Meteor is a full-stack JavaScript framework that streamlines building real-time web and mobile applications from a single codebase. It couples a Node.js backend with a reactive data system so UI updates propagate automatically when data changes. The framework popularized DDP (a lightweight pub/sub protocol) and a client cache (Minimongo) to mirror server collections on the client for latency-compensated interactions. A batteries-included build system, package ecosystem, and opinionated project structure reduce setup time for accounts, methods, publications, and UI integration. Historically paired with Blaze, Meteor also works well with modern front-end libraries like React, Vue, or Svelte for rendering. Its dev experience focuses on hot reloads, rapid prototyping, and predictable data flow, making it attractive for teams that want real-time features without stitching together many separate tools.
Features
- Real-time reactivity enabling data synchronization between server and client
- Unified JavaScript/TypeScript codebase across server, browser, and mobile environments
- Integrated build system and development server optimizing development flow
- Rich, curated ecosystem of packages from Node.js and the JavaScript community
- Simplified setup and scaffolding tutorials to get developers started quickly
- Supports web, mobile apps, and desktop platforms via packages or Galaxy cloud deployment