I'm currently using a NodeJS + ExpressJS + MongoDB + RequireJS + BackboneJS + Bootstrap + jQuery Mobile stack for web development. I bought on to the hype at an early age, mostly for the performance, singular language (JavaScript), possibility of real time apps, "next generation" web development, etc. (I came from the Kohana PHP world, which I was semi-satisfied with).
However, I am finding I'm having a hard time actually pushing products. I feel like I'm spending a lot of time writing boilerplate code, implementing my own security practices, and using overly complex approaches to "basic" things for a user based web app (permission system for users, for example).
So my question is, does anyone else feel this way? I know the power of using ExpressJS (sinatra) is that it is a lot "simplier", but I feel like my code has lost it's "elegance" (structure?). Is it because the "next generation" has no "best" standards? Maybe I need a legitimate H+MVC stack for the type of applications I'm implementing (business oriented)? Does anyone have any recommendations on how to improve? I've been looking at ASP.NET MVC 4 and Rails3 and wondering if I joined the wrong band wagon. I'd love to learn ASP.NET MVC 4 just to see what they have to offer, but my gut feeling is that node/express/etc. has so much potential... I'm just doing it wrong. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
I can't give an answer to the generic 'boilerplate' criticism since you have not given any details. As far as permission systems:
passport
everyauth
There are thousands of packages in the ecosystem. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Whatever idea you're thinking about there is a good chance there is a package that does it.