# Fastify Fundamentals: Introducing Fastify into your Stack for Scalable Backend Development

# What is Fastify?

[Fastify](https://fastify.dev/) is a cutting-edge open-source web framework for Node.js, known for its emphasis on speed, efficiency, and an excellent developer experience. Fastify is part of the [OpenJS Foundation](https://openjsf.org/).

# Fastify Activity

Here is a snapshot of Fastify’s activity since its creation in 2016:

* \>30,000 GitHub stars
    
* \>5,300 commits
    
* \>2,200 forks
    
* \>800 PR creators
    

Users include Microsoft, Google, Alibaba, AWS, Facebook, Net-a-Porter, Thoughtworks and Tencent.

# Downloads

In 2023, Fastify was downloaded over 58 million times and doubled its downloads when compared to 2022.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1710159315057/a3498dd4-64a5-42d7-927a-da09539e2c3c.png align="center")

# Lead maintainers

Fastify has four lead maintainers: [Matteo Collina](https://twitter.com/matteocollina), [Tomas Della Vedova](https://twitter.com/delvedor), [Manuel Spigolon](https://twitter.com/manueomm) and [James Sumners](https://twitter.com/jsumners79), as well as an additional 15 collaborators. The team is actively maintaining Fastify, with regular updates and a vibrant community

The team is actively maintaining Fastify, with regular updates and a vibrant community.

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1710159210889/21f800ca-7ba0-4a72-a4f1-fba15c5efec7.png align="center")

# Why choose Fastify?

Built with a focus on performance, Fastify offers lightning-fast routing, built-in input validation, and serialization capabilities to enhance your development process. Whether you’re building APIs, microservices, or full-scale web applications, Fastify allows you to deliver exceptional user experiences at scale.

Key benefits include:

* Developer-centric design
    
* Unmatched performance and real-time metrics
    
* Built-in validation and serialization
    
* Built-in logging
    
* Vast plugin ecosystem
    

![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1710159396224/3a45adce-5377-4b04-95b5-8d05be97e739.png align="center")

# Resources to get you started

* [A "fast" Introduction to Fastify](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOvLdfUhqrU)
    
* [Getting started](https://fastify.dev/docs/latest/Guides/Getting-Started/)
    
* [1, 2, 3... Fastify!: How to route requests, write tests, and use the plugin system.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X84Cq-nsLw)
    
* [Recommendations when using Fastify](https://fastify.dev/docs/latest/Guides/Recommendations/)
    
* [Fastify’s technical principles](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43X1VqlZTQ8)
    
* [Using Fastify alongside popular serverless providers](https://fastify.dev/docs/latest/Guides/Serverless/)
    
* [Deploying to Fastify](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHcXY08BAcs)
    
* [Build a modular monolith with Fastify](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1jkA-ee_aY&t=1s)
    
* [Extracting a route into its own Fastify Plugin](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YbhPfK5Uh8)
    
* [Migrating a Fastify app to Platformatic Service](https://blog.platformatic.dev/how-to-migrate-a-fastify-app-to-platformatic-service)
    
* [How to deploy an Express app to Platformatic Cloud](https://blog.platformatic.dev/how-to-deploy-an-express-application-to-platformatic-cloud)
    
* [Building your first Route](https://blog.platformatic.dev/fastify-fundamentals-building-your-first-route)
    
* [How to Validate API Responses in Fastify](https://blog.platformatic.dev/fastify-fundamentals-how-to-validate-api-responses)
    
* [A Quick Guide to Plugins and Encapsulation with Fastify & Platformatic](https://blog.platformatic.dev/fastify-fundamentals-a-quick-guide-to-plugins-and-encapsulation-with-platformatic)
    
* [Quick-starting Hooks And Decorations with Fastify](https://blog.platformatic.dev/fastify-fundamentals-quick-starting-hooks-and-decorations)
    

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<div data-node-type="callout-text">Download <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://share.hsforms.com/1nrVZ2O16T1Oh9OSlvgjOPwdboqo" style="pointer-events: none">this info sheet </a>for a longer list of interesting blogs, talks and books about Fastify.</div>
</div>

## **Supercharging Fastify Development with Platformatic**

Developed by the co-creator of Fastify, Platformatic is a backend development platform designed to extend the capabilities of the Fastify web framework. Learn more [here](https://platformatic.dev/feature/fastify/).