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I'm beginning to learn web technologies and programming and I'm setting up my own local webserver. I have HTTPD, PHP, Python, MySQL all up and running on Windows. Now I want to add Node.js to the mix. I installed the Windows 64 bit installer. Now how do I begin? I have a basic Hello World script in a test.js file. But when I access this file in the browser it only displays as plain text. It's not executed. How to execute a Node.js script on the server?

Aardo
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  • `node /path/to/your/file.js` – Aer0 Feb 07 '17 at 14:41
  • Sorry for my newbie. Ok. It works. But how do I deploy it to a Web Hosting server online? I don't suppose I log into the server and type 'node file.js' every time I want the server to run – Aardo Feb 07 '17 at 14:53
  • Currently you've to type in that command. Manually or through a service/tool/whatever like Jenkins. There are a lot of SaaS provider where you can automatically deploy and start your services in a GUI. Take a tour through Google. – Aer0 Feb 07 '17 at 14:58
  • I see. One more question. How about the port? I expect users to open my URL without specifing a designated port. Just www.domain.com i.e. How to run Node.js on a default port? – Aardo Feb 07 '17 at 15:02
  • @Aardenon check my answer – Ahmed farag mostafa Feb 07 '17 at 15:04
  • Possible duplicate: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7947195/start-with-node-js-as-a-complete-server-side-newbie – Quentin Feb 07 '17 at 15:07
  • @Aardenon Since it would be a bit too much to answer all your questions inside of those comments I've just set up an answer with a brief summary. – Aer0 Feb 07 '17 at 15:12

3 Answers3

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Starting a node script is pretty simple. Just use your command line or terminal and execute the following command.

node /path/to/your/file.js

Doing so you'll start your node script. If you're going to start a server it's pretty much the same. Just keep in mind to define a server in your node file and start it. A simple server using express could look like this (You can also use a fully node way, this is just a simple example using express. You may check google for how to set up a simple node http server).

var express = require('express');
var app = express();
var port = 4000;

app.listen(process.env.port || port);

As you can see the specified port is set to 4000. You can simply adjust this by changing the value itself or passing in a node environment variable. To pass in an environment variable just start your server like this.

node port=3000 /path/to/your/file.js

This will finally pass the value of port to process.env.port which obviously will start your server on the port 3000.

Aer0
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  • Ok. I got it up and running! Will need to do some more research on deploying it to an online web-hosting though in due time :-) – Aardo Feb 07 '17 at 15:22
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you can use these packages to keep the file running so you won't have to login to server every time :-

forever and you can just write :- 

forever start app.js

nodemon 

nodemon app.js

pm2 which is very useful , as it will auto restart your app when it crash or any error happens 

pm2 start app.js
Ahmed farag mostafa
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  • The question says that they script only does "Hello, world". Your answer is skipping the bit where you write the JavaScript to create an HTTP server. – Quentin Feb 07 '17 at 15:05
  • check the comments blow his question , he asked about how he can keep the app running on server – Ahmed farag mostafa Feb 07 '17 at 15:06
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Your run your file: node server.js

Then it starts.

There should be specified in code on which port you run your server. Then it is accessible for example at http://localhost:3000/

As Quentin noted, I was thinking about "creating web server". Of course, you can run javascript code with Node.js without server. Then skip the part abot localhost, just use node test.js in console.

libik
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