Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Sails.js VS Adonis JS

Compare Sails.js VS Adonis JS and see what are their differences

Sails.js logo Sails.js

Realtime MVC Framework for Node.js

Adonis JS logo Adonis JS

AdonisJs is a Node.js web framework with breath of fresh air and drizzle of elegant syntax on top of it
  • Sails.js Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-14
  • Adonis JS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-20

Sails.js features and specs

  • MVC Architecture
    Sails.js follows a Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern, making it easier to organize and maintain code, particularly for larger applications.
  • Auto-Generated REST APIs
    Automatically generates RESTful APIs based on your models, saving development time and reducing boilerplate code.
  • WebSocket Support
    Built-in support for WebSockets allows for real-time features without needing additional configurations.
  • ORM Integration
    Waterline, Sails.js' built-in ORM, provides a straightforward way to interact with databases, supporting multiple database systems with the same codebase.
  • Modularity
    Encourages modular development by supporting hooks and middleware, which can be reused or extended for various functionalities.
  • Blueprints
    Blueprints provide automatic actions for basic CRUD operations, streamlining common tasks and making development faster.
  • Scalability
    Designed to be scalable, allowing you to build applications that can handle a large number of simultaneous connections.

Possible disadvantages of Sails.js

  • Learning Curve
    Although Sails.js simplifies many aspects of development, there is still a learning curve, especially for those not familiar with Node.js.
  • Performance Overhead
    The abstractions provided by Sails.js and its ORM can introduce performance overhead, potentially making it slower than more lightweight frameworks.
  • Limited Flexibility
    While the conventions in Sails.js can speed up development, they can also limit flexibility, making it harder to implement customized or unconventional features.
  • Community and Support
    The community and support for Sails.js are not as extensive as some other frameworks like Express.js, which might make troubleshooting and finding solutions more challenging.
  • Outdated Documentation
    Some parts of the documentation may be outdated, which can lead to confusion and require additional time to find updated resources or examples.

Adonis JS features and specs

  • Modern Eco-System
    AdonisJS uses the latest JavaScript (ES6/ES7) features, providing an up-to-date and efficient development environment. This includes async/await for handling asynchronous code, making it easier to write and understand.
  • ORM Support
    The framework includes a built-in ORM called Lucid, which simplifies database interactions by allowing developers to work with database records through straightforward JavaScript models.
  • MVC Architecture
    AdonisJS follows the Model-View-Controller (MVC) design pattern, which helps organize code in a clean and maintainable manner, making it easier to manage large applications.
  • Built-In Authentication and Authorization
    AdonisJS comes with out-of-the-box solutions for user authentication and authorization, reducing the time required to set up these critical features in applications.
  • Thorough Documentation
    AdonisJS provides comprehensive and well-maintained documentation, which makes it easier for developers to get started and find solutions to their problems quickly.
  • Rich CLI
    The Command Line Interface (CLI) for AdonisJS is rich with features, facilitating a range of tasks from project scaffolding to running migrations, thus speeding up the development process.

Possible disadvantages of Adonis JS

  • Learning Curve
    Although the framework is well-documented, its rich set of features and unique conventions can present a steep learning curve for beginners or those new to JavaScript frameworks.
  • Limited Ecosystem
    Compared to more established frameworks like Express.js or Laravel, AdonisJS has a smaller ecosystem of third-party packages and community resources.
  • Performance Overhead
    Due to its comprehensive feature set, AdonisJS can have more performance overhead compared to microframeworks that offer more control and fewer built-in features.
  • Smaller Community
    While growing, the community around AdonisJS is still smaller than that of other established frameworks. This can sometimes make it more challenging to find community-driven support and solutions.
  • Rapid Changes
    As a relatively new framework, AdonisJS undergoes frequent updates and changes. Keeping up with these changes can demand additional effort from developers.

Analysis of Sails.js

Overall verdict

  • Sails.js is a solid choice for developers who are already familiar with Node.js and require a well-structured framework to build scalable and maintainable applications quickly. Its convention over configuration approach can significantly increase development efficiency, though it may introduce a learning curve for developers unfamiliar with its conventions. Overall, it's a robust tool for building apps that need real-time features or are backed by databases.

Why this product is good

  • Sails.js is good for building data-driven APIs and real-time apps due to its adherence to the Model-View-Controller (MVC) pattern, compatibility with Node.js, and its powerful built-in features like websockets, which facilitate real-time communication. It provides a comprehensive framework with out-of-the-box support for ORM (via Waterline), making database interaction straightforward. This can significantly reduce the amount of boilerplate code needed to set up HTTP APIs and enhance development speed.

Recommended for

    Sails.js is recommended for developers and teams looking to build enterprise-level applications, startups that need to rapidly prototype and iterate on real-time applications, and any development projects that require a powerful, flexible API system. It is especially suitable for small to medium-sized projects that wish to leverage Node.js, and those who appreciate a comprehensive framework that can provide rapid development and robust feature sets.

Analysis of Adonis JS

Overall verdict

  • AdonisJS is a good choice for developers looking for a complete, opinionated framework with a focus on developer productivity and ease of use. It is especially beneficial for those who appreciate a well-documented toolkit with out-of-the-box features necessary for web development. However, like any framework, it may not be the best fit for every project, especially if you have specific requirements beyond what AdonisJS easily provides or if you prefer using a less opinionated environment.

Why this product is good

  • AdonisJS is a Node.js MVC framework tailored for building scalable server-side applications. It is often praised for its opinionated structure that makes it easy to follow best practices, which can accelerate development. Additionally, it offers built-in support for authentication, data modeling, and other features that are commonly needed in web applications, reducing the need for third-party packages. Its emphasis on developer experience, with features like an intuitive CLI, ORM, and an edge templating engine, contributes to its appeal among developers who prefer an all-in-one toolkit. Furthermore, the AdonisJS community is growing, and there are increasing resources and plugins available.

Recommended for

  • Developers building server-side applications with Node.js who need a structured approach.
  • Teams that benefit from having a consistent, opinionated setup with built-in features for common tasks.
  • Developers who appreciate a strong focus on development experience and concise documentation.
  • Projects that require scalability and maintainability without relying heavily on external packages.

Sails.js videos

Intro to Sails.js Framework for Next-Level Nodejs Backend Apps

More videos:

  • Review - Sails.js LOGIC 101: Dynamic data

Adonis JS videos

Tutoriel NodeJS : Découverte d'Adonis

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Sails.js and Adonis JS)
Web Frameworks
35 35%
65% 65
Developer Tools
32 32%
68% 68
JavaScript Framework
40 40%
60% 60
Javascript UI Libraries
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 Sails.js and Adonis JS

Sails.js Reviews

Top 14 Node.JS Frameworks: Which Will Rule in 2020?
This is another real-time MVC web development Node.js framework created on Express. It builds the latest, data-driven style of APIs and web apps. Sails.js can develop an API bookstore.

Adonis JS Reviews

We have no reviews of Adonis JS yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Adonis JS should be more popular than Sails.js. It has been mentiond 79 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.

Sails.js mentions (26)

  • AdonisJS
    I haven't used either so I can't chime in on that front, but long ago I was pretty into Sails which is written by a team that loves rails, but switched to NodeJS so it's basically Node on Rails. I actually thought they discontinued it, but I just searched and it still exists. It was a solid framework like 5 years ago when I used it last so I assume it's quite mature now. https://sailsjs.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
  • Choosing the best JavaScript framework for your next project
    Sails is a realtime JavaScript framework built on top of Express. Sails offers built-in realtime communication support and a flexible routing system. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • Best NodeJS frameworks for seamless backend development
    Sails is a realtime MVC framework for NodeJS built on top of Express. Sails has a flexible routing system and comes with built-in realtime communication support. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • The Ascent of Node.js: How a runtime changed the Web
    Sails.js: Sails.js pitched itself as the MVC framework for Node.js, bringing a Rails-like experience while being database agnostic. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
  • WebSockets 101
    Disclaimer: I didn't know much about Websockets 1 week ago, all the experience I had with Websockets was when I developed a chat application back in 2016 using a JS framework that tried to be a Ruby on Rails implementation called SailsJS, so I decided to research about this technology and consumed multiple resources which I will link in this blog post and each section. - Source: dev.to / almost 2 years ago
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Adonis JS mentions (79)

  • The One-Person Framework in Practice
    I'm currently building out an app using AdonisJS. Its billed as a Rails like experience but in node. https://adonisjs.com/ I did a comparison between Rails, Adonis and Fiber (a Go "framework") before settling on Adonis (mostly due to node ecosystem and type safety). It's been excellent so far, and the creator has an excellent series of tutorial videos that can get you up to speed quickly... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • My Software Development Process
    Database Migration files and Models: For my backend, my go to NodeJs framework is AdonisJS. I love it because it comes with libraries for building production ready applications out of the box such as auth, emails, CORS, migrations, seeders, etc. It also uses Typescript. So, I create a basic AdonisJS app, and using my Database design, I prepare database migration files and models that match, This is easy because... - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Validate your data structures with Vine in your Dart projects
    Vine is a data validation library developed by Harminder Virk for the Adonis framework. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • Web apps built with Ruby on Rails
    Have you checked https://adonisjs.com/ ? Seems it follows the Rails / Laravel way of doing things. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Rails is better low code than low code
    Https://adonisjs.com/ Adonis.js is just that. I have never used it beyond a quick test though so I can't say what it is like in production. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Sails.js and Adonis JS, you can also consider the following products

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

ASP.NET - ASP.NET is a free web framework for building great Web sites and Web applications using HTML, CSS and JavaScript.

Nest.js - A progressive Node.js framework for building efficient, reliable and scalable server-side applications.

Koa.js - Next generation web framework for node.js

Laravel - A PHP Framework For Web Artisans

CodeBehind Framework - CodeBehind is a new framework based on .NET Core version 7.0. The CodeBehind framework inherits all the features of .NET Core and gives it more simplicity and flexibility. CodeBehind framework is owned by Elanat.