Node.js Essentials

From client to server, learn how Node.js can help you use JavaScript more effectively to develop faster and more scalable applications with ease

About This Book

• Discover how Node.js can transform the way you develop both the front and back ends - offering a much more modern and integrated form of web development
• Create, debug, and test a complete full-stack application using Node.js and other powerful tools
• From creating a server from scratch to unit testing code, learn how Node.js extends the possibilities of JavaScript development

Who This Book Is For

If you want to expand your capabilities as a developer this book is for you. Covering everything you need to use Node.js effectively, you will soon be able to handle JavaScript in a much more fully-realised way.

What You Will Learn

• Create and use an HTTP server using Express.js
• Configure environmental variables, arguments, and config files
• Use a Key/Value NoSQL database with Node to store data
• Create a client-side application using Node and Node.Webkit
• Debug applications using Node.Inspector
• Create a library that can be used in more than one project
• Install packages from NPM

In Detail

Node.js is simply a tool that lets you useJavaScript on the server side. But it actually does much more than that – by extending JavaScript it allows for a much more integrated and efficient approach to development. It's no surprise that it's a fundamental tool for full-stack JavaScript developers. Whether your working on the back end or front end – by using Node.js you're adopting a much more collaborative and agile way of working – so you and your team can focus on delivering a quality end product. This will ensure you're ready to take on any new challenges that get thrown at you.

NodeJS Essentials takes you through the fundamentals of Node.JS and demonstrates how Node.js can transform the way you work with JavaScript and take greater control over your code.

You will also learn how to create a HTTP server from scratch, route requests, create a RESTful interface, and authenticate users. You will also learn to debug applications using Node.Inspector and the importance of logging, as well as creating a reusable library.Finally, you'll find out how to test and optimizr your code when working with Node.js using the Mocha framework. Follow each step and discover how to test both synchronous and asynchronous code using Mocha unit tests.

With Node.js Essentials you'll find everything you need to create a complete full-stack application with Node.js. It will help you harness JavaScript much more effectively – and in doing so expand your confidence and capabilities as a developer.

Style and approach

This concise guide will help you get up and running with Node.js. Packed with easy to followexamples, you'll be be able to build a complete full-stack application utilizing Node's capabilities.