&gt;Why create an ORM rather than use a JavaScript-orientated NoSQL database? (mongo, couch etc.)<p>I could be way off here (and I probably am) but shouldn&#x27;t frameworks abstain from being too opinionated about the particular technologies that you use? The database (or type of db) you choose seems like something that should be based on what your application&#x27;s requirements dictate not what your framework prefers right?