If you want to learn Node.js then you’re probably wondering where to start.  I highly recommend using the framework Express.js if you’re familiar with the Ruby framework Sinatra.  Express.js has a guide through, but I don’t like writing or implementing code I don’t understand.  If you can spare an hour, this video by Alex Ford is pretty good about explaining what’s happening line by line on express scaffolding folder/file structure.

If you’re wondering why I want to learn how to write clean and maintainable backend JavaScript, it’s because I believe single page applications are the future.  You need JS to do asynchronous requests and make single page applications.