Speaking as a front end developer with some Java experience: I suppose it depends on how you like to work and are used to working: Java has been around for years. Node.js is relatively new. And you have to take it with what goes with that, but I like the fact that it was developed with and for JavaScript. I have been allowed to work in an environment where Node.js was preferred and well maintained - where many passionate developers did their best to understand it and implement it wisely. It has already taken a prominent place, and I see it gaining much more support over the next couple of years.