Phoenix vs Node vs Rails

Where backend development is concerned, choosing the right technology can make all the difference in terms of performance, scalability and productivity. Phoenix, Node.js and Ruby are three widely used technologies for building robust and efficient web applications. At DevInterface, we have first-hand experience with all three of these technologies, applying them to different projects according to specific needs.

In this article, we will analyse the strengths and use cases of each technology, comparing them in terms of performance, scalability, ecosystem, learning curve and real-world usage. If you are considering which technology to adopt for your next project, this guide will help you in your choice.

Phoenix is a web framework developed for the Elixir language, designed to offer high performance and efficient concurrency management. Based on Erlang and the BEAM VM, Phoenix inherits the ability to handle a large number of simultaneous connections without sacrificing stability. Its creator, Chris McCord, designed the framework to be a scalable, high-performance alternative to Rails, offering innovative features such as LiveView, which allows interactive applications to be built without the need for client-side JavaScript.

Thanks to its functional programming model and efficient process management, Phoenix is ideal for real-time systems, distributed applications and platforms that require a high degree of reliability.

Node.js is a software platform with an event-based architecture that allows the JavaScript scripting language, originally developed for client-side use, to be used on the server side. It is therefore used in the same way as PHP, Java, .NET, Ruby or Python to write code for the server. Besides, Node.js is used in the development of server-side JavaScript applications that have to handle large amounts of data in real time. The runtime environment is popular for building lightweight web servers.

The cross-platform software project was launched in 2009 by Ryan Dahl and is essentially based on Google's V8 JavaScript engine, which is also used in the Chrome web browser. Launched by the company Joyent, the project has been managed by the Linux Foundation since 2015. Current versions are available for Microsoft Windows, MacOS and Linux.

Node.js includes a library of various JavaScript modules that can be loaded with a simple function and are available as ready-made building blocks for web application development. One example is the HTTP module, which allows a rudimentary web server to be created with a single function. In addition, additional modules can be installed later using the integrated package manager npm (Node Package Manager).

In the mid-1990s, the Japanese Yukihiro Matsumoto published the object-oriented language Ruby. Originally used almost exclusively in Japan, this scripting language has since established itself worldwide as a popular alternative to the industry leaders PHP, Python and the like. Because it is an interpreted scripting language, the code is executed by an interpreter, which has a small disadvantage in terms of speed compared to compiled scripts, but on the other hand makes Ruby much more flexible and dynamic. As there are specific interpreters for all common operating systems, Ruby code is platform-independent.

There are two fundamental principles of Ruby. The first is ‘Don't repeat yourself’ (DRY). It means that each piece of information must exist only once in a project based on the Rails framework. For instance, it is sufficient to define the columns of a table only in the database, without also recording this information in the source code or in a separate configuration file. The implemented Active Record module reads this information directly from the database.

The second design paradigm is ‘Convention over configuration’. The RoR framework therefore specifies certain conventions, e.g. for naming classes. If developers stick to these conventions, they save a lot of configuration effort. However, Ruby on Rails also allows alternative configurations, so you retain complete flexibility in programming your web application.

Performance refers to the ability of a language or framework to efficiently handle the operations required by the system. This includes response time, use of hardware resources and the ability to handle a large number of simultaneous requests.

Phoenix is designed for high performance and low latency. Due to Elixir's concurrency model, Phoenix can handle an extremely large number of simultaneous connections efficiently, making it ideal for real-time applications. Its architecture allows it to take full advantage of multi-core capabilities, offering smooth and bottleneck-free distributed processing.

Exploiting the asynchronous, non-blocking nature of JavaScript, Node.js creates an environment conducive to small, easily manageable tasks. In addition, thanks to the V8 JavaScript engine, multitasking is fast and more efficient. For backend programming, Node.js uses the Single-threaded Event Loop architecture, guaranteeing the handling of multiple simultaneous requests at high performance.

As we explained in our overview, Ruby on Rails is an interpreter, so the code is not translated into machine language. This means that the hardware takes longer to read and process it. Compared to Elixir and Node.js, its execution speed is lower and, as it is not designed for high concurrency, it can be slower. 

Scalability describes the potential of an application built in a given technology to develop and handle more requests per minute (RPM) from users in the future. This is a long and complex process that affects almost every element of the system, both in terms of hardware and software.

Phoenix inherits Elixir and BEAM's scalability, enabling the handling of millions of simultaneous connections without performance issues. With features such as LiveView, it offers an excellent solution for real-time interactive applications without the need for client-side JavaScript.

Node.js scales to levels comparable to other modern runtimes. If you run a web server, you are hardly ever CPU-bound, but I/O-bound (filesystem, other APIs, database). Therefore, greater CPU efficiency will have no impact on runtime performance for users. 99.9% of tasks can be performed efficiently with NodeJS. The remaining 0.01% are things that should be done with a compiled language. Some things not to be built in NodeJS: operating systems, drivers, video coding, mars rover.

Rails is built to scale, growing with the project, adapting to expanding requirements. Yet, although it can scale to handle large workloads, it can run into difficulties during extreme traffic peaks. Scalability of a Ruby on Rails application therefore depends on the type of project to be developed. Like any other technology, Ruby on Rails may not be suitable for all types of applications, so its application to your software must be carefully considered.

The ecosystem and community support are fundamental to the growth of a technology. When talking about community in technology, we refer to the set of developers, companies and users that contribute to the growth of a language or framework.

Phoenix benefits from the Elixir community, which, although smaller than that of Node.js and Rails, is highly specialised and very active. Documentation is well maintained and community support helps to solve problems and continuously improve the framework.

The largest ecosystem is that of Node.js, with millions of NPM packages and a huge active community. Documentation and support is also excellent. Being JavaScript-based, it is supported by millions of developers and adopted by large companies, guaranteeing constant updates and extensive documentation.

Ruby on Rails has a strong and cohesive community. Numerous gems and tools greatly simplify development, but in recent years its popularity has declined slightly compared to its golden years.

Different technologies also have their own learning curves that may vary depending on your background, previous programming experience and familiarity with related technologies.

Despite being powerful, Phoenix has a relatively accessible learning curve, especially for those with experience with Elixir. The adoption of functional concepts and concurrency management can take time, but the well-done documentation and online resources make the process easier.

Node.js can be easy to learn, but requires more effort if one does not have much experience with JS. However, what can make it more difficult is the asynchronous programming that executes code without blocks. Still, this does not prevent the execution of a piece of code.

Ruby on Rails is suited to beginners thanks to the ‘convention over configuration’ principle, which allows applications to be developed quickly without worrying too much about code structure. Its syntax is very readable and similar to natural language.

Phoenix is used for high-performance web applications such as chat platforms, trading systems and any application that needs high concurrency. Companies such as WhatsApp, Discord and Pinterest use Elixir/Phoenix for their scalability and reliability.

Node.js is widely used in modern web applications, especially for the development of REST APIs and microservices. Its flexibility means that it is used by companies such as Netflix, PayPal and Uber, which need high-performance and scalable solutions to handle high user traffic.

Ruby on Rails remains a popular choice for start-ups and projects requiring fast and effective development. Platforms such as Shopify, GitHub and Airbnb have built their infrastructures with Rails, taking advantage of the speed of development and the wide availability of ready-to-use tools.

Phoenix is a framework designed for applications requiring high concurrency, reliability and scalability. Founded on Elixir and the BEAM VM, it handles a high number of simultaneous connections with low latency, making it ideal for real-time applications such as chat, streaming services and financial platforms. Due to its distributed architecture, Phoenix can handle the load efficiently without compromising performance, even under high stress.

Among its strengths is LiveView, a technology that enables the creation of dynamic, interactive interfaces without the need for a complex JavaScript-based frontend. It reduces code complexity and improves performance, since user interactions are handled directly on the server. Moreover, Elixir's functional programming pattern helps make the code more secure and maintainable in the long term.

Phoenix is particularly suitable for applications requiring high reliability and fault tolerance, such as trading systems, real-time collaboration platforms and monitoring tools. Its ability to scale smoothly makes it an excellent choice for companies that expect significant growth in their traffic and need to ensure consistent performance over time.

Node.js is ideal for data-intensive applications because it uses an asynchronous, event-driven model. You can use I/O-intensive web applications, such as video streaming sites. You can also use it for development, be it real-time web applications, network or generic applications and distributed systems.

Node.js has a unique advantage: the millions of front-end developers who write JavaScript for the browser can now write server-side code in addition to client-side code without having to learn an entirely new language.

This runtime environment is best suited for the development of real-time applications that have to handle a large number of client-side online requests and do not require advanced security, while offering a first-class user experience and fast response times. These include live chat, instant messengers, online games, video conferencing, e-commerce services and multi-user collaborative platforms (Google Docs, Trello, Dropbox, etc.).

Ruby on Rails offers everything a developer needs to create modern web applications: first-class interface facilities, an easy-to-set-up connection to a SQL database and the possibility of using web technologies such as AJAX.

The clear principles of ‘Don't repeat yourself’ and ‘Convention over configuration’ provide the basis for clean, easily manageable and customisable code that can be written quickly. Customised configurations are however possible without any problems, as Ruby is designed to give programmers all the freedom they need. 

This makes the framework suitable for both novices and experienced programmers who have already worked with other scripting languages, although in both cases a certain amount of time is required to get started.

We have seen that each technology has its own strengths and ideal field of application. Phoenix, with its concurrent and efficient model, is ideal for real-time applications and distributed systems. Node.js stands out for its speed in processing asynchronous requests, making it perfect for data-intensive applications. Ruby on Rails, in turn, offers an elegant and productive solution for creating web applications, thanks to its intuitive syntax and predefined conventions.

All technologies have their strengths: if scalability and performance are a priority, Phoenix may be the best choice; if simplicity and community outreach are paramount, Rails is a reliable solution; if you want a flexible environment to handle large volumes of data, Node.js is an excellent alternative. The final decision should be based on a clear statement of a project's specific requirements.

If you are looking for a partner to develop, maintain and support your project with one of these technologies, DevInterface is here to help! Thanks to our experience with Phoenix, Node.js and Ruby on Rails, we can support you in realising scalable, high-performance and reliable solutions. Contact us for a personal consultation!