (.js): The premium JavaScript web server

MEAN stack is of great value because of its flexibility and the quality that it just employs JavaScript. As it is all written in JavaScript, a professional MEAN stack developer should be an expert in the language

What is MEAN Stack?

MEAN Stack is one of the most widely used technology stacks. These technologies are based on the JavaScript language. This stack is for rapid development and deployment of the Web Application. Angular is for Frontend Development while Node.js, MongoDB, and Express are for Backend Development. Free online courses are available for learning MEAN Stack Technology as it's been a decade that MEAN stack is in great demand for both websites and web applications. 

History of MEAN Stack

The root of the MEAN stack began in 2013 when Valeri Karpov coined the acronym MEAN in his blog post and logo concept. The initial source was created by Austin Anderson for the authentic LinkedIn group. He assembles the first letter of each constituent of the MEAN acronym. That's how the MEAN stack came across the board. MEAN stack is the blockbuster when it comes to web-centric application development. It is very easy to manage both front-end and back-end development as all its members follow the same JavaScript language. So, it requires a shorter span for the project. Over the course of time, the demand for the MEAN stack has triggered plenty of derivations. It serves as an irresistible force globally. It endures a famous choice of tech stack for the development of web-driven applications. Features of MEAN Stack:

MEAN stack development offers multiple key features that make it an appealing tool for building web applications. Depending upon the benefits of the incredible four technologies of the MEAN stack, there are certain key features of it. These features make it the best option for building web applications. These are briefly explained here:

JS-based Web Development

The foremost feature of MEAN stack development is that it is completely JavaScript-based. It would be feasible for developers to maintain and develop applications effortlessly. JavaScript is a well-known programming language and has an ample developer community, which makes it possible to find support and resources for development.

Scalability

All technologies involved in the MEAN stack are programmed to be scalable, making it effortless to build applications that can control large amounts of data and traffic. MongoDB is designed to drive large amounts of data and scale horizontally, while Node.js can simultaneously control various requests.

Open-source

The technologies used in the MEAN stack are open-source, so they are convenient to use, modify, and distribute. There are no licensing fees or costs involved in using this technology stack which renders it an affordable choice for developers and businesses.

Flexibility

The MEAN Stack Technology is developed to be flexible, letting developers use the tools and technology that meet their project requirements. For instance, Angular.js is used by developers to create responsive and versatile user interfaces, while MongoDB can be used to save some unstructured data. The flexibility of this application enables us to create custom applications that fulfill the required needs of a project or business. 

Support of Powerful Angular Framework

HTML and CSS shape the interface quite simply and supportive while applying Angular as a web application framework. This addition in MEAN Stack makes MEAN Stack web development user-friendly and helpful to build efficient web apps.

Rapid Development

MEAN Stack development is famous for its rapid development process. It offers a range of tools and features that makes it convenient and efficient to build applications, including pre-built templates, built-in modules and libraries, and easy integration with third-party modules. MEAN Stack development saves your business time and expenses, making it the best option for startups and small businesses.

Benefits of using MEAN Stack

Overall Cost-effective

One of the prime benefits of MEAN Stack web development is that it is an open-source technology stack. It means these programs are offered without any licensing fees or charges that facilitate small businesses. The MEAN Stack is the best option for limited-budget projects.

Hiring MEAN Stack Developer is Affordable

As we have already discussed, JavaScript is the sole programming language essential to do full-stack development using the power of MEAN stack technologies. This eliminates the need to search for and assign web developers specialists in other specific languages. Thus it minimizes the need of hiring considerable resources to develop a web app. 

High Web App Performance

MEAN Stack is a high performer App, thanks to the combo of four key technologies- MongoDB, Express.js, Angular.js, and Node.js. These technologies are developed to be efficient and fast, allowing businesses to develop applications that are vigilant and responsive, even under traffic loads.

Easy Maintenance

Another benefit of MEAN Stack development is that it is simple and easy to maintain. As all the technologies in the stack use JavaScript, developers only have to learn a single programming language to operate the entire stack. Ultimately this makes it easier to run applications. In addition, the modular architecture makes it handy to add new features or update running ones without affecting the entire system.

How does MEAN Stack work?

This open-source stack is developed to build cloud-hosted apps. These apps are adaptable, scalable, and dynamic, making them perfect for hosting services. The MEAN Stack comes with its web server so that it can be installed conveniently. The MEAN application is introduced into the world tailored to take full benefit from the cloud’s efficiency gains and speed boosts. The MEAN Stack works as a combination of four technologies so let's explore them layer by layer:

M: MongoDB is a NoSQL document database. It stores data in JSON-esque documents, which puts on flexibility and accessibility. So, the data can be conveniently shared from the client to the server.

E: Express (.js) is a flexible Node.js framework for developing web applications. It is used to build single and multi-page applications along with hybrid applications.

A: Angular is a structural JavaScript framework for building dynamic web applications. It is used to create web applications fastly and efficiently.

N: Node(.js) is a JavaScript web server used for creating network applications.

Who uses MEAN Stack?

MEAN applications can be used in multiple ways with a compatible write-once approach. It is specifically suitable for real-time applications and for the following cases:

• Todo and calendar applications
• Workflow management tools
• News aggregation sites
• Interactive forums

A few real use cases of MEAN Stack include:

• PayPal (money transfer service)
• Netflix (subscription model)
• The Weather Channel (TV network for weather forecasts)
• Automatic Data Processing (recruitment and selection system)
• Forbes (bespoke CMS)
• Gmail
• YouTube
• LinkedIn
• Trello (web-based assignment and product development application)

How to learn MEAN Stack?

Learning the MEAN Stack can be challenging, especially if you are a starter. But with sufficient knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and helpful resources you can learn MEAN Stack in no time.

Online courses:

Online courses are the most accessible way to start learning an innovative technology and MEAN Stack is not an exception. There are a number of online MEAN Stack courses available. Some of them are free online courses while others do have a nominal fee package. The online MEAN Stack courses are taught by different platforms like Coursera, Udemy, Hadi-E-Learning, Skillshare, EDx, and many more.

Books

Books are a magnificent source of learning something as advanced as MEAN Stack. The widely used books for learning this app include:

• Full Stack JavaScript Development With MEAN
• Pro MEAN Stack Development
• Web Application Development with MEAN 
• Write Modern Web Apps With The MEAN Stack

There are many more books available for seeking a complete guide to MEAN Stack Developers. So, expertise yourself in this field via a pragmatic journey of learning.

Tutorials

You can learn the MEAN Stack through several tutorials available on YouTube, Coursera, Udemy, etc. These tutorials will help you to learn MEAN Stack from scratch.

Practice

Keep practicing and polish your skills. Daily practicing the Stack will enhance your skills and be a key to expertise yourself in the World of MEAN Stack Development.

What are the Pros & Cons of using MEAN Stack?

Let's discuss the insights of pros and cons of using MEAN Stack:

Pros

• Open-source for all
• Simple and easy to use
• Flexibility
• High performance
• Full-stack JavaScript (uses only JavaScript language for both front and back-end web applications)
• Improved productivity

Cons

• It is not advisable for large-scale applications
• MEAN Stack is incapable to trace back old data after the web development
• There are no definite coding guidelines that can be used for MEAN Stack web development.

The Future of MEAN Stack:

A MEAN Stack programmer has a bright future as it is a highly desirable and challenging job. Back-end, Web application, Validation, Database, and Mobile Apps developers are in demand nowadays. You just need to explore your skill set by joining MEAN Stack online courses. Developers are there in various process streams like Database, Frontend, Backend, Testing, and Mobile Apps. you can pursue training and revamp your career in that direction. A skillful MEAN Stack Developer is earning a handsome salary and proves to be a valuable asset globally.

Final Thoughts

In a nutshell, MEAN Stack development offers several leads for web application development. It uses open-source and Java-based technologies, which makes it easy to use and cost-effective. Modern society's support for MEAN Stack is admirable and many resources are accessible online to guide you get started with MEAN Stack development courses. As the MEAN Stack Developer can wear many hats so are in high demand and a valuable asset for any company.

FAQs

What are the different ways to learn MEAN Stack?

Here are the best ways to learn MEAN Stack:

• MEAN Stack Online courses by Udemy, Hadi E-Learning, Coursera, etc
• Tutorials available on platforms like YouTube, Udemy, and many more
• Books guides you with a complete step-by-step procedure for mastering your skills in MEAN Stack Technology
• Practice is a key to reflect upon your shortcoming and to upgrade them with time

What are the different resources that are available to help me learn MEAN Stack?

There are countless opportunities to learn and practice MEAN Stack and a few of them are mentioned below:

• Angular and NodeJS-The MEAN Stack Guide (2023 Edition) (Udemy)
• MEAN Stack Mastery Couse (Hadi-E-Learning)
• Full Stack Web and Multiplatform Mobile App Development Specialization (Coursera)
• The Complete JavaScript Developer: MEAN stack (Zero-to-hero)
• Building AngularJS and Node.js Apps with the MEAN Stack (Pluralsight)
• Master the MEAN Stack - Learn By Example (Udemy)

What are the career opportunities that are available to me with MEAN Stack skills?

Three are plenty of job opportunities available for a MEAN Stack developer. He could work as a Front-stack Developer, Back-end Developer, or Full-stack Developer in different multinational companies. MEAN Stack developers could wear many hats so it is in high demand. They can sign up for multiple tasks within a team, making them desirable assets to any company.