Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime built on Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine. It allows developers to execute JavaScript on the server side, enabling them to build fast and scalable network applications. With its non-blocking, event-driven architecture, Node.js is particularly well-suited for data-intensive real-time applications that run across distributed devices. By leveraging the power of JavaScript on both the client and server sides, developers can streamline their workflow and create seamless user experiences.

One of the major advantages of using Node.js is its vibrant ecosystem, which includes a rich library of modules available through the Node Package Manager (npm). This extensive collection allows developers to easily integrate various functionalities into their applications, accelerating development pace and enabling rapid prototyping. Furthermore, the active Node.js community continuously contributes to its growth, sharing best practices and creating tools that enhance the performance, security, and scalability of applications built with this dynamic runtime.

Node.js has rapidly gained popularity among developers for modern application development due to its asynchronous, event-driven architecture. This approach allows developers to handle multiple connections simultaneously, resulting in a faster and more scalable application. With a single-threaded model, Node.js minimizes resource consumption while maximizing performance, making it ideal for applications with high data throughput and real-time interactions. The ability to use JavaScript on both the client and server sides also streamlines the development process, allowing teams to work more cohesively.

Here are 10 reasons why Node.js is the go-to choice for modern application development:

1. Non-blocking I/O operations boost performance.
2. Rich ecosystem with npm, enabling easy access to thousands of libraries.
3. Robust community support fosters continuous improvement and innovation.
4. Scalability for handling numerous connections simultaneously.
5. Utilization of the V8 engine offers impressive speed and efficiency.
6. Support for microservices architecture enhances flexibility.
7. Real-time capabilities are ideal for applications like chat and gaming.
8. JSON support simplifies data interchange.
9. High levels of developer productivity due to JavaScript versatility.
10. Significant adoption by major companies showcases reliability and trustworthiness.

Node.js is a powerful runtime environment that allows you to run JavaScript on the server side, opening up a world of possibilities for web development. To get started with Node.js, first, ensure that you have it installed on your machine. You can download it from the official Node.js website. Once installed, you can check if it’s working by opening your command line interface and typing node -v. This will display the current version of Node.js you have installed.

After confirming your installation, it's time to create your first Node.js application. Create a new directory for your project and navigate to it in your command line. Inside this directory, run npm init to set up a new package.json file that manages your project dependencies. Next, create an index.js file and open it in your preferred text editor. You can start with a simple server by adding the following code:

const http = require('http');
const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
    res.statusCode = 200;
    res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain');
    res.end('Hello World\n');
});

server.listen(3000, () => {
    console.log('Server running at http://localhost:3000/');
});