Every few months, a new Node.js framework promises to revolutionize how we build backends. And every few months, I find myself reaching for Express anyway.
It's not that I'm opposed to new tools—I use Next.js for most frontend work and I'm genuinely excited about what Bun is doing. But when I need to spin up an API quickly, Express gives me exactly what I need without the overhead.
The Case for Boring Technology
Express has been around since 2010. That's ancient in JavaScript years. But that age brings stability, a massive ecosystem of middleware, and documentation for virtually any problem you'll encounter.
When I'm building for clients, I'm not trying to pad my resume with cutting-edge tech. I'm trying to ship reliable software. Express lets me do that without fighting my tools.
When to Look Elsewhere
That said, Express isn't always the answer. For type-safe APIs, I've been enjoying tRPC with Next.js. For high-performance needs, Fastify is worth considering. The right tool depends on the job.
But for a straightforward REST API? Express still gets it done.