“Node.js comes with very few dependencies” — can you enlighten me as to what dependencies does PHP has exactly, or have you conveniently omitted that part out.

Also Node.js has itself become a ridiculous dependency — want to get up and running with React, install node first, Angular? — require node, Polymer?- node, Vue? — nod.., oh, wait — there is a cdn or locally hosted option? thank God for that!

Wasn’t the whole idea of web to have a free choice of your tools? You want back-end to be PHP, ASP or .NET it’s your choice; vanilla js, jquery or something else on the front-end it’s your choice. No more! We will now shove the entire Node.js down your throat, who cares you will never use it for back-end, just have it, HAVE IT!!!

Maybe that’s the reason the demand for it is growing, because it’s no longer a choice it’s a requirement a dependency.