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2. Use Node.js

Date: 2025-06-12

Status

Accepted

Context

We need to select a server-side programming language for our website. The application will primarily handle rendering GOV.UK Frontend templates using Nunjucks and integrate with APIs.

Key considerations:

  • Good support for Nunjucks templating as required by GOV.UK Frontend
  • Team knowledge and hosting capabilities
  • Primarily a thin, client-facing rendering layer

Decision

We will use Node.js as our server-side programming language.

This lets us render GOV.UK Frontend templates effectively using Nunjucks and handle API integration, while building on GDS' existing experience hosting and operating Node.js applications.

Consequences

Advantages

  • Excellent Nunjucks templating integration for GOV.UK Frontend
  • Proven operational model at GDS
  • Well-suited for thin rendering and API integration layers
  • Large ecosystem of packages via npm

Drawbacks

  • Not ideal for complex database interactions
  • Need to carefully manage asynchronous code patterns
  • Single-threaded model requires proper error handling