In this tutorial, we will educate you about setting up your local servers with Node.js.

To begin with Node.js app development, you need to first begin with learning about its three very important components

• Importing required modules – Node.js module loading is implemented with the utilization of require directive
• Fabricate server – The server will listen to all the requests of the clients & is also alike to Apache HTTP Server
•  Read request & return response – In the previous step the server that is crafted will read HTTP request forwarded by the client that might be a console or browser & return the retort

In case you find some challenges while attempting to create your first application with Node.js, a mobile app development company can come to your rescue.

Need for a web server

Are you moving forward with your very first Node.js app development? If yes, start by learning about web servers.

• Virtual web server with the utilization of server software operates on your personal computer
• The web server permits you to examine features of all web applications that have been built

Installing Node.js

Whether you do it alone or hire an Android app developer, the first step to begin with Node.js app development starts by installing Node.js. Node can implement all JavaScript codes in English.

Node is perfect for fabricating an uncomplicated server for every type of web app. Here is the reason:

• Web browsers such as Google Chrome comprises a JavaScript engine that has the capability of reading & displaying code that is printed in JavaScript. This interpreter is known as V8
• This feature is the reason for Node’s popularity as it permits JavaScript to operate on all kinds of machines
• This also means that the browser is not a restriction anymore for the implementation of JavaScript

Rapid method of installing Node.js

• Click on the official Node.js page & download ‘install package’ for your particular operating system. You must never use the current version but the LTS version
• On completion of the download, the package can be installed just like other applications on PC or MAC
• Next reach to the Terminal program of your choice
• Type this command in the Terminal for checking whether everything was installed properly or not
•   - $ node –v.
• You can witness a Node version number if everything was installed correctly

Enhanced way of installing Node.js

You can also prefer to use HomeBrew, which is the package manager for macOS. With this you can easily install all missing applications in lightning speed time through the Terminal. For Window users, there is a package manager called Scoop. But here we will learn the installation process of Node through Homebrew.

• Reach out to the Terminal & paste the prompt but without the $-sign. By this the checking of the GitHub repository is done from Homebrew as the application is installed from there
• $ /usr/bin/ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install.sh)"
  
• With the correct installation of HomeBrew, you can now easily install Node with the command = $ brew install node
• Type $ node -v and $ npm –v for checking if everything is appearing properly

There are numerous reasons to use HomeBrew for installing Node:

1. You might encounter access issues if you are using the install manager of Node. These access challenges might call for making changes in the system by utilizing the command -  $ sudo
2. Also it will become very messy is you ever need to uninstall without the need of Node as tracking the files created will be necessary
3.  Last but not the least with Homebrew, you can keep the version of Node updated

Steps to follow for Node.js app development

Now it is time to develop an actual local server & web application. So let’s begin with Node.js app development. It is recommended to utilize express generator that is an amazing command line tool for crafting the app skeleton for you. Otherwise there will be a need for writing advanced code such as setting up server instances, etc.

❏ Outputting to Console – This Node.js app example will help you to understand how the Node.js app development process works.

❏  Open a command line text editor like nano & craft a new file for writing “Hello, World!” program.

❏  $ nano hello. Js

❏  Now enter this code as you keep the text editor open

❏  hello.js

❏  console.log (“Hello World”);

❏  In Node.js, console objects offer easy methods for writing to stdout that is mostly the command line. So that you can see it in the console, log method stamps to the stdout stream

❏  In regard to Node.js, streams are things that can output data such as a file or receive data such as the stdout stream

❏  Save & exit nano as you press CTRL+X & press Y as you move forward for saving the file

❏  Now the program is prepared for running

❏ Run the program – In order to run program, utilize the node command:  

❏  $ node hello.js

❏  The hello.js program will implement & showcase the following output

❏  Output – Hello World

❏  The file is read by Node.js interpreter & carried out console.log (“Hello World”); with the help of log method of the worldwide console object

❏  “Hello World” is the string that is outdone as a spat to the log function

❏  Quotation marks are indeed compulsory in the code for indicating that the text is actually a string. But these are never printed on the screen

❏  Now that the program is functioning properly, the next steps are about making the application more interactive  

❏ Creating project directory – By utilizing this command prompt, you can get inside the project folder  

❏   >mkdir myfirstapp

❏   >cd myfirstapp

❏   The next step is about initializing the project with a command. The command will fabricate a package.json file that consists of the details of the project’s modules & dependencies

❏   >npm init –y

❏   The next step is about installing express.js module in the project & also crafting server.js & javascript file name app.js

❏   >npm i express // Installation of express.js module

❏   >touch app.js server .js // Generation of two .js files

❏   Express.js is actually a web application framework for node.js. An experienced mobile app developer of a sound mobile app development company will always utilize this framework as it includes several features that makes the development process organized  

❏ Import Express.js & write routes as modules – Now you will need to start with coding.

❏   In app.js you will be first importing express.js module

❏   Then you will be assigning express() method to application variable

❏   In the third line a route needs to be created for post as well as get

❏   Then the app module needs to be exported for making it accessible for server.js

❏   You must create a server by utilizing the http module in server.js. You must do this as everything then will begin faster as it consists of less dependencies

❏   const express = require (‘express’); // import express

❏   const app = express?(); // create app method

❏   // it is a home route that can be accessed from browser

❏   res.send (“Hello World!”);

❏   });

❏   // Post method is accessed from api request

❏   app.post ('/',function(req, res){

❏   res.send(“Hello World!”);

❏   });

❏   module.exports = app; // export this module

❏   Now write the code in server.js by following this code for crafting server, importing application and listening server on port 3000.

❏   Firstly import http module in server.js & after that import app.js module. Then with the http module, create the server & then take note of the server on port 3000. All free ports can be utilized.

❏   const http = require("http"); // Import http module

❏   const PORT = 3000; // We can any free port

❏   const app = require('./app'); // Import app.js module

❏  

❏   const server = http.createServer(app); // Create http server

❏  

❏   // Now listen server on port

❏   server.listen(PORT, ()=>{

❏  

❏   console.log("Server is running on http://localhost:"+PORT);  

❏   });  

❏   The coding potion is completed now. With the command below, you can now operate the server:  

❏   >node server.js

❏ API endpoint access through Postman – Utilize Postman for testing the post route. This is an app through which it is possible to simulate api calls. The app is considered to be highly useful for api testing intentions. Just like Postman you can try out other applications as well.

Final Say

With the above mentioned detailed guide, you can now easily move forward with Node.js app development for your first application by using express.js. This guide is also useful for learning how to produce, import & export modules in Node.js. But having said that, you can always get expert help from iOS app developer and android app developer who have received, proper, Node.js application developer certification from, a renowned mobile app development company. Professional assistance from us will only help you to up your game from the very beginning. Get in touch with us today. 

Manan Ghadawala is the founder of 21Twelve Interactive which is one of the best mobile app development company in India and the USA. He is an idealistic leader with a lively management style and thrives raising the company’s growth with his talents. He is an astounding business professional with astonishing knowledge and applies artful tactics to reach those imaginary skies for his clients. His company is also recognized by the Top Mobile App Development Companies.