Difference between MEAN Stack and LAMP Stack Developer

Last Updated : 18 Jul, 2024

MEAN Stack and LAMP Stack are two popular technology stacks used for web application development, each offering distinct advantages and components. MEAN Stack consists of MongoDB, Express.js, Angular (or AngularJS ), and Node.js while LAMP Stack comprises Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP/Perl/Python , known for its versatility in traditional web application s.

In this article, We will learn about the difference between MEAN Stack and LAMP Stack Developer by understanding various scenarios in detail.

1. Server Side Scripting

1. LAMP Stack:

Languages: LAMP stands for Linux (Operating System), Apache (Web Server), MySQL (Database), and text-processing (Scripting Languages).
PHP: PHP is a widely used server-side scripting language known for its simplicity and integration with MySQL. It executes on the server to generate dynamic web pages and interact with databases.
Perl and Python: Alternative scripting languages in LAMP Stack, Perl and Python , offer similar capabilities to PHP. Perl is known for its text-processing capabilities, while Python is versatile and widely used in various domains.
Apache: Apache HTTP Server is the web server component of LAMP Stack, responsible for handling HTTP requests, serving web pages, and executing server-side scripts.

2. MEAN Stack:

Languages and Frameworks: MEAN stands for MongoDB (Database), Express.js (Web Application Framework), Angular (Frontend Framework), and Node.js (Runtime Environment).
Node.js: Node.js allows developers to write server-side code in JavaScript, leveraging its event-driven, non-blocking I/O model. It provides a runtime environment to execute JavaScript outside the browser, making it ideal for server-side applications.
Express.js: Express.js is a minimalist web application framework for Node.js, simplifying the process of building web applications and APIs. It provides routing, middleware, and other functionalities to handle HTTP requests and responses.
MongoDB: MongoDB is a NoSQL database that stores data in JSON-like documents, offering flexibility in schema design and scalability. It is well-suited for applications with rapidly changing data requirements or unstructured data.

2. Database Management

1. LAMP Stack:

MySQL: MySQL is a popular open-source relational database management system (RDBMS) known for its reliability, performance. It uses SQL for querying and managing data stored in tables with predefined schemas.
Schema Design: In MySQL (and other RDBMSs used with LAMP), developers define schemas, specifying tables, columns, data types, relationships, and constraints.

2. MEAN Stack:

MongoDB: MongoDB is a NoSQL database that stores data in flexible, schema-less JSON-like documents known as BSON (Binary JSON). It allows for dynamic schema design.
Mongoose.js: Mongoose.js is an Object Data Modeling ( ODM ) library for MongoDB and Node.js, providing a schema-based solution to model application data. It simplifies interactions with MongoDB, offering features like validation, querying .

3. Presentation/UI

1. LAMP Stack:

HTML/CSS/JavaScript: LAMP Stack uses HTML for defining the structure of web pages, CSS for styling and layout, and JavaScript for client-side scripting. PHP, Perl, or Python scripts generate dynamic HTML content based on server-side logic and database queries.
Template Engines: PHP frameworks like Laravel or CodeIgniter may use template engines (e.g., Blade) to separate presentation logic from business logic, enhancing maintainability.

2. MEAN Stack:

Angular (or AngularJS): MEAN Stack uses Angular (or AngularJS , depending on the version) as the frontend framework for building dynamic single-page applications (SPAs). Angular provides a robust framework for component-based UI development, data binding, routing, and dependency injection .
TypeScript: Angular applications are typically written in TypeScript , a statically typed superset of JavaScript that enhances code quality and developer productivity with features like type checking and advanced tooling support.

4. Client Side Programming

1. LAMP Stack:

JavaScript: JavaScript is used in LAMP Stack for client-side scripting to enhance user interactions, validate forms, handle AJAX requests, and manipulate the Document Object Model ( DOM ) dynamically.
jQuery: jQuery is often used with LAMP Stack to simplify common tasks like DOM traversal, event handling, and AJAX interactions across different browsers.

2. MEAN Stack:

JavaScript: MEAN Stack emphasizes JavaScript across the entire development stack, including frontend (Angular), backend (Node.js with Express), and database (MongoDB with Mongoose .js).
Angular Services: Angular services facilitate reusable business logic and data manipulation on the client side, promoting a modular and maintainable application architecture.

5. Context Switching for the Developer

1. LAMP Stack:

Developers in LAMP Stack environments often switch between PHP/ Perl /Python for server-side logic, SQL for database queries and management, and JavaScript (with frameworks like jQuery) for client-side interactions.
Each language and technology serves a specific role, requiring context switching to handle different aspects of application development effectively.

2. MEAN Stack:

MEAN Stack developers primarily use JavaScript for both frontend and backend development, reducing context switching and promoting code reuse between different layers of the application.
With Node.js on the server side and Angular on the client side, developers can maintain a consistent programming language and ecosystem throughout the development cycle.