MASTER THE
NODE.JS
RUNTIME
> An engineering manual for V8, libuv, and the event loop. Stop guessing. Start profiling.
$ npm install knowledge
... analyzing dependency tree
_
Stop guessing.
Start Engineering.
Most developers use Node.js at the surface level. NodeBook explains what actually happens when `node index.js` runs.
Libuv & Event Loop Internals
Master poll/check/idle phases, threadpool queueing, and platform differences (epoll/kqueue/IOCP) that cause production failures.
V8 Compilation Pipeline
Debug deoptimizations with Turbofan/Ignition, fix hidden class transitions, and prevent polymorphic inline cache misses.
Zero-Copy Stream Architecture
Implement binary protocols with backpressure-aware transforms, scatter/gather I/O, and external memory management.
Native Addon Development
Build thread-safe N-API modules with uv_queue_work, handle memory across JS/C++ boundaries, and debug core dumps.
Distributed System Observability
Propagate trace contexts with AsyncLocalStorage, control metrics cardinality, and analyze P99 latency with flamegraphs.
Production Memory Management
Tune generational GC flags, track retainers in heap snapshots, handle external memory pressure and OOM mitigation.
Decompile
The Magic.
Most Node tutorials teach you syntax. We teach you mechanics. See how neglecting backpressure destroys your heap, and how to implement flow control correctly.
Buffering an entire file into memory before processing. A classic OOM killer in production.
Respecting the highWaterMark. Processing data in chunks and pausing the stream when the buffer is full.
const fs = require('fs');
const http = require('http');
http.createServer((req, res) => {
// CRITICAL MISTAKE:
// fs.readFile buffers the entire file content into V8 heap.
// If 'big_data.csv' is 2GB and you have 50 concurrent requests,
// your process crashes immediately with heap out of memory.
fs.readFile('./big_data.csv', (err, data) => {
if (err) throw err;
res.end(data);
});
}).listen(3000);
// Status: Process terminated.
// Reason: JavaScript heap out of memoryTable of
Contents
EST. READING TIME: 40-45 HRS/VOL
Included Material
- [x]240+ Sub-chapters
- [x]50+ Hands-on Labs
- [x]Production Checklists
- [x]Architecture Diagrams
For Senior Engineers
This curriculum is designed to move you from "user" to "architect". We skip the basics of syntax and go straight to memory layouts, syscalls, and kernel interaction.
Compatibility
Check
The "Express" Dev
- [-]Thinks Node.js is "Single Threaded" (It's not)
- [-]Restarts server when memory leaks
- [-]Uses `JSON.parse` on large payloads
- [-]"It works on my machine"
The Runtime Engineer
- [+]Profiles V8 heap snapshots
- [+]Implements backpressure with Streams
- [+]Offloads CPU tasks to Worker Threads
- [+]Scales via Cluster & Kubernetes
Release
Pipeline
- Foundations Done
- Event Loop Done
- Streams Done
- Worker Threads Compiling
- Clustering Pending
- N-API Pending
Physical limited edition prints. Soft-touch cover, acid-free paper.
Kubernetes, Docker, and Distributed Systems observability patterns.
Knowledge should be free.
NodeBook is designed to be accessible to everyone. Read the entire content online for free. Support the project by purchasing the offline edition for Volume I.
Live Reader
The entire book, available online forever. No paywalls, no ads, no trackers.
- Full Access to all 4 Volumes (as they release)
- Interactive Code Examples
- Dark/Light Mode Reading
- Global Search Functionality
- Community Comments & Discussions
Volume I
Own the offline files for Volume I: Foundations. Read anywhere, no internet needed.
- Ebook: $24.99 (PDF, EPUB, MOBI)
- Paperback: $34.99
- High-Res Architecture Diagrams (SVG)
- 50+ Hands-on Code Labs (Zip)
- Private Discord Channel Access
ASSET
LIBRARY
Cheatsheets, source code, workshops and more. All free, no strings attached.
INBOX (3)
Just wanted to say thank you for keeping this resource free and accessible. Not everyone can afford expensive courses, and this really helps people like me who are trying to learn on a budget.
I've been looking for something that actually explains how Node works under the hood, not just how to use it. This is exactly what I needed. Appreciate you putting this together and sharing it with everyone.
Finally a resource that doesn't assume I already know everything. The explanations are clear and the examples actually make sense. Thanks for taking the time to write this up.
Ishtmeet Singh
Hi there! I'm Ishtmeet
I've been working with Node.js since 2014, building everything from scrappy real-time apps to high-performance systems meant to run at scale.
Over the years, I've met plenty of developers who use Node.js every single day, but when performance bottlenecks, memory leaks, or scaling headaches pop up, they hit a wall. I've programmed in Rust and C++ as well, and then came back to Node.js and apply what I've learnt in systems programming.
This book comes out of almost a decade of digging into Node.js internals, debugging production issues, and squeezing every ounce of performance out of real systems. The goal is simple: explain how things actually work so you can fix problems yourself.
I've always believed that knowledge should be accessible, which is why NodeBook is completely free to read online.