Best Practices to Build Scalable and Maintainable MERN stack applications

Many large companies, including Facebook, PayPal, and Netflix, have used the MERN stack. So, there is no question if it is a reliable tech stack for building applications. Today, we see several enterprises hire MERN stack developers for their projects.

Why not? Businesses can create real-time applications faster and without breaking their banks.

If you have been reading blogs consistently, you would know everything about the MERN stack. In case you are new here, we have your back. The focus of this post is how to build scalable and easy-to-maintain MERN stack applications. But it is essential to have a basic understanding of the tech stack you want to use. Let us go through the MERN stack and its fascinating statistics.

What is the MERN stack?

MERN stack entails four popular open-source technologies that develop robust web applications. The technologies are MongoDB, Express.js, React, and Node.js, and together they form the acronym MERN. And they are open-source and powerful. That is why there is a surge in demand for MERN stack development services. Below is an overview of each technology.

* MongoDB

It is a NoSQL database system that uses JSON-like documents to store data. It is a favored choice for web applications because it is flexible and can handle large amounts of unstructured data.

* Express.Js

Express.js is a framework for building web applications using Node.js. It offers a set of features and tools for building web applications, including routing, middleware, and templating. Express.Js simplifies the process of building web applications.

* React.Js

A front-end library for building user interfaces. It allows developers to create reusable UI components and efficiently update the UI as data changes. React is known for its performance and can handle complex user interfaces.

* Node.Js

It is a server-side JavaScript runtime environment that allows developers to build scalable, fast, and efficient web applications. Node.js is known for its event-driven architecture and non-blocking I/O, which makes it ideal for building real-time and scalable applications. Given its exceptional capabilities, the demand for Node.Js development companies in the USA is increasing.

MERN stack developers use these technologies to create full-stack web applications that are fast, efficient, and scalable. The MERN stack is widely used for web applications, especially in modern web development projects. It has a large and active developer community that provides various resources to help developers build applications more efficiently.

You might have got a good hang of this tech stack. Now, it is time to see its popularity and usage in the web app industry. The following are some compelling statistics to know.

* According to the Stack Overflow 2021 Developer Survey, Node.Js (a key component of the MERN stack) is the most commonly used technology among professional developers worldwide. Nearly 51.4% of respondents reported that they use it.

* MongoDB (another key component) is the fifth most popular database system based on the DB-Engines Ranking.

* Js, a technology used for building the front-end of MERN applications, is the second most popular front-end framework, with 35.9% of professional developers reporting that they use it, according to the Stack Overflow 2021 Developer Survey.

* The MERN stack has a large and active community of developers, with many online resources available to help developers learn and use the technology. It includes a wide range of tutorials, courses, and open-source projects.

It is clear why businesses of all sizes hire MERN stack developers for their web development projects. Also, building scalable and maintainable web applications is a top priority for many. The MERN stack is the perfect option for developing scalable and efficient web applications. However, using the MERN stack requires best practices to ensure that the resulting applications are scalable, maintainable, and efficient.

A reliable MERN stack development services provider would be familiar with the necessary techniques. It is good to have this knowledge. Whether you are a developer or a project owner, this post will provide valuable tips for building scalable and maintainable web applications using the MERN stack. Let us kick things off.

Tips for building scalable and efficient applications with MERN stack

When creating scalable and maintainable MERN tack applications, developers must consider various factors carefully. We will have a look at some below.

1. Use a modular architecture

 A modular architecture is a highly recommended approach to developing software applications, especially the MERN stack. It works by breaking down an application into smaller, independent modules. Thus, the code becomes easier to organize, maintain, and test.

For example, your MERN stack development services provider can develop and test each module. It reduces the complexity of the codebase and makes it easier to manage changes and updates.

Moreover, a modular architecture allows for easy integration with third-party libraries and services. It is because the interfaces between modules are well-defined, and each module can interact with external dependencies seamlessly.

2. Follow coding standards

Adhering to coding standards is crucial for producing high-quality and maintainable code. With consistent coding standards, developers can read and understand each other’s code. It will reduce confusion and increase productivity. They also help ensure that the code is readable, maintainable, and compatible with other software components. If you need to change your developer in the future, they can handle it with ease.

For instance, the best way to enforce coding standards is to use linters and automated tools. Linters can check the code for common errors, stylistic inconsistencies, and other issues that may violate the coding standards. When you hire MERN stack developers using a linter, it will save you time. Plus, they can catch errors before they become problems.

Developers use several coding standards, like Google’s Style Guide, the Java Code Conventions, etc. You can choose the one appropriate for the programming language and project. Most importantly, all developers on the team should be familiar with the standard and adhere to it.

3. Leverage version control

Version control is a critical tool for managing software development projects. Git is a popular version control system that allows developers to track changes to the codebase over time. MERN stack developers can also use it to collaborate with other developers and manage issues and bugs more effectively.

Thanks to version control, developers can work on their own code changes without worrying about changes made by other team members. Moreover, it provides tools for merging changes made by different developers, making it easy to incorporate changes without causing conflicts. As a result, it reduces the risk of errors and conflicts that arise when multiple people work on the same codebase simultaneously.

Your MERN stack development services provider can also use version control to roll back changes if necessary. It is useful when a bug is introduced, or a change causes unintended consequences. Thus, they can revert to an earlier version of the codebase.

4. Optimize database performance

MongoDB is one of the best NoSQL databases in the current times. But it may fail to perform efficiently if not optimized properly. It will ensure your application delivers fast and responsive service to users. To optimize MongoDB, you can use the following techniques.

* Indexing

Indexing allows the database to quickly locate data by creating an index on one or more fields. With this technique, you can dramatically speed up queries, especially when handling large amounts of data.

* Caching

It involves storing frequently accessed data in memory to reduce the need for database queries. In short, it improves performance by reducing the number of requests to the database.

* Sharding

What is sharding? It is a technique that involves splitting the data across multiple servers to increase scalability and fault tolerance. Thus, your database can handle massive requests. And it remains available even if one or more servers fail.

* Replication

It involves creating multiple copies of the data to increase fault tolerance. Thus, you can access the database with one or more server failures. It works by distributing the load across multiple servers.

* Query Optimization

 MongoDB provides a query profiler that helps you identify and optimize slow queries. By analyzing the profiler data, developers can identify and fix performance bottlenecks in the database.

5. Optimize client-side performance

Indeed, React.Js is an excellent front-end framework. But it still needs optimization for better performance. You can hire a MERN stack developer to optimize server-side performance. They will use the following techniques.

* Code splitting

It is an excellent technique that MERN stack developers use for React.Js performance optimization. Code splitting involves breaking up your code into smaller chunks. That means they are loaded on-demand rather than all at once. It helps speed up the initial load time and improve the performance of your application.

* Lazy loading

It loads components only when needed instead of loading them all at once. The technique is beneficial for large, complex applications with several components.

* Memoization

Another technique that developers use is memoization. It entails caching the results of expensive function calls that can be reused later. React.Js applications perform expensive computations in the render method. Hence, memorizing these computations can improve the performance of your application and minimize the number of unnecessary re-renders.

* Minification

Your potential MERN stack development services provider will use minification to remove unnecessary characters and whitespace from your code. It will significantly reduce the file size of your JavaScript files. Consequently, the load time of your application reduces. Also, it aids in transferring data at a faster pace.

* Use React.memo and PureComponent

These are two built-in React features that optimize performance by reducing unnecessary re-renders. They work by shallowly comparing component props and determining whether it needs rendering.

* Use the production build

When you are ready to deploy your application, do not forget to use the production build of React. The production build is optimized for performance and includes several features, such as dead code elimination and code minification.