How Can I Run a Node.js Application?

How do I set up and run a Node.js application?

To run a Node.js application, follow these steps:

1. Install Node.js:
   • Download and install the latest version of Node.js from the official website.
   • After installation, verify it by opening your terminal or command prompt and typing:

     node -v

     This command should display the installed Node.js version.

2. Set Up Your Project Directory:
   • Create a new directory for your project:

     mkdir my-node-app 
     cd my-node-app

3. Initialize the Project:
   • Initialize a new Node.js project, which will create a package.json file to manage your project’s dependencies and scripts:

     npm init -y

4. Create Your Application File:
   • Create a JavaScript file (e.g.,app.js ) in your project directory. This file will contain your application’s code.
   • For a simple HTTP server, you can add the following code to app.js :

     const http = require('http');
      
     const server = http.createServer((req, res) => {
      res.statusCode = 200; res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain');
      res.end('Hello, World!\n');
      }); 
     
     const port = 3000;
     const host = 'localhost';
     
     server.listen(port, host, () => {
      console.log(`Server running at http://${host}:${port}/`);
     });

     This code sets up a basic HTTP server that responds with “Hello, World!” to any incoming requests.

5. Install Dependencies (If Any):
   • If your application requires external packages, install them using npm . For example, to install the Express framework, run:

     npm install express

6. Run Your Application:
   • In your terminal or command prompt, navigate to your project directory and execute:

     node app.js

     This command starts your Node.js application.

   • Open your web browser and navigate to http://localhost:3000/ to see your application in action.

For more detailed tutorials and resources, consider visiting the Node.js official documentation and the Visual Studio Code Node.js tutorial. If you need further assistance with setting up or running your Node.js application, feel free to contact our support team at 📧 support@ipserverone.com.