Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Grails VS hapi.js

Compare Grails VS hapi.js and see what are their differences

Grails logo Grails

An Open Source, full stack, web application framework for the JVM

hapi.js logo hapi.js

Server Framework for Node.js
  • Grails Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-17
  • hapi.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-18

Grails features and specs

  • Rapid Development
    Grails promotes rapid development through its convention-over-configuration approach and powerful features, like scaffolding and GORM (Grails Object Relational Mapping), which speed up the coding process significantly.
  • Groovy Language Integration
    Being built on Groovy, a dynamic language for the Java platform, Grails provides the flexibility and expressiveness of Groovy while maintaining compatibility with Java libraries and tools.
  • Spring Boot Foundation
    Grails is built on top of Spring Boot, leveraging its robust dependency injection, security, and configuration management capabilities, which ensures the stability and scalability of applications.
  • Plugin Ecosystem
    Grails offers a rich ecosystem of plugins for extending the framework. This allows developers to easily integrate various functionalities without reinventing the wheel.
  • Convention-over-Configuration
    The framework emphasizes conventions for many aspects of the development process, reducing the need for extensive configuration and allowing developers to focus more on business logic.
  • Strong Community and Documentation
    Grails has a strong community and extensive documentation, which make it easier for developers to find solutions to problems, share knowledge, and get support.

Possible disadvantages of Grails

  • Learning Curve
    Despite its many conveniences, Grails has a steep learning curve, particularly for developers not familiar with Groovy or the underlying Spring framework.
  • Performance Overheads
    The abstraction layers and dynamic aspects of Groovy may introduce performance overheads, making Grails applications potentially slower than those built with more streamlined frameworks.
  • Limited Flexibility
    While Grails' conventions can be beneficial, they can also limit flexibility, forcing developers into certain patterns and practices even when they may not be ideal for all scenarios.
  • Less Popularity
    Compared to other frameworks like Spring Boot alone or Hibernate, Grails has a smaller market share, leading to fewer job opportunities and a smaller pool of resources.
  • Complex Debugging
    The dynamic nature of Groovy can sometimes make debugging more complex and challenging, especially for those accustomed to statically-typed languages like Java.
  • Dependency Management Issues
    Managing dependencies in Grails can occasionally be problematic, particularly when dealing with transitive dependencies or conflicts between plugins.

hapi.js features and specs

  • Configuration-Centric
    hapi.js promotes a configuration-centric approach, allowing developers to define and manage server settings, routes, and plugins through a clear and concise configuration object.
  • Plugin Architecture
    hapi.js has a robust plugin system which provides an easy way to extend functionality, modularize code, and manage dependencies. This makes it simple to add new features without altering the core structure.
  • Security Features
    hapi.js includes built-in security features such as input validation, authentication, and protection against common vulnerabilities like Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) and Cross-Site Scripting (XSS).
  • Detailed API Documentation
    hapi.js provides extensive and well-organized documentation, making it easier for developers to understand and utilize its features effectively.
  • Flexibility
    hapi.js offers high flexibility with optional middleware, allowing developers to choose how they want to handle requests and responses, integrate third-party libraries, and more.
  • Support for Asynchronous Code
    hapi.js has strong support for asynchronous programming, making it easier to handle non-blocking I/O operations and build scalable applications.

Possible disadvantages of hapi.js

  • Steep Learning Curve
    For developers unfamiliar with its configuration-centric approach or those coming from simpler frameworks, hapi.js can be more difficult to learn and master.
  • Reduced Ecosystem
    While rich in features, the ecosystem around hapi.js is not as extensive as some other Node.js frameworks like Express.js. This may lead to fewer ready-to-use plugins and community-driven tools.
  • Verbosity
    The configuration-centric nature of hapi.js can lead to more verbose code. This might be seen as a drawback for developers who prefer the minimalistic approach of other frameworks.
  • Performance Overhead
    hapi.js' rich feature set and abstraction layers can sometimes result in slight performance overhead compared to more minimalistic frameworks.
  • Community Size
    hapi.js has a smaller community compared to more popular Node.js frameworks, which may result in less community support, fewer tutorials, and slower issue resolution.

Analysis of Grails

Overall verdict

  • Grails is a good choice for developers who appreciate convention over configuration and are looking for a quick, efficient way to build web applications. Its integration with the JVM ecosystem makes it particularly appealing for those with existing Java knowledge or infrastructure. However, as with any technology, its suitability depends on specific project requirements and team expertise.

Why this product is good

  • Grails is considered a powerful web application framework built on Groovy and the Spring Framework. It promotes rapid development, convention over configuration, and is designed to be easy to learn for Java developers. Grails provides a variety of built-in features such as ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) with GORM, a robust plugin system, and seamless integration with third-party libraries and frameworks. It aims to boost productivity by simplifying tasks and reducing configuration overhead.

Recommended for

  • Java developers looking to increase productivity
  • Teams that prefer convention over configuration
  • Projects that require rapid development and prototyping
  • Developers interested in using the Groovy language
  • Applications that need seamless integration with the Spring Framework

Analysis of hapi.js

Overall verdict

  • Hapi.js is considered a good choice especially for teams and projects that benefit from its configurative approach and built-in features. While it may have a steeper learning curve compared to minimalist frameworks, its robustness and flexibility can pay off in complex project scenarios.

Why this product is good

  • Hapi.js is a powerful and flexible framework for building web and server applications in Node.js. It promotes a modular and configurative approach, which enhances maintainability and reusability of code. Hapi.js includes support for input validation, caching, authentication, and other key features right out of the box, making it a comprehensive solution for building scalable and secure applications.

Recommended for

  • Developers looking for an out-of-the-box solution with wide-ranging features
  • Teams prioritizing scalability and maintainability in their applications
  • Projects needing robust input validation and strong security features
  • Applications requiring a high level of customization through a plugin-based architecture

Grails videos

BUYING MY SNEAKER GRAILS ON STOCKX!

More videos:

  • Review - TOP 5 SNEAKER GRAILS
  • Review - Top 5 Grails with Superpower Review | Berkfamily54comics

hapi.js videos

Hapi.js Framework Crash Course

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Grails and hapi.js)
Web Frameworks
54 54%
46% 46
Developer Tools
58 58%
42% 42
Python Web Framework
55 55%
45% 45
JavaScript Tools
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Grails and hapi.js

Grails Reviews

17 Popular Java Frameworks for 2023: Pros, cons, and more
Although you have to write your code in Groovy, Grails works well with other Java-related technologies such as the Java Development Kit, Jakarta EE containers, Hibernate, and Spring. Under the hood, Grails is built on top of Spring Boot to make use of its productivity-friendly features like dependency injection. With Grails, you can achieve the same results with much less...
Source: raygun.com
10 Best Java Frameworks You Should Know
Grails is a web application framework developed using Apache Groovy Language. It is a Framework that follows the coding by convention method which provides a Standalone environment. Also, it supports instance development with no configuration required.

hapi.js Reviews

10 Best Next.js Alternatives to Consider Today
Hapi.js stands out as a robust framework for building applications and services with JavaScript. Known for its emphasis on configuration-driven development, Hapi.js offers a flexible and modular structure, simplifying the creation of RESTful APIs and server-side applications. Its extensive plugin system and detailed documentation make it an attractive option for developers...
The 20 Best Laravel Alternatives for Web Development
With Hapi, you get to mold your server framework like clay — sculpting routes, plugins, and the whole deal without breaking a sweat. It’s about building API artistries that are not just functional but fundamentally solid.
Top 10 Best Node. Js Frameworks to Improve Web Development
Hapi.js advances a comprehensive replacement for Express.js plus awards the extraordinary capacity to produce a server with astonishing characteristics with one particular IP. This presents Hapi.js as the commonly favored option for the Node.js frame.
Top Node.js Frameworks To Use In 2021
Hapi.js works like a charmer to construct safer, more extensible, more real-time application and social media. Developers typically use it to develop dynamic API explorer and proxies.
Top 14 Node.JS Frameworks: Which Will Rule in 2020?
Hapi provides an incredible capacity for building a server with great features like onPreHandler on a particular IP. This is why it is known as the most favorable option for the Node.js server framework.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, hapi.js should be more popular than Grails. It has been mentiond 29 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Grails mentions (6)

  • Mastering Node.js
    Trails is a modern web application framework. It builds on the pedigree of Rails and Grails to accelerate development by adhering to a straightforward, convention-based, API-driven design philosophy. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • RIFE2 web framework under development
    And frameworks like Grails build conventions and helpers on top of Spring. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Web app in Java with Template Engine
    I don't have any direct experience and am only suggesting it because you mentioned RoR...But Grails (https://grails.org/) is basically the JVM version of RoR (Groovy on Rails -> Grails). Source: over 2 years ago
  • Libraries other than Spring Boot for creating web APIs
    Grails - Spring under the hood. Much less boilerplate. Opinionated, which helps keep things consistent. Uses Spring-Security plugin for authentication. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • "get-it-done" MVC web framework like Django in Java?
    Also, Grails, which a Rails like framework build on Groovy, a JVM scripting language. Source: almost 4 years ago
View more

hapi.js mentions (29)

  • Deno's Decline
    > To me, peak JS era was express and koa.js. I cherish those times of calmer waters. At the time I had high hopes for Hapi.js (https://hapi.dev), created by Walmart folks. But I don't hear much about it these days. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • Ask HN: Is Express still "de-facto" for building Node back ends?
    I tend to use hapi (https://hapi.dev) instead of Express if I need to write a quick backend for something these days. Fastify looks nice too but I haven't used it. Been burnt by full-stack frameworks in the past (e.g. Meteor) but they can be a good option for some. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Unlocking the Power of NoSQL: Building a Todo API with Hapi.js and DynamoDB
    Hapi.js commonly referred to as "hapi," is an open-source web application framework for building web and application server systems in Node.js. It was created by Walmart Labs and is designed to provide a flexible and robust foundation for building web applications, APIs, and other networked software. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Node JS Microservice Frameworks for Developing Scalable Web Apps.
    Hapi – The Simple, Secure Framework Developers Trust. Source: about 2 years ago
  • 10 Node.js Frameworks Every Developer Should Know
    Hapi.js is one of the best Node.js web framework, which is used for developing application program interfaces. Thanks to a strong plugin system Hapi.js, you can fully manage the development process. Hapi.js motivates the devel­oper to focus on the reuse logic instead of spending time building the infrastructure. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Grails and hapi.js, you can also consider the following products

Ruby on Rails - Ruby on Rails is an open source full-stack web application framework for the Ruby programming...

ExpressJS - Sinatra inspired web development framework for node.js -- insanely fast, flexible, and simple

Django - The Web framework for perfectionists with deadlines

Meteor - Meteor is a set of new technologies for building top-quality web apps in a fraction of the time.

Laravel - A PHP Framework For Web Artisans

Node.js - Node.js is a platform built on Chrome's JavaScript runtime for easily building fast, scalable network applications