LoopBack vs StrongLoop: What are the differences?

Introduction LoopBack and StrongLoop are both frameworks that are used for developing applications, but they have key differences that set them apart. In this article, we will highlight and explain six main differences between LoopBack and StrongLoop.

1. Dependence on Node.js: LoopBack is built on top of Node.js, which means it relies on Node.js for its core functionality. StrongLoop, on the other hand, is the company behind LoopBack and provides additional tools and services on top of the LoopBack framework. Therefore, while LoopBack is dependent on Node.js, StrongLoop offers a more comprehensive set of tools and services.

2. Ease of Use: LoopBack is designed to make it easy for developers to quickly build APIs and microservices. It provides a high-level abstraction that simplifies the development process and reduces the amount of code required. StrongLoop, on the other hand, focuses on providing a set of tools and services that help developers manage and scale their LoopBack applications. This means that while LoopBack offers simplicity, StrongLoop offers more advanced features for managing and scaling applications.

3. Community Support: LoopBack has a large and active community of developers who contribute to its development. This means that there is a wealth of resources and knowledge available to developers using LoopBack. StrongLoop, on the other hand, provides commercial support and consulting services for LoopBack. While LoopBack has a strong community, StrongLoop offers more specialized support for developers.

4. Enterprise Support: LoopBack is suitable for building small to medium-sized applications, but it may not be ideal for large enterprise-level projects. StrongLoop, on the other hand, offers enterprise-level support and services that are specifically designed to meet the needs of large-scale projects. This includes features such as performance monitoring, scaling, and security that are essential for enterprise applications.

5. Integration with Other Technologies: LoopBack is designed to be flexible and can integrate with a wide range of technologies and databases. It provides connectors for popular databases such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, and MongoDB, as well as integration with other external services. StrongLoop, being the company behind LoopBack, provides additional tools and services that enhance the integration capabilities of LoopBack, making it easier to integrate with other technologies.

6. Licensing: LoopBack is an open-source framework released under the MIT license, which allows developers to use and modify the framework without restrictions. StrongLoop, on the other hand, provides additional tools and services that are not open-source and require a commercial license. This means that while LoopBack itself is freely available, some of the tools and services provided by StrongLoop may require a commercial license.

In Summary, LoopBack is a Node.js framework that focuses on simplicity and ease of use, while StrongLoop offers a set of tools and services for managing, scaling, and supporting LoopBack applications. StrongLoop provides enterprise-level support and offers additional features and integrations that enhance the capabilities of LoopBack.