Node.js: The Documentary | An origin story

Back in 2008, most people thought of JavaScript as just a client-side language. But when Google's V8 appeared, young developer Ryan Dahl made the connection between non-blocking servers, V8, and JavaScript. It was by combining these key elements that he was able to create the now hugely popular Node.js.
What young Ryan Dahl probably didn't expect was how much forking drama would follow.
Join us as we delve into the origins of Node.js, meet some of its earliest contributors and explore the complicated dynamics between corporations using open source technologies and the dedicated community members who fuel their progress. Featuring interviews with Ryan Dahl (creator of Node.js), Isaac Schlueter (creator of npm) and more.
Check out the home for untold developer stories around open source, careers and all the other cool stuff developers are doing at cult.honeypot.io.
Honeypot is a developer-focused job platform, on a mission to get developers great jobs. Wanna see what we're all about? Visit honeypot.io to find a job you love.
To learn more about Honeypot: bit.ly/3TH1PEe
Follow the cast:
Bert Belder: / piscisaureus
Isaac Schlueter: / izs
Mikeal Rogers: / mikeal
Myles Borins: / mylesborins
Ryan Dahl: tinyclouds.org/
Scott Hammond: / scott_hammond
Follow us:
Twitter: / honeypotio
Facebook: / honeypotio
LinkedIn: / honeypotio
Instagram: / honeypot.cult
00:00-04:50 Ryan Dahl and the beginning of Node.js
04:50-09:44 Isaac Schlueter and the creation of npm
09:44-13:10 Node.js getting traction
13:10-14:27 Maintaining projects in 2009
14:27-17:38 Corporate sponsorship and growth
17:38-18:45 Bert Belder's DB migration
18:45-22:37 First phase at Joyent
22:37-25:00 Joyent buying Node.js trademarks
25:00-29:58 Node.js working on Windows, libuv
29:58-34:11 Ryan leaving, Isaac takes over
34:11-36:23 Myles Borins' art project
36:23-39:42 Changes in the team
39:42-49:40 Releases slowing down and Node Forward
49:49-53:32 io.js fork
53:32-59:20 Mending the fork and Foundation
59:20-1:00:40 Afterthoughts
1:00:40-01:02:07 Ryan Dahl and the impact of Node.js
01:02:07-01:02:48 Credits

[@learnwithtosin461]

Honeypot the Netflix of Developers.

[@mostafavii]

Exactly

[@claudioiombo5337]

I just hoped they had more content

[@aguluman]

Very true and OfferZen Origins

[@ehza]

Precisely

[@blessdarah1256]

There was no better way to put it.

[@pierreyves.lebrun]

I was planning to go watch Dune 2 at the theatre this evening but this has higher priority now :D

[@Honeypotio]

Don't worry, this movie has spice as well! 😉

[@IsaacSchlueter]

@@Honeypotio Somewhat fewer explosions and knife fights, though

[@gradientO]

​@@IsaacSchlueter The guy himself 👀

[@urban8499]

Common senior html engineer dub

[@davidpaez_co]

Good choice!

[@jomoju]

30 minutes of history, 20 minutes of corporate drama. This is the best movie ever

[@memaimu]

W-what about the other 13 minutes?

[@jomoju]

@@memaimu 3 minutes credits , 10 minutes of silence

[@DontFretBrett]

This would make a great movie! Due to the esoteric nature it would probably be a box office flop though. Ryan Gosling could play Dahl. 😂

[@Bebtelovimab]

The Plumbers Union: a History

[@MohdYaseenmas]

@@jomoju lol

[@abhishekdas2512]

Node.js has helped me earn my bread, open up a new world of possibilities for me. Thank you Ryan.

[@adarshchakraborty955]

same

[@ryanrahman26]

Same thank you for creating it Ryan Dahl

[@nyahhbinghi]

same same...back in the Java 1.5 days ...I almost gave up on coding

[@vikk1249]

Same here

[@scottcorgan]

node.js changed my professional life. will always be thankful

[@nyahhbinghi]

same

[@albinopepegas8391]

@@nyahhbinghi same lol

[@muneerahammed5541]

i want learn node js

[@UliTroyo]

I love that Honeypot’s documentaries are so good that everyone wants one about their fondest dev tech.

[@palbijewar6070]

Node.js gave me a career. No matter what new tech tools I learn, I'll forever be grate full and still amazed about node.js and its capabilities.✨

[@Kane0123]

I have zero no knowledge or intention of starting to use JavaScript or Node. But only a pleb wouldn’t love the celebration of people coming together to do cool stuff… awesome video

[@xifu6974]

Almost every app or website you use employs Node.js/JavaScript in one way or another.

[@robertm26]

The first time I used Node, I opened a support case with AWS to report that my Lambda function code was not advancing past the callback line. The support guy must have chuckled, but he sent me some links to learn async programming, and I was hooked. Fantastic documentary!

[@wgetdj]

I believe that these documentaries are among the most effective methods to inspire developers to learn and craft exceptional products. Each of them is a true gem, offering valuable insights and motivation.

[@matsrygaard2127]

These honeypot documentaries are truly an amazing contribution to human culture - a part of it that touches so many, but so seldom treated with the love it deserves. A big thank you to the honeypot team from a kitchen in Stockholm!

[@NotSoTechie]

Node.Js change the history of developers ❤

[@alejandropinzoncastillo6598]

Amazing! I didn't know about the behind-the-scenes story and drama! This is a great piece of tech history. Well done, Honeypot. Thanks for creating this. 🚀

[@krippri]

Wonderful! I started getting into Node.js in fall of 2014 for a project with a Raspberry Pi. I transitioned some code from PHP that was running with Apache (heavy for an old Pi) and saw such a drastic reduction in CPU and resource usage that I was hooked. Load average plummeted from 0.55-0.85 to 0.01-0.06. Then I started leveraging more Node.js-style design idioms, and haven't looked back. It powers the web interface for my sensors, manages my music, lets me control my own live stream, and more. I even have an isolated instance of Node.js v0.10.36 on an old board that is still running reliably. Currently, I’m on Node.js v20 on a Raspberry Pi 4 with 64-bit Debian Bookworm, and the performance improvements are remarkable! A big thank you to the amazing community and for this insightful, moving documentary on such a transformational technology!

[@vectoralphaAI]

I LOVED the Ruby on Rails documentary and the React JS Documentary. This is going to be awesome. PLEASE, PLEASE!! make one on Django also one day. I would love to see a documentary on the Django framework.

[@aiedenoldstien9751]

I'm kind of glad DarkViper talked about the whole drama. I would've never found this amazing documentary otherwise.

[@josemaenzo]

I came back from the future and I really love your documentary about Deno.

[@Honeypotio]

😂

[@snehanshuphukon728]

I was expecting atleast some mention of Deno 😢

[@1anre]

Have they done the PHP & C++ one yet? Bjarne is still alive, better to get him on camera now before it's too late.

[@byte_easel]

really really love how you guys get access to the creators of the frameworks themselves and the level of effort that goes into storytelling/narrating, editing, and even cinematography. i feel so so inspired everytime i watch these. the one that last had me the most motivated was that graphQL documentary

[@Honeypotio]

Thanks so much and glad you enjoy them because yes we do indeed put in a lot of effort 😊

[@8Trails50]

I have a lot to thank for Ryan + all the contributors to Node. When I was studying in college, the main programming language was Java and basically just built toy apps that wouldn't really teach students anything. I wanted to build something for myself and I started learning Node. That learning ended up landing my first job. I am now 7+ years in the industry, but it all started from Node.js

[@aladeadeseun5288]

Node has help me to come up with my first app and got me my first job. Thanks to Ryan, npm and everyone that made Node one of the best backend framework. My next app currently loading.

[@vpetryniak]

I am waiting for history of Deno !! Great work!!!!

[@adarshchakraborty955]

This is so well made. The Transitions are amazing.

[@user-rt8nh4xl8u]

Love from India 🇮🇳. Thanks a lot nodejs team for developing such a great technology. I currently make a living from this great open source tool.

[@SachinBhatnagar]

I discovered Node in 2010 and haven't looked back since. Thank you Ryan and team! Great documentary!

[@muhammadvidi9082]

able to use node made me land my first job ever..forever gratitude towards this software and the history behind it..thankyou so much!

[@amanksdotdev]

All the people featured here are so important in the history of web. JavaScript wouldn't be this popular without them. This documentary will be a classic for developers in future. Thanks honeypot.

[@evanhl4878]

Actually thoroughly enjoyed this. The production quality was also amazing. Thank you Honeypot!

[@samnewman9863]

This has crazy nostalgia for me. I’ve rode the node wave since 2011. All the old resources watched. I even met Issac once at a conference. All the incredible people that made this happen

[@ShnizzleBedizzle]

This was brilliantly done, I'll watch it multiple times to soak in the details, can't thank you enough for the work ! Just well done !

[@ikudev]

Just like a Hollywood blockbuster movie that keeps me engaged from the first minute to the end! Great thanks, Honeypot!

[@lukaszkups]

This is the best documentary I've ever seen, thank you for this, Honeypot 💛

[@carlmathisen]

Thank you for yet another great and well produced documentary! Honeypot's videos are really important, as they give open source contributors a well deserved thank you by shining light on their stories. Contributors don't get nearly as much credit as they deserve.

[@aarong2374]

been watching web development from a distance. Really enjoyed and value the work you've done here. Thanks!

[@supersakib62]

Loving Honeypots Documentary! Did not know so much struggle NodeJS developers faced. What a great tool! Thanks Ryan Dahl and team for this gift!

[@Shawky_04]

Kind of mad that I'm only discovering this channel now. This is gold!

[@maddgaming1857]

Same here love from India 😢 guies your documentaries always make me feel blessed like this is what I love the raw review from original contributers I feel like the guy who made node and like I love you guys honeypot amazing documentaries which shows the struggle of passionate developers like us who fought for their passion❤

[@Honeypotio]

Thank yoooou!

[@DevMadeEasy]

Absolutely loved this Node.js story! As someone with a channel dedicated to showcasing my passion for JS, I can't get enough of insightful content like this. Keep up the fantastic work!😀

[@ryanbrownie4634]

Netflix can't come close to this . Great work done by the team behind this looking forward to more.

[@danielyu7533]

"Instability and chaos actually make it stronger." "The most positive part of this whole story is despite any of the challenges, despite any of the personal conflict, despite any of the like corporate posturing Node is still strong." These two sentences pretty much summarize how open source and Node.js work.

[@Libertariun]

Really inspiring.

[@thiagocavalcanti]

Awesome job Honeypot!! I really loved all you documentary so far. About node.js, it really make us fell like we can do almost anything

[@mirjalol49]

Editing style, all are real documentary video. High quality

[@0ninetyseven97]

This should be a series on Netflix for software developers. Quality videos!

[@bllyanos]

Node.js gave me my first job years ago. Thank you Ryan

[@yt.neerajkumar]

Thank you entire Node.js team. Because of it I fall in love with JS backend development. Thank you Honeypot. Amazing documentary ❤

[@rstark]

Ryan Dahl is such an interesting guy, honeypot could u please make an interview or a podcast with him in some near future?

[@jaicarey7023]

I never thought this day would come.. But after, what, nearly a decade..? I have decided to enable KZbin notifications on my phone for the first time and I clicked that little bell icon. I am just a hobbyist, but I have always loved writing software (even if I'm not that great). And I don't suspect that this will ever change. This documentary is so very inspiring for me. I have always been a bit fearful of contributing to open source projects.. I would probably use excuses such as a missing software engineering title, or that I'm "self taught". Ultimately, I think it mostly just boils down to ego; Enjoying the blissful feeling of being a big fish in the little pond that is my own mind.. (lol?) But after watching this video, I have set myself a goal to make at least one pull request this year and see what happens. And if for some reason I remember this post, I'll let the invested readers know how I went.

[@Haxory1]

Thanks for those awesome documentaries. No matter our personal opinions on the tech, NodeJS and the other tech in the other documentaries you made deserve and are part of computer science history

[@chyldstudios]

love these documentaries on the origin of open source tools

[@shasantv]

Our Love for Open Source

[@bpleshka]

Great documentary! Enjoyed every minute. Amazing work Ida, and team! 👏

[@partyk1d24]

I love being a J2EE Certified Node Developer, (I can also do Rust, Go, R, etc but I am talking about what sells) I am just sad I don't use my Node stuff as much as I did in my last gig. You guys Rock!!! And my personal site has been in Node probably since 2009.

[@alexandrumih]

Wow, nice to watch this documentary about something that pays my bills :) Thank you!

[@TheFatHampster]

This is great! I never knew about all the early node drama!

[@inzamamulhaque2153]

thank you honeypot for bringing us these amazing stories 🙌🏼

[@MarcusHammarberg]

As many other said - Node.js changed my life and career. thanks a lot for making this awesome framework

[@aarondunphy_]

Great documentary 👏 would love a video dedicated on Ryan Dahl!

[@ovflowd]

As someone part of the Node project.... This has been, a journey exciting to watch and to be part of.

[@MarlonEnglemam]

Just watched this from start to finish at the gym. Loved it!

[@danvilela]

The guy waiting for the machine: 💀

[@shahreazneeloy2119]

Wonderful. What a story. This project made JavaScript immortal. Thanks ryan.

[@ranjitm18]

Thanks for making this documentary! It motivates to learn NodeJS ❤

[@bensilvoza7330]

Thank you for all that you do Ryan! Will always be thankful.

[@DontFretBrett]

I love these language / tool documentaries so much. Thank you!

[@CoolSuedePumas]

So awesome and insightful. As a newbie dev, it makes life a lot easier when it comes to understanding complex stuff like Node.js to really get a good backdrop of WHY you are learning what you are learning. i.e. To get at the root of HOW things came to be from the narrative as told by the founder and early contributors (As opposed to simply learning how to use Node step by step without any context). I think this is my new additional format to add to my arsenal of learning to code: Documentaries! Honeypot give me more! I wonder if there are some on React and the other front end frameworks.. Thanks a bunch!

[@SajadJalilian]

These documentaries are absolutely awesome. Please keep doing them. ❤❤

[@mostafavii]

So lovely to watch it. Keep it up Honeypot.

[@vaibhavshukla1685]

GREAT TO SEE THIS DOCUMENTARY WHICH IS MY FIRST ONE IN THIS CHANNEL... GREAT ONE

[@alec5135]

Very high quality work. Excellent documentary.

[@varunvc532]

when i put it in 'watch later,' there's no way i could have told the serotonin rush, the inspiration it would give me and finally leave me in tears. goddamn!

[@user-hx1ku8sp8c]

Great doco - I think I moved to node.js around 2010 .. incredible innovation that was a mix of deep understanding of unix flavor and history, and a modern functional language... powered by a superb installer.

[@logusgraphics]

Thank you Ryan for the career that Node.js allowed me to have.

[@hometheatre9978]

I can still remember when my business partner called me and said he'd heard about Node.JS from a Stack Overflow post and that he had decided to re-write all of the server-side code from PHP to Node because he was frustrated at lag and delay from the server. Not knowing if it would make a difference or ultimately run slower he spend the whole weekend working on the re-write. Monday morning he rang me all excited and began to give me the speed comparison results going from PHP to Node. We haven't looked back since!

[@tefkah]

awesome work! never knew about the whole Joyent drama

[@zaimcodes]

Nodejs contributed the most in my early days while looking for software engineering work, landed a decent one. Thanks, Ryan!

[@moherna3323]

For those saying “there is no need to go to college” or “you don’t need math” this is how cool technology stuff is created. Thank you Ryan!

[@Ni8mR]

You have pointed out a "good point."

[@judevector]

HoneyPot at it again, I love you guys ❤- The Netflix of Developers This videos always gives me chills and appreciate this community day in day out

[@Chaaos2]

This was so awesome and well done. Thank you for documenting it like this! Silicon valley irl. Love the entrepreneurial spirit. The open source programming community has no equal

[@franciscoborges7897]

Great video!! I was developing in nodejs while listening to the documentary :)

[@amadzarak7746]

Thank you Ryan Dahl for giving me a way to provide for my family ❤

[@abhijeetghosh27]

Amazing curation and lovely insights out of the history. Great work as usual @Honeypot 👌😀 Keep telling the developer stories that needs to be heard .. Lots of ♥♥♥

[@DKAl-vc1rm]

Finally a documantry that feels like home to me. Thank you Honeypot. Can't wait to see something on C++.

[@hemantraghav1210]

Waiting for this since its trailer release. Love from India !!! Thank you "Honeypot' for making such good documentaries on technologies, that as a Software developer, I learn and use.

[@GajanandaAdhikari]

Very sweet documentary! Nicely done.

[@charlesbcraig]

I can’t get enough of these docs!

[@toritsejuFO]

Honeypot does it again. Really amazing guys!! Love it. Keep up the good work 👍🏿 I first wrote a line of code in java on my phone back in 2016 in school, but a year later JS/Node.js was what definitely set me on career progress. Grateful ever since.

[@FloWoelki]

Such a lovely documentary! Really well done Honeypot team!

[@Honeypotio]

🤗

[@GoatNews]

Really would love a jQuery Documentary with version 4 going to be released soon ...

[@knnmran]

NodeJs changed my life. thank you!

[@fintech1378]

How

[@knnmran]

@@fintech1378 i started out as a Java dev and it was not working well for me. i really started grasping software when i was introduced to nodejs and everything started clicking because it just fit so well together and it was easy to implement. to implement a library it was mostly copy paste of the example from the npm page and change few things. async await made it even more easier, i avoided callbacks and promises at all cost to keep it simple. all of this gave me a lot of confidence in what i do, at the time where i desperately needed it!

[@tomtran1458]

Thank you Ryan and Node JS core team. You guys are rock star ⭐

[@sagarvarade]

Everything on hold till I finish this masterpiece 🎉🎉❤❤

[@glebkraitcer3109]

Very cool movie. Thank you honeypot, i spent time with pleasure

[@miteshbhagwant4615]

Thanks Ryan for everything ❤

[@dhruvilmahidhariya3177]

one of the best documentaries I have ever seen to be honest.

[@CarlosWashingtonMercado]

Guys, amazing work with this video! Keep them coming.

[@jepleas9159]

I enjoyed this as much as the TypeScript origins documentary.

[@life_sized]

Thanks for making this!

[@skratta]

im glad to find a channel for developers

[@prashanthkumar0]

Nice to watch what really goes behind these softwares.

[@minalahuja2846]

Amazing documentary, It was just perfect. I don't even know how my 1 hour completed I was so much into it. Thanks !

[@romanortynskyi]

This is exactly what I was waiting for! Honeypot never fails to make an interesting documentary. I feel truly satisified after watching this one;)

[@user-rb7gu8su7y]

that is a really nice developer's movie, great job Honeypot. The Io.js and Node.js drama is super at that time.