Node.js was built for the commonly used JavaScript, the barriers to entry are remarkably low, and the reasons for choosing Node to build apps — especially low-latency, real-time apps — are increasingly compelling.

The Ruby community has been criticized for being exclusive and harsh. The Node community provides a welcome contrast and embodies the spirit of many other open-source communities. Again, the framework’s JavaScript roots means that it appeals to the less hacker-ish web designer who might be dabbling in web app development as much as it appeals to longtime, hardcore hackers who simply want a better way to build real-time apps.

The common wisdom among many developers is that there is no single right language or framework that should and must be used for all web apps. But based on what we heard from these startups, Node is increasingly being seen as a “best solution” for a certain type of application.