Node.js is def a solid choice for building rest apis, especially if you're into async stuff and need something lightweight. But have you checked out Rust? It's gaining traction for its performance and safety features. Not the easiest to learn, but once you get the hang of it, it's a beast for high-performance APIs.
Also, for tools, Postman is a lifesaver for testing APIs, and Swagger for documentation. Both are must-haves imo.
Also, for tools, Postman is a lifesaver for testing APIs, and Swagger for documentation. Both are must-haves imo.