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JavaScript

Chris Skinner
Chris Skinner
3,807 Points
Posted by Chris Skinner
Chris Skinner
3,807 Points

Setting up a server to run my node.js app

Hi,

I've done the Node.js course and just created a node app and want to deploy it to a server. However I'm not sure how to set up the server to run my app.js file.

Here's my app in short: When testing in the console I type node app.js and the app runs - I have a local server started at localhost:3000

I then enter some parameters i.e. ?Param1=23432&Param2=112344 to the URL. The app then grabs these params and updates an API - once finish it redirects to a different URL.

It's similar to the Node.js course about the student profile.

So my question is. I now want to make this live. I have a bitnami server I want to put it on. What and how do i go about doing this.

Thanks

4 Answers

eck
eck
43,038 Points
eck
eck
43,038 Points

I have never used Bitnami so I can't say personally, but it looks like they help you set up a Node stack on their Cloud here: https://bitnami.com/stack/nodejs

Chris Skinner
Chris Skinner
3,807 Points
Chris Skinner
Chris Skinner
3,807 Points

Thanks - that's helped. However I am more concerned with the setup once the server is ready - the next step to getting it up and running. Do I just upload my app.js file to the server and enter the IP in my address bar? What simulates the $node app.js command I type into the console to get everything up and running / ready?

eck
eck
43,038 Points
eck
eck
43,038 Points

I recommending taking a look through their documentation. This might be a good place to start: https://wiki.bitnami.com/Infrastructure_Stacks/Bitnami_Node.js_Stack

One of the most important dev skills I can think of is learning how to navigate documentation for different technologies. A lot of learning can take place when you do this and I think this is a pretty good opportunity :D

Chris Skinner
Chris Skinner
3,807 Points
Chris Skinner
Chris Skinner
3,807 Points

Thanks again - yes I've read through all of that but still stumped. I agree about it being a good learning opportunity but some guidance when learning something new is also helpful and saves a lot of time. There isn't really an explanation for what I'm looking for on those docs.

My questions which the docs don't answer are as follows:

1) Is there a particular dir to upload my app into 2) Once there how do I simulate the node app.js command that I have been running whilst developing locally (node app.js). 3) I uploaded the files to a server I created, located my app folder and ran node app.js from within the console - but as soon as I close the console on my mac the app will stop... how do I get the app to continuously run (it listens for input into the url using queryString so I need the app up and running listening on an ip address). 4) Do I have to install express to get my app to work?

Currently in my app I have the following:

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

// Setup Server
const http = require('http');

http.createServer(function (request, response) {
  router.home(request, response);
  router.user(request, response);
}).listen(3000);
console.log('Server running at http://<workspace-url>/');

Do I need the createServer in this case - when I deploy or is this only for development / testing. Now that I'm putting it up on a server.