Just so we're clear, I'm not talking about using colorful metaphors when somebody criticizes you on Reddit....  No, I'm not talking about "mean" behavior at all!

In fact, XRP fans tend to be good-natured and hospitable if anything.

I'm talking about the M.E.A.N. javascript framework.  It's a revolutionary technological stack that was coined by Valeri Karpov, a Mongo Database developer.  The N in the MEAN stack stands for Node.js, an execution environment for servers written in JavaScript. 1

MEAN_Javascript

Here's what all the letters in MEAN stand for:

  • M - Mongo DB (a JSON document-based database)
  • E - Express.js (a web application framework that overlays Node.js)
  • A - Angular.js (an MVC JavaScript framework)
  • N - Node.js (the server side components of a MEAN app. written in javascript)

So Why Am I Explaining MEAN?

Because it's one of the most popular web application frameworks in existence today, and it only requires developers to learn one language - JavaScript.  (spoiler alert... you can use JavaScript to communicate with the XRP Ledger!)

Never before in the history of the internet has it been easier to learn how to build a fully functional web application.  All you have to learn is one language from front to back, and you're all set.  Almost.

You also should understand how all the parts fit together, but I can assure you from my own recent learning that it is highly intuitive.

My Background

I'm a Java developer and architect, and I've developed a lot of different web-based projects and applications.  I've coded MULE API's, micro-service APIs, Web applications, and even one full website written in PHP.  (No I don't want to ever repeat that experience)

From the beginning, I remember being fascinated with JavaScript, but "back in the day" I never thought I'd be coding enterprise applications using that language.  What happened?

Node.js

In 2009, a researcher named Ryan Dahl became fascinated by an upload progress bar on Flickr, and decided that it was time to create something better. Apache was not handling concurrent connections well, and sequential programming was hampering the performance of a lot of enterprise web sites. 2 3

Ryan Dahl in 2009 Ryan Dahl in 2009

He demoed his idea for "non-blocking" code using Google's V8 JavaScript engine, which used an event loop architecture combined with a low-level I/O API, at the European JavaScript Conference.  The demonstration was very well-received, to say the least, and it paved the way for a non-blocking web architecture that is still one of the most popular and easy to use. 4

Fast-forward to 2012 at Ripple

The Ripple team decided to create a JavaScript API that would communicate back and forth with the Ripple server.  This node-based architecture was chosen to enable anybody to quickly build web applications on the Ripple network, and it was a stroke of genius. 5

Fast-forward to Today Worldwide

Anybody can download and install the Ripple JavaScript API.  I followed the instructions, downloaded it, and was using it within minutes.  The JavaScript API has all the functions that developers need to erect enterprise web applications that communicate with the XRP Ledger, and to query and interact with ledger information.

Market makers or other traders can use it to program trade routines and "bots" to execute automatically. 6 Web developers can create new ideas for value-added websites that customers might pay to use - or that banks and financial institutions might purchase!

Ripple_Developer_Center

Choosing and creating the right technology for interacting with the Ripple network was something that Ripple knew would help speed adoption, and they did so by providing all the tools that a developer will want, without standing in the way with over-customization.

For Developers

If you are a developer and wish to download and experiment with the Ripple JavaScript API for communicating with the XRP Ledger, just navigate here and follow the installation instructions. 7 Happy Coding!  xrp_symbol4

Sources:

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MEAN_(software_bundle)
  2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Node.js
  3. https://venturebeat.com/2012/01/30/dahl-out-mike-drop/
  4. https://nodejs.org/en/about/
  5. https://github.com/ripple/ripple-lib
  6. https://www.xrpchat.com/topic/654-looking-for-an-xrp-trading-bot/
  7. https://ripple.com/build/rippleapi-beginners-guide/