Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Node.js VS rcmd

Compare Node.js VS rcmd and see what are their differences

Node.js logo Node.js

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

rcmd logo rcmd

rcmd makes app switching instantaneous!When you have a lot of apps open, finding and switching to them might feel too slow using Command-Tab or the Dock.Hold down the right side |⌘ command| and press the first letter of the app name to focus it.
  • Node.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-18
  • rcmd Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-11-22

Put that right Command key to good use

Hold down ⌘ command and press the first letter of the app name to focus apps instantly.

When pressing the key while the app is already focused, you can choose to hide the app or cycle to the next app with the same first letter.

Assign custom keys for your favorite apps

Hold down ⌘ command + ⌥ option and press any letter to assign that letter to the currently focused app.

When an app is in the static list:

  • the assigned key can launch the app when it isn't running
  • the Hide/Cycle setting can be adjusted on a per-app basis.

rcmd

$ Details
paid $12.99 / One-off
Platforms
Mac OSX
Release Date
2021 November

Node.js features and specs

  • Asynchronous and Event-Driven
    Node.js uses an asynchronous, non-blocking, and event-driven I/O model, making it efficient and scalable for handling multiple simultaneous connections.
  • JavaScript Everywhere
    Developers can use JavaScript for both client-side and server-side programming, providing a unified language environment and better synergy between front-end and back-end development.
  • Large Community and NPM
    Node.js has a vibrant community and a rich ecosystem with the Node Package Manager (NPM), which offers thousands of open-source libraries and tools that can be integrated easily into projects.
  • High Performance
    Built on the V8 JavaScript engine from Google, Node.js translates JavaScript directly into native machine code, which increases performance and speed.
  • Scalability
    Designed with microservices and scalability in mind, Node.js enables easy horizontal scaling across multiple servers.
  • JSON Support
    Node.js seamlessly handles JSON, which is a common format for API responses, making it an excellent choice for building RESTful APIs and data-intensive real-time applications.

Possible disadvantages of Node.js

  • Callback Hell
    The reliance on callbacks to manage asynchronous operations can lead to deeply nested and difficult-to-read code, commonly referred to as 'Callback Hell'.
  • Not Suitable for CPU-Intensive Tasks
    Node.js is optimized for I/O operations and can become inefficient for CPU-intensive tasks, slowing down overall performance due to its single-threaded event loop.
  • Immaturity of Tools
    Compared to more established technologies, some Node.js libraries and tools still lack maturity and comprehensive documentation, which can be challenging for developers.
  • Callback and Promise Overheads
    Managing asynchronous operations using callbacks or promises can lead to additional complexity and overhead, impacting maintainability and performance if not handled correctly.
  • Fragmented Ecosystem
    The fast-paced evolution of Node.js and its ecosystem can lead to fragmentation, with numerous versions and libraries that may not always be compatible with each other.
  • Security Issues
    The extensive use of third-party libraries via NPM can introduce security vulnerabilities if not properly managed and updated, making applications more susceptible to attacks.

rcmd features and specs

  • Instant app switching
  • Dynamic hotkeys based on app usage
  • Launch apps when not running

Analysis of Node.js

Overall verdict

  • Node.js is a popular and effective choice for building a wide range of applications, from small utilities to large-scale enterprise solutions. Its performance, speed, and community support make it a strong option, especially for real-time applications.

Why this product is good

  • Node.js is considered good because it's built on Google Chrome's V8 JavaScript Engine, making it fast and efficient for handling I/O operations. Its event-driven, non-blocking I/O model makes it suitable for building scalable network applications. Additionally, it has a large ecosystem of packages available through npm, allowing developers to find solutions for almost any problem they might encounter.

Recommended for

  • Web applications with a lot of I/O operations
  • Real-time services such as chat applications
  • APIs for mobile and single-page applications
  • Prototyping and agile development
  • Microservices architecture

Analysis of rcmd

Overall verdict

  • Overall, RCMD is positively reviewed by users who appreciate its simplicity and functionality. It is especially favored by those who work in environments where command line operations are common, and who seek to enhance their workflow.

Why this product is good

  • RCMD, provided by Lowtechguys.com, is generally considered good for users looking for a simple and efficient command line tool for reducing repetitive tasks and improving productivity. It offers a streamlined interface and valuable features for those who frequently manage multiple commands and scripts.

Recommended for

    RCMD is recommended for developers, system administrators, and tech enthusiasts who rely on command line tools and need an effective way to run and manage multiple commands efficiently.

Node.js videos

What is Node.js? | Mosh

More videos:

  • Review - What is Node.js Exactly? - a beginners introduction to Nodejs
  • Review - Learn node.js in 2020 - A review of best node.js courses

rcmd videos

rcmd App Demo

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Node.js and rcmd)
Developer Tools
98 98%
2% 2
Mac
0 0%
100% 100
Runtime
100 100%
0% 0
Productivity
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

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

Node.js Reviews

Top JavaScript Frameworks in 2025
JavaScript is widely used for back-end or server-side development because it makes a call to the remote server when a web page loads on the browser. When a browser loads a web page, it makes a call to a remote server. Further, the code parses the page’s URL to understand users’ requirements before retrieving and transforming the required data to serve back to the browser....
Source: solguruz.com
9 Best JavaScript Frameworks to Use in 2023
Node.js applications are written in JavaScript and run on the Node.js runtime, which allows them to be executed on any platform that supports Node.js. Node.js applications are typically event-driven and single-threaded, making them efficient and scalable. Additionally, the Node Package Manager (NPM) provides a way to install and manage dependencies for Node.js projects...
Source: ninetailed.io
20 Best JavaScript Frameworks For 2023
TJ Holowaychuk built Express in 2010 before being acquired by IBM (StrongLoop) in 2015. Node.js Foundation currently maintains it. The key reason Express is one of the best JavaScript frameworks is its rapid server-side coding. Complex tasks that would take hours to code using pure Node.js can be resolved in a few minutes, thanks to Express. On top of that, Express offers a...
FOSS | Top 15 Web Servers 2021
Node.js is a cross-platform server-side JavaScript environment built for developing and running network applications such as web servers. Node.js is licensed under a variety of licenses. As of March 2021, around 1.2% of applications were running on Node.js. Among the top companies and applications utilizing this modern web server are GoDaddy, Microsoft, General Electric,...
Source: www.zentao.pm
10 Best Tools to Develop Cross-Platform Desktop Apps 
Electron.js is compatible with a variety of frameworks, libraries, access to hardware-level APIs and chromium engine, and Node.js support. Electron Fiddle feature is great for experimentation as it allows developers to play around with concepts and templates. Simplification is at the center of Electron because developers don’t have to spend unnecessary time on the packaging,...

rcmd Reviews

  1. Easier and faster to navigate through apps

    Since I managed to get used with this app I can't imagine a day of work without it. Incredible powerful and easy to use / configure.

    👍 Pros:    Increases your productivity
    👎 Cons:    You need a little time to get used with it
  2. Stan
    · Founder at SaaSHub ·
    A useful productivity tool

    rcmd is something that could potentially turbocharge your productivity. However! you will need to get used to using it.

    My only issue is that I forget about it ¯_(ツ)_/¯

    👍 Pros:    Improves your productivity
    👎 Cons:    It's super easy to forget that it exists

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Node.js seems to be a lot more popular than rcmd. While we know about 901 links to Node.js, we've tracked only 46 mentions of rcmd. 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.

Node.js mentions (901)

  • How to install Tailwind v4 in a Vite project
    This was the first step I took as my Node version was outdated. To check your Node version, use the command node -v. The latest version of Node can be obtained via the official website. - Source: dev.to / about 8 hours ago
  • 🔥 Why Everyone Is Talking About HTMX: The Game-Changer for Web Development
    🌍 Who Should Use HTMX? ✅ Django / Flask / Rails developers ✅ Express / Node.js backend lovers ✅ Fullstack devs who want LESS frontend headache ✅ Teams jo SSR + SEO ko priority dete hain. - Source: dev.to / 10 days ago
  • How to Easily Integrate the SeerBit Payment Solution with React.js
    Node.js v12+ installed on your machine. You can download it from the official site. - Source: dev.to / 18 days ago
  • Building a Responsive Carousel Component in React: The Complete Guide
    Before starting, you must have npm installed on your computer, which comes bundled with Node.js which you can install from here. - Source: dev.to / 16 days ago
  • Using NanoAPI on Game Mods
    Napi works out of the box on both mac and Linux systems. To use this tool on Windows, you will need to install WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) and run the CLI commands from there. Make sure that Node.js (>=22) and npm are installed https://nodejs.org/en. Then the command we run is npm install -g @nanoapi.io/napi. - Source: dev.to / 26 days ago
View more

rcmd mentions (46)

  • Mac browser Arc being discontinued in favor of new Dia app
    Might not meet your needs but I had similar issues and found an app called rcmd, it lets me easily bind keybinds to my commonly used apps, and you can also easily toggle between multiple windows of the same app via the keyboard https://lowtechguys.com/rcmd/ - no affiliation, and probably other similar options are available. - Source: Hacker News / 8 days ago
  • The Future Is Niri
    [rcmd - Switch apps instantly using the ⌘ Right Command key](https://lowtechguys.com/rcmd/). - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
  • Moom 4, the next-generation window manager
    You may want to check out [rcmd](https://lowtechguys.com/rcmd/). - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • It's been almost 9 months since Ventura was released. What's your thoughts about "Stage Manager"?
    Recommending rCMD for the most efficient way of switching between apps. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Anime.js – A lightweight JavaScript animation library
    One less known use case for this is creating animated UI demos, which as a dev I find harder to do using video editing software. I used it to create the simple demo on the rcmd frontpage: https://lowtechguys.com/rcmd This is the code, where I'm just animating elements of an SVG I previously created with Sketch: https://github.com/FuzzyIdeas/lowtechguys/blob/main/src/rcmd/index.plim#L211-L379 But because Lunar's... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Node.js and rcmd, you can also consider the following products

VS Code - Build and debug modern web and cloud applications, by Microsoft

Contexts - Switch between application windows effortlessly — with Fast Search, a better Command-Tab, a Sidebar or even a quick gesture. Free trial available.

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

Charmstone - The quicker switcher launcher for macOS

Laravel - A PHP Framework For Web Artisans

Lacona - Fast, simple, powerful keyboard-driven commands for Mac