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JavaScript

Error: response.write is not a function

Hey all,

I am doing the exercise Build a Simple Dynamic Site with Node.js >> Reading from Files (7:30).

When I try to run my app, I received the error response.write is not a function

below you can find all my codes

app.js

const router = require("./router.js");

// problem: We need a simple way to look at a user's bagde count and JavaScript point from a web browser

//solution: Use Node.js to perform the profile look ups and server our template via HTTP

//Create a web server
const http = require('http');
const hostname = '127.0.0.1';
const port = 3000;

http.createServer((request, response) => {
  router.home(request,response);
  router.user(request,response);
}).listen(port, hostname);
console.log(`Server running at http://${hostname}:${port}/`);

router.js

const Profile = require("./profile.js");
const renderer = require('./renderer.js');

//2. Handle HTTP route GET / and POST/ i.e. Home
function home(request,response) {
  //if the URL == "/" && GET
  if(request.url === "/"){
    response.writeHead(200,{'Content-Type': 'text/plain'});
    renderer.view('header',{},'response');
    response.write("Search\n");
    response.end("Footer\n");
  }
  //if the URL == "/" && POST
    //redirect to / :username
}
//3. Handle HTTP route GET / :username i.e. / fjordani
function user(request,response) {
  if(username.length > 0){
    //show search field
    response.writeHead(200,{'Content-Type': 'text/plain'});
    response.write("Header\n");
    response.write("Search\n");
    response.end("Footer\n");
    //get JSON from threehouse
    const studentProfile = new Profile(username);
    //on end
    studentProfile.on("end", (profileJSON) => {
      //show profile

      //store the needed values
      const values = {
        avatarUrl: profileJSON.gravatar_url,
        username: profileJSON.profile_name,
        badges: profileJSON.badges.length,
        javascriptPoints: profileJSON.points.JavaScript
      }
      //simple response
      response.write(`${values.username} has ${values.badges} badges\n`);
      response.end("Footer\n");
    });
    //on error
    studentProfile.on("error", (error) => {
      //show error
      response.write(error.message+"\n");
      response.end("Footer\n");
    });
  }

}

      // on "error"
        // show error

module.exports.home = home;
module.exports.user = user;

renderer.js

const fs = require('fs');

function view(templateName,values,response) {
  //read from the template file
  const fileContents = fs.readFileSync('./views/' + templateName + '.html');
  //Insert values into the Content

  //write out to the response
  response.write(fileContents);
}

module.exports.view = view;

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks, Felipe

3 Answers

Andrew Chalkley
STAFF
Andrew Chalkley
Treehouse Guest Teacher

Does it say which file and on what line number?

Hey Andrew,

Below is the entire error message:

Server running at http://127.0.0.1:3000/
/Users/fjordani/Desktop/learn/threehouse/JavaScript/buildASimpleDynamicSiteWithNodeJS/felipeProject/renderer.js:9
  response.write(fileContents);
           ^

TypeError: response.write is not a function
    at Object.view (/Users/fjordani/Desktop/learn/threehouse/JavaScript/buildASimpleDynamicSiteWithNodeJS/felipeProject/renderer.js:9:12)
    at Object.home (/Users/fjordani/Desktop/learn/threehouse/JavaScript/buildASimpleDynamicSiteWithNodeJS/felipeProject/router.js:9:14)
    at Server.http.createServer (/Users/fjordani/Desktop/learn/threehouse/JavaScript/buildASimpleDynamicSiteWithNodeJS/felipeProject/app.js:13:10)
    at emitTwo (events.js:106:13)
    at Server.emit (events.js:191:7)
    at HTTPParser.parserOnIncoming [as onIncoming] (_http_server.js:546:12)
    at HTTPParser.parserOnHeadersComplete (_http_common.js:99:23)

Thanks, Felipe

Hey Andrew,

It's solved, I had forgotten to replace to update my if block

  if(request.url === "/"){
    response.writeHead(200,{'Content-Type': 'text/plain'});
    renderer.view('header',{}, response);
    renderer.view('search',{}, response);
    renderer.view('footer',{}, response);
  }

and also to handle my username variable

  const username = request.url.replace("/","");

Thanks, Felipe

Cosimo Scarpa
Cosimo Scarpa
14,047 Points

Hi there, I have the same problem. Every time that I run the page come out this error.

var Profile = require("./profile.js");
var rederer = require("./renderer.js");

// Handle HTTP route GET / and POST / i.e. Home
function home(request, response) {
  //if url  == "/" && GET
  if(request.url === "/"){
    response.writeHead(200,{'Content-Type': 'text/plain'});
    renderer.view('header',{}, response);
    renderer.view('search',{}, response);
    renderer.view('footer',{}, response);
  }
  //if url == "/" && POST
    //redirect to /:username
}

// Handle HTTP route GET /:username i.e. /cosimowise
function user(request, response) {
  //if url == "/..."
  var username = request.url.replace("/", "");
  if(username.length > 0) {
    response.writeHead(200, {'Context-Type': 'text/plain'});
    renderer.view('header', {}, response);

    //get JSON from Treehouse
    var studentProfile = new Profile(username);
      //on "end"
      studentProfile.on("end", function(profileJSON) {
        //show profile

        //Store the values witch we need
        var values = {
          avatarUrl: profileJSON.gravatar_url,
          username: profileJSON.profile_name,
          badges: profileJSON.badges.length,
          javaScriptPoints: profileJSON.points.javaScript,
        }
        //Simple response
        renderer.view('profile', values, response);
        renderer.view('footer', {}, response);
      }); 

      //on "error"
      studentProfile.on("error", function(error) {
      //show error
      renderer.view('error', {errorMessage: error.message}, response);
      renderer.view('search', {}, response);
      renderer.view('footer', {}, response);
        });
  }
}


module.exports.home = home;
module.exports.user = user;
treehouse:~/workspace$ node app.js                                                                                                 
Server running at http://<workspace-url>/                                                                                          
/home/treehouse/workspace/router.js:9                                                                                              
    renderer.view('header',{}, response);                                                                                          
    ^                                                                                                                              

ReferenceError: renderer is not defined                                                                                            
    at Object.home (/home/treehouse/workspace/router.js:9:5)                                                                       
    at Server.<anonymous> (/home/treehouse/workspace/app.js:10:10)                                                                 
    at emitTwo (events.js:106:13)                                                                                                  
    at Server.emit (events.js:191:7)                                                                                               
    at HTTPParser.parserOnIncoming [as onIncoming] (_http_server.js:546:12)                                                        
    at HTTPParser.parserOnHeadersComplete (_http_common.js:99:23)      

thank you! Cos