?? AdonisJS: The Laravel-Inspired Node.js Framework You Need to Know!
Uzair Hussain
?? Innovative Software Engineer | ?? MS in Computing & Data Science | ?? Cloud & High-Performance Systems
Lately, I’ve been exploring Node.js backend frameworks, and one name that kept surfacing was AdonisJS. While many developers lean toward Express.js or NestJS, AdonisJS offers a Laravel-like experience for Node.js—making backend development faster, structured, and developer-friendly.
In a recent project, I had to pick a backend framework that balanced scalability, performance, and ease of development. While we ultimately went with NestJS, I couldn’t help but revisit AdonisJS later—and I was impressed by its potential!
If you’re looking for a powerful, opinionated, and TypeScript-first Node.js framework, AdonisJS might just be the hidden gem you need. Let’s dive into why it stands out. ??
?? What is AdonisJS?
AdonisJS is a full-stack, MVC-driven framework for Node.js that comes with built-in ORM, authentication, validation, and CLI tools. Unlike unopinionated frameworks like Express.js, AdonisJS provides a structured development experience—helping you build maintainable applications quickly.
?? Why Choose AdonisJS Over Other Node.js Frameworks?
? TypeScript-first – Built-in TypeScript support for a better developer experience.
? Lucid ORM – A powerful Active Record-style ORM for database management.
? Pre-configured authentication – Supports JWT, OAuth, and session-based authentication.
? Built-in validation – VineJS provides powerful schema validation.
? Seamless frontend integration – Supports React, Vue, and Inertia.js for full-stack development.
? A powerful CLI (node ace) – Automates migrations, testing, and resource generation.
If you’ve worked with Laravel, you’ll love how AdonisJS simplifies backend development in Node.js.
?? Getting Started with AdonisJS
Setting up an AdonisJS project is easier than you think. You can create a backend API, a full-stack web app, or a minimal setup in seconds!
?? Install AdonisJS
Run the following command to create a new project:
# API project with PostgreSQL
$ npm init adonisjs@latest -- --db=postgres --kit=api
# Full-stack project with React + Inertia.js
$ npm init adonisjs@latest -- -K=inertia --adapter=react --ssr
Start your local development server:
$ yarn dev
AdonisJS will spin up an HTTP server with hot-reload, making development smooth.
??? Core Features That Make AdonisJS Stand Out
1?? Lucid ORM – A Laravel-Like ORM for Node.js
AdonisJS comes with Lucid, a feature-rich ORM inspired by Laravel’s Eloquent. It supports:
?? Example: Defining a Model
import { BaseModel, column } from '@adonisjs/lucid/orm'
export default class User extends BaseModel {
@column({ isPrimary: true })
public id: number
@column()
public username: string
}
Querying the database is just as easy:
const users = await User.query().where('active', true).fetch()
Lucid makes database interactions simple and powerful.
2?? Authentication & Security Out-of-the-Box
Unlike Express, where you need multiple packages, AdonisJS comes with built-in authentication.
Setup authentication in one command:
$ node ace make:auth
Supports: ? Session-based authentication ? JWT authentication ? OAuth & Social Logins (Google, Facebook, etc.)
You can easily protect routes:
Route.get('/dashboard', 'DashboardController.index').middleware('auth')
Security is baked into the framework, making it more secure by default.
3?? Seamless React & Vue Integration with Inertia.js
For full-stack developers, AdonisJS works beautifully with React, Vue, and Inertia.js.
Inertia.js eliminates the need for API routes—making server-side rendering feel like an SPA.
?? Example: Rendering a React Component from a Controller
export default class DashboardController {
async index(ctx) {
return ctx.inertia.render('Dashboard', { user: ctx.auth.user })
}
}
?? React Component (Dashboard.tsx)
export default function Dashboard({ user }) {
return <h1>Welcome, {user.name}!</h1>
}
This means frontend and backend can share TypeScript types seamlessly!
?? Deploying AdonisJS with Docker
Deploying AdonisJS is easy. Here’s how you can do it with Fly.io.
?? 1?? Create a Dockerfile
FROM node:18
WORKDIR /app
COPY . .
RUN yarn install
CMD ["node", "server.js"]
?? 2?? Deploy with Fly.io
$ brew install flyctl
$ fly deploy
Your AdonisJS app is now live! ??
??? The CLI Powerhouse: node ace
AdonisJS comes with node ace, a CLI tool that simplifies development.
?? Generate a new model & migration
$ node ace make:model User --migration
?? Run migrations
$ node ace migration:run
?? Seed database
$ node ace db:seed
This speeds up development without manually writing boilerplate code.
???? Is AdonisJS the Right Framework for You?
AdonisJS is a great choice if you:
? Love Laravel’s structured approach and want something similar in Node.js.
? Need a full-stack framework with React, Vue, or Inertia.js integration.
? Want a secure, scalable backend with built-in authentication.
? Prefer TypeScript-first development.
However, if you need a lightweight framework, Express.js might be a better fit.
?? Final Thoughts
AdonisJS is an underrated powerhouse in the Node.js ecosystem. It brings:
? A Laravel-like structure
? A built-in ORM (Lucid)
? Secure authentication & validation
? Seamless React & Vue integration
If you’re looking for a fast, modern, and developer-friendly framework, AdonisJS is worth trying.
?? What are your thoughts? Have you used AdonisJS before? Let’s discuss in the comments! ??
?? Useful Links & Resources:
?? Official Docs: AdonisJS Documentation
?? ORM Docs: Lucid ORM
??? CLI Commands: Node Ace CLI
?? Video Tutorials: Adocasts
?? Happy Coding!