Software Engineering Daily Node.js in 2026 with Rafael Gonzaga
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Dec 23, 2025 Rafael Gonzaga, a Principal Open Source Engineer at NodeSource and a key player in the Node.js Technical Steering Committee, dives into the complexities of Node.js. He shares insights on the balance between performance and stability, revealing the engineering challenges behind this vital technology. Rafael discusses the impact of V8 improvements, strategies for effective optimizations, and the importance of community contributions. He offers practical tips for building fast Node apps and highlights his journey in the open-source world.
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From Helping His Father To Node.js Core
- Rafael Gonzaga began coding to help his blind father by building accessibility tools and later moved from Python to C/C++ and JavaScript.
- He found Node.js via a hackathon, fixed a Windows memory leak, and that led to core contributions and a TSC role.
Fastify Contribution Led To Node Core
- Rafael joined Fastify contributions after benchmarking frameworks and finding Express slower for his needs.
- A bug report and community welcome led him to Node.js core work and eventual TSC nomination.
V8 And C++ Drive Real Speed Gains
- V8 engine improvements drive much of Node.js performance gains rather than Node changes alone.
- Migrating hot APIs from JavaScript to C++ also produces measurable speedups, like faster startup.
