Node.js is a JavaScript runtime built on Chrome's V8 engine for building server-side applications. Why use it? Node.js offers fast performance and scalability, making it ideal for real-time applications and APIs. Best practices include using async/await, modularizing code, and using event-driven programming. Node.js was first released in 2009.

Express.js is a fast and minimalist web application framework for Node.js. Why use it? Express simplifies routing, middleware, and server setup, making it ideal for building APIs and web applications. Best practices include using middleware for handling errors and request validation. Express.js was first released in 2010.

CRUD stands for Create, Read, Update, and Delete—the basic operations for managing data in applications. Why use it? CRUD operations are foundational to database management, allowing developers to create and manage records in a structured way. Best practices include using proper validation and error handling to ensure data integrity. CRUD has been a core concept since the early days of computing.

REST (Representational State Transfer) is an architectural style for designing networked applications. REST APIs allow communication between clients and servers over HTTP. Why use it? REST APIs are scalable, stateless, and easy to integrate into web services. Best practices include using proper HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) and stateless communication. REST APIs became popular in the 2000s.

Stripe is a payment processing platform that helps businesses accept online payments. Why use it? Stripe provides secure and easy-to-integrate payment processing with support for international transactions. Best practices include using Stripe’s API for seamless payment experiences and integrating fraud protection. Stripe was founded in 2010.

Stripe webhooks allow businesses to receive real-time notifications about events in their Stripe account, such as payment successes or failures. Why use it? Webhooks are useful for automating actions in response to events, like sending email receipts or updating order status. Best practices include validating webhook payloads and handling retries. Stripe webhooks were introduced in 2014.

Stripe CRM (Customer Relationship Management) integrates payment processing with customer relationship features. Why use it? Stripe CRM allows businesses to manage customer data, payments, and subscriptions more effectively. Best practices include integrating with other CRM tools for comprehensive management. Stripe CRM functionality has been growing since the mid-2010s.

A payment gateway is a technology that processes credit card and other forms of payments for online businesses. Why use it? Payment gateways ensure secure and smooth transactions, protecting customer data. Best practices include using encrypted communication and adhering to PCI compliance. Payment gateways became popular in the 2000s with the rise of e-commerce.

React-Stripe is a library for integrating Stripe’s payment gateway into React applications. Why use it? React-Stripe simplifies the implementation of Stripe's payment features with React components. Best practices include using React hooks for managing state and handling payment errors. React-Stripe was first released in 2017.

GitHub Pipelines is a feature that automates workflows, such as building, testing, and deploying applications, directly from GitHub. Why use it? GitHub Pipelines streamlines CI/CD processes by integrating them directly into the GitHub ecosystem. Best practices include using YAML configuration files for reproducible workflows. GitHub Actions, which includes pipelines, was introduced in 2019.

Unit tests are individual tests for small sections of code to verify their correctness. Why use it? Unit tests help catch bugs early, facilitate refactoring, and improve code quality. Best practices include testing each function independently and using test-driven development (TDD). Unit tests have been a standard practice in software engineering since the 1970s.