Hey folks, what’s up? I’ve been diving into Phoenix and Rails lately, and I wanted to share a casual rundown of what I’ve found.

Grab your favorite drink and let’s roll.

Why you might care

Both frameworks let you serve HTML, build APIs, and even add real time features. But they come from different worlds, so your choice really depends on what you value: performance, dev XP, community size…

12 points of comparison

1. Language

   • Rails runs on Ruby, which reads almost like English and is super beginner friendly.
   • Phoenix is built with Elixir, a functional language on the Erlang VM, so you get actor model concurrency by default.

2. Concurrency and performance

   • Phoenix rides on the BEAM VM, so handling thousands of sockets or long lived processes is a breeze.
   • Rails can scale too, but you’ll often set up extra threads, use a Puma cluster, or add gems like Sidekiq to match that level.

3. Productivity and dev experience

   • Rails is famous for being “batteries included”, like generators, built in conventions, scaffolding, etc. You can spin up a CRUD app in minutes.
   • Phoenix has generators too, but it’s more minimal. You might wire up things manually, but you’ll still be flying after a few files.

4. Templating and views

   • Rails ships with ERB, and the community also loves Haml or Slim.
   • Phoenix uses EEx, which feels a lot like ERB but leaner. Plus LiveView gives you reactive UIs with almost no JS.

5. Real time support

   • Phoenix Channels and LiveView are crazy powerful right out of the box.
   • Rails ActionCable works, but I’ve seen it get flaky under high load and it’s a bit less mature.

6. Ecosystem and community

   • Rails has been around for ages; there’s a gem for literally everything.
   • Elixir and Phoenix are newer, so fewer packages, but the community is tight and growing fast.

7. Database and migrations

   • ActiveRecord in Rails is super intuitive with its DSL and tons of extensions.
   • Ecto in Phoenix is also a DSL but functional; queries feel explicit and you get compile time checks.

8. Testing support

   • Rails defaults to minitest, and many devs opt for RSpec.
   • Phoenix uses ExUnit, which is simple, fast, and integrates nicely with testing Channels or LiveView features.

9. Learning curve

   • If you know OOP and Ruby syntax, Rails is a breeze.
   • Phoenix might feel odd at first if you’re new to functional programming, but once you learn pipes and pattern matching, you’ll love it.

10. Deployment and hosting

    • Rails goes on Heroku, AWS Elastic Beanstalk, Dokku… no sweat.
    • Phoenix apps compile to a BEAM release; you manage a node, but platforms like Gigalixir or Fly.io simplify it.

11. Scaling

    • Phoenix shines for real time heavy workloads, thanks to BEAM clustering.
    • Rails scales nicely for traditional web requests, but you might spin up more dynos or servers under load.

12. Hot code upgrades

    • BEAM lets you swap code on the fly for zero downtime if you know what you’re doing.
    • Rails can do phased restarts, but it’s not as seamless as a true hot upgrade.

Example code

Here’s a “Hello world” route in both:

# lib/my_app_web/router.ex
scope "/", MyAppWeb do
  pipe_through :browser
  get "/", PageController, :index
end

# lib/my_app_web/controllers/page_controller.ex
defmodule MyAppWeb.PageController do
  use MyAppWeb, :controller

  def index(conn, _params) do
    text(conn, "Hello from Phoenix")
  end
end

# config/routes.rb
Rails.application.routes.draw do
  root "pages#index"
end

# app/controllers/pages_controller.rb
class PagesController < ApplicationController
  def index
    render plain: "Hello from Rails"
  end
end

Wrap up

So yeah, Phoenix is your jam if you want blazing concurrency and real time magic.

Rails is perfect for rapid dev, huge libraries, and classic full stack CRUD apps.

Both rock, just pick the one that vibes with your team and project needs. Happy coding!

Two Go web frameworks walk into a bar... who wins?

Here’s a list of 10 things I noticed while messing around with both Gofiber and Echo.

Spoiler alert they both good but also not the same vibe.

---

1. Speed and perf

Gofiber is freakin fast.
Like it’s built on top of fasthttp which is optimized like crazy. You’ll see better latency numbers if you’re into benchmarking stuff.
Echo’s fast too but not Gofiber fast. It’s using the standard net/http under the hood so yknow it’s more traditional.

---

2. Ease of use

Echo just feels comfy.
The APIs are super clear and not doing anything too weird. You can just sit down and write a REST API without googling too much.
Gofiber can feel a bit different if you’re used to standard Go http.

---

3. Middleware support

Both support middlewares.
But Echo got a richer ecosystem out the box.
Like you need JWT auth logging rate limiting whatever... Echo prob has a plug for that.
Gofiber has some too but it’s a bit more scattered and sometimes you end up writing your own stuff.

---

4. Request context

Echo uses Go’s standard context.Context which is great cause it’s what everything else in Go uses.
Gofiber has its own context thing which can be kinda annoying if you tryna pass values around or plug into something like gorm or whatever.

---

5. Routing

Both support route groups and params and all that jazz.
Gofiber routes are a bit more expressive I’d say. Like you can chain stuff nicely.
Echo’s routing is super solid though and very readable.

---

6. Error handling

Echo has a solid error handling system.
You can define custom error handlers and respond consistently.
Gofiber has it too but again feels a bit more manual sometimes.

---

7. Community and docs

Echo been around longer.
So more blog posts stackoverflow answers and all that.
Gofiber docs are nice too but community support is still catching up a bit.

---

8. Websocket support

Both have it.
Gofiber’s based on fasthttp so it does fine... but you need to be careful cause fasthttp doesn’t support full standard http features.
Echo works with Gorilla Websockets or whatever you like.

---

9. Deployment

No big diff here.
They both compile to a single binary and work great in Docker or whatever you use.
But since Gofiber is a bit faster you might get better resource usage in high traffic stuff.

---

10. Learning curve

Echo is just easier to grok if you already wrote stuff with net/http before.
Gofiber kinda does its own thing and takes a sec to get used to.

---

Bonus Point. Syntax Vibes

Some folks just like how code looks and feels.
Here’s a simple example of a basic API route in both to compare.

Gofiber

package main

import "github.com/gofiber/fiber/v2"

func main() {
  app := fiber.New()

  app.Get("/hello", func(c *fiber.Ctx) error {
    return c.SendString("Hello from Fiber")
  })

  app.Listen(":3000")
}

Echo

package main

import (
  "net/http"
  "github.com/labstack/echo/v4"
)

func main() {
  e := echo.New()

  e.GET("/hello", func(c echo.Context) error {
    return c.String(http.StatusOK, "Hello from Echo")
  })

  e.Start(":3000")
}

Echo code feels more Go-ish.
Gofiber code feels snappy and clean but kinda not standard if you’re picky about that.

---

So which one should you use?

Gofiber
Use it if you care a lot about speed or building high perf microservices and you're ok with its custom style.

Echo
Use it if you want a super stable well documented easy to maintain API in pure Go style.

Honestly try both for a bit and see what feels better.
Your future self will thank you. Trust me.

---

That’s it.
Hope that helps.

Feel free to ping me if you wanna nerd out more on Go stuff.

Had this convo with a friend the other day. We were talking backend stuff and it came up, should you build your API in Node or in Go? Happens all the time. They both work, but they feel real different when you are the one doing the building.

So if you are stuck choosing or just trying to get the vibe of each, here is a straight up comparison. No marketing lingo, no sales pitch. Just how it really goes when you are building stuff.

Here are ten things that matter when you are picking between Node and Go for API work.

1. Getting started

Node
Quick to get going. Run a command, install express, write a few lines and boom you got an API. Great for hacking stuff together fast.

Go
Takes a little more setup. You make folders, write more code up front, think a bit about structure. Not hard, just slower to boot.

Verdict
Node wins here for speed. Go feels more clean but slower to kick off.

2. Concurrency and speed

Go
Built for handling a ton of stuff at once. Goroutines let you run functions side by side with almost no cost. You can handle a lot of traffic.

Node
Uses one thread with async calls. Works great for input and output stuff, but if you throw CPU work at it, things can get rough.

Verdict
Go takes this one for raw performance and traffic handling.

3. Typing

Node
JavaScript has no types. You can use TypeScript to get types, but that is an extra step.

Go
Always typed. You get errors before you run stuff. Helps a lot when your app grows.

Verdict
Go if you like your code to stay stable. Node if you want to move fast and maybe fix stuff later.

4. Error handling

Go
You will write a lot of if err is not nil. It is a little annoying but very clear. You always handle stuff up front.

Node
Use try and catch, or async and await. Feels nicer, but it is easy to forget things if you are not paying attention.

Verdict
Go is safer but wordy. Node is smooth but needs discipline.

5. Tools and setup

Go
Comes with what you need. Formatter, build tool, testing, it is all built in.

Node
You choose your own tools. Linter, formatter, test runner, all separate things. You spend time setting stuff up.

Verdict
Go keeps it simple. Node gives you more choice but more work too.

6. Libraries and packages

Node
The package world is huge. You want something? It probably exists. But you might have five versions of it and not know which one to trust.

Go
Fewer packages but usually solid. The quality is better on average but you will have less to pick from.

Verdict
Node for more options. Go for more stability.

7. Deployment

Go
Compile your app and you get one file. That is it. Upload it anywhere and it just works.

Node
Needs Node installed, maybe a process manager like PM2 or run it in a container. More moving parts.

Verdict
Go makes deployment easy. Node takes more steps.

8. Community

Node
Feels casual. A lot of frontend folks using it for backend now. Tons of help online.

Go
Feels more serious. Devops and backend engineers mostly. Still helpful, just a different energy.

Verdict
Node for a relaxed vibe. Go for focused and clean.

9. Scaling

Go
Made to scale. Light memory use, fast, good at handling many requests at once.

Node
Can scale, but needs more planning. You might need clusters or extra tools if traffic gets big.

Verdict
Go is better out of the box for scale.

10. Writing code

Node
Feels fast to write. Async and await make it readable. If you know JavaScript, you will be comfy right away.

Go
More rules, fewer surprises. At first it feels strict, but after a while you stop thinking about weird bugs.

Verdict
Node is flexible. Go is solid. Just depends on your style.

---

Quick code time, same API in both

Node using Express

const express = require('express')
const app = express()

app.get('/hello', (req, res) => {
  res.send('Hello from Node!')
})

app.listen(3000, () => {
  console.log('Server running at http://localhost:3000')
})

Go using standard library

package main

import (
  "fmt"
  "net/http"
)

func helloHandler(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
  fmt.Fprint(w, "Hello from Go!")
}

func main() {
  http.HandleFunc("/hello", helloHandler)
  fmt.Println("Server running at http://localhost:3000")
  http.ListenAndServe(":3000", nil)
}

---

So which one should you use

If you want to build fast, love JavaScript, and want a lot of tools at your fingertips, go with Node.

If you care about performance, want easy deployment, and do not mind being a little more strict, Go is a great choice.

No bad answer here. Just pick what fits you and your project.

Now go write some code.

Alright, so you’re building an API with Node.js and you're thinking, "Do I just go with Express like everyone else, or should I try out Fastify and see what the hype is about?"

Let’s break it down. I’ve used both, and they both work. But depending on your project, one might make your life way easier than the other.

Express

Express is the old reliable. It’s been around forever, and pretty much every Node developer has used it at some point. If you're looking for something stable with a massive ecosystem, Express is still a solid choice.

Pros

• Huge community. If you run into an issue, someone on Stack Overflow already solved it five years ago.
• Tons of middleware. You need something? There’s probably a package for it.
• Very flexible. It doesn’t force structure or conventions on you.

Cons

• Not the fastest, performance wise.
• Some parts feel a little dated if you’re used to more modern frameworks.
• Lacks builtin support for things like input validation or automatic API docs.

Express example

// express-server.js
const express = require('express');
const app = express();

app.use(express.json());

app.get('/', (req, res) => {
  res.send('Hello from Express');
});

app.listen(3000, () => {
  console.log('Express app running on http://localhost:3000');
});

Easy to understand, works everywhere, no surprises.

Fastify

Fastify is newer, but it's built for performance. If you're starting something fresh and want the benefits of modern architecture, Fastify's got you covered. It's fast, lightweight, and actually pretty nice to work with once you get the hang of it.

Pros

• Way faster than Express in most benchmarks.
• Builtin schema validation using JSON Schema.
• First class TypeScript support.
• Automatic Swagger docs if you want them.

Cons

• Smaller ecosystem. Not every Express middleware has a Fastify version.
• A bit of a learning curve if you're used to Express's "do whatever you want" style.
• Some plugins are still catching up in maturity.

Fastify example

// fastify-server.js
const fastify = require('fastify')({ logger: true });

fastify.get('/', async (request, reply) => {
  return { msg: 'Hello from Fastify' };
});

fastify.listen({ port: 3000 }, (err, address) => {
  if (err) {
    fastify.log.error(err);
    process.exit(1);
  }
  fastify.log.info(`Fastify app running at ${address}`);
});

Feels modern, right? You even get nice JSON logs without having to install anything extra.

So, Which One Should You Use?

Here’s the quick rundown.

Go with Express if:

• You just want to build something quick.
• You or your team already know it well.
• You don’t care too much about performance and just want it to work.

Go with Fastify if:

• You’re starting fresh and want modern features.
• Performance actually matters for your use case.
• You want structured request validation and automatic docs without cobbling together a bunch of packages.

Final Thoughts

Use the right tool for the job. Express is still good, but Fastify is making strong moves. If you're not stuck with legacy code or team constraints, Fastify feels like the better long-term play.

Either way, just build cool stuff.

Let’s talk feature upvoting. You’ve got feedback flying in from every direction. Emails, Slack, Twitter DMs, random Notion docs... it's a mess. What you actually need is a clean, simple way to gather ideas, let your users vote on what they care about, and actually ship stuff people want. That is where upvoting tools come in.

Here’s a breakdown of the best options out there. We’re starting with Upvoted because it deserves that top spot.

---

1. Upvoted: The Feedback Board That Doesn’t Suck

Obviously I’m a little biased here, but seriously. Upvoted is not just another voting board. It is built to be useful for real teams and real users. You can spin up public or private boards in seconds, drop a widget anywhere on your site, and just like that, you're collecting feedback that actually means something.

What makes it great:

• You collect smart feedback. Users can upvote, comment, and request features all in one spot.
• You build with purpose. Turn feedback into a visual roadmap that tracks progress from "proposed" to "published."
• You choose your visibility. Go public to get the community involved or stay private for internal team planning.
• You embed it anywhere. One line of code and you are good to go. No hassle, no dev time wasted.
• You keep everyone aligned. From stakeholders to engineers, everyone stays in the loop.

Pricing options:

• Standard plan is $15.20 per month
• Lifetime deal is $232 one-time. No recurring fees, ever.

If spreadsheets are your current "feedback system," trust me, it’s time for an upgrade.

Subscribe now: Upvoted

---

2. Canny: The OG With Enterprise Vibes

Canny has been around for a while and it shows. It is polished, feature-packed, and integrates with all the big tools. Enterprise teams love it, but it can feel like overkill if you are running a lean operation.

Pros:

• It integrates with tools like Intercom, Slack, and Jira
• Great choice for larger teams with big budgets

Cons:

• Gets expensive fast if you scale up
• Less flexibility for doing things your own way

---

3. Nolt: Super Clean and Straightforward

Nolt is a go-to for indie makers and small startups. It is simple and it works. No fluff.

Why people love it:

• Setup is ridiculously fast
• Public roadmaps look sleek and polished

Limitations to keep in mind:

• Workflow options are limited
• Private boards are locked behind higher tiers

---

4. Sleekplan: Feedback, Surveys, and Changelog All in One

Sleekplan goes beyond just upvoting. It adds surveys, changelogs, and a bunch of other feedback tools. It is like a Swiss Army knife for product teams.

Good for:

• Teams that want a complete feedback suite
• Creating a full feedback loop, from suggestion to release

Not so good for:

• Simple needs. If you only want upvotes and a roadmap, it might be overkill
• The interface takes a bit of getting used to

---

If you want a modern, clean, and user-friendly way to collect feedback, prioritize features, and build a roadmap that people actually follow, go with Upvoted. It is straightforward, flexible, and priced in a way that makes sense.

Give it a try. Launch a board, share it with your users, and start making data-backed product decisions right away.