book

Node.js for Beginners

by Ulises Gascón

May 2024

Beginner to intermediate

382 pages

7h 59m

English

Packt Publishing

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ContributorsAbout the authorAbout the reviewers
Who this book is forWhat this book coversTo get the most out of this bookDownload the example code filesCode in ActionConventions usedGet in touchShare your thoughtsDownload a free PDF copy of this book
Technical requirementsWhy is Node.js so popular?Lightweight and fastCross-platform and multi-purposeEasy learning curveEcosystemCommunity-poweredThe Node.js single-thread architectureI/O needs to be done differentlyNon-blocking I/OGoing deeper into the event loopNode.js versionsSemantic versioning (SemVer)Release detailsRelease scheduleSummaryFurther reading
Technical requirementsInstalling Node.js on macOS, Windows, and LinuxmacOSWindowsLinuxOther environmentsVerifying the installationManaging Node.js versionsManaging Node.js by using nvmInstalling and using versionsUsing a .nvmrc fileNode.js REPLInteracting with JavaScript using Chrome DevToolsThe Console panelThe Network panelUsing Chrome DevToolsSummaryFurther reading
Technical requirementsJavaScript is a powerful languageUnderstanding versioning – TC39Understanding versioning – ECMAScriptWhat is included in the next version of JavaScript?What is not included in the JavaScript specification?Exploring JavaScript documentationLinting JavaScript codeCommenting JavaScript codeUsing JSDocPrinting values and debuggingVariables and constantsNaming conventionslet versus constUnderstanding data typesundefinedobjectbooleannumberstringfunctionbigintsymbolExploring numbersArithmetic operatorsAssignment operatorsUseful methodsThe Math objectOther numbersExploring Dates objectConditional statementsMath comparison operatorsEquality operatorsLogical operatorsThe NOT operator (!)Equality in JavaScriptThe nullish coalescing operator (??)The if statementThe switch statementTernary operatorUnderstanding loopswhiledo...whileforUsing strings in JavaScriptImportant methodsExploring arraysBasic operationsIterating over an arrayDestructuringSetsUsing objects in JavaScriptBasic operationsIterationShallow copy versus deep copyMerging objectsDestructuringOptional chaining (?.)Exploring functionsThe basicsArrow functionsClosuresCreating and managing classesCreating a classClass methodsExtending classesStatic methodsGetters and settersSummaryFurther reading
Technical requirementsAsynchronous programming in JavaScriptThe asynchronous mindsetUnderstanding callbacksTimers and intervalsError first callbacksCallback hellMastering promisesUsing promisesCreating promisesCallback hell with promisesParallel promisesError handlingChaining promisesUsing async and await to handle asynchronous codeasyncawaitIIFEsSummaryFurther reading
Technical requirementsModularizing your code (ESM versus CJS)CommonJS (CJS)ECMAScript Modules (ESM)Understanding how interoperability worksStructuring core librariesThe library structureStability indexOther core librariesCommand-line optionsSummaryFurther reading
Technical requirementsManaging the application with package.jsonChoosing the correct dependencies for your projectRisksGood criteriaInstalling dependenciesLocally or globallyDependency or development dependencyAdding new dependencyInstalling all the dependenciesRemoving dependenciesUnderstanding the package-lock.jsonManaging dependencies versionsOutdated dependenciesBuilding Isomorphic JavaScriptUsing npm scriptsExecuting packages directly with NPXnpm alternativesYarnPNPMVerdaccioPublishing your first packageRegistriesnpm accountPrepare the packageReviewing the packagePublish the packageAvoid the scoped packagesRelease new versionsPrevent accidental publishingBest practicesSummaryFurther reading

Technical requirementsIntroducing eventsWatching for file changesThe Node.js event emitter libraryPreventing chaos by organizing the listenersRemoving listeners when they are not neededYour first HTTP serverAdding an event layer to your modulesSummaryFurther reading
Technical requirementsWhy is testing important?Testing is a complex cultureTesting has to be a team activityTake advantage nowTesting approach and philosophyTesting is wildly used in the worldThe test pyramidHow should I test my code?Frameworks and librariesOur first testTesting principles and goalsWriting our first test suiteUtils moduleTest core libraryUsing the Jest libraryMastering code coverage toolingConfigurationRunning the testsNode.js reportTDD in actionSummaryFurther reading
Technical requirementsHow the internet works under the hoodHistory of the internetInternet InfrastructureRequest for Comments (RFC)HTTP – server and client relationshipRequest and responseServer-side renderingSingle-Page Applications (SPAs)Mastering HTTPHTTP headersStatus codesRequest methodsHTTP payloadsHTTP versionsUsing URLs in web applicationsREST APIs in a nutshellExploring the JSON specificationDebugging HTTP requestsSummaryFurther reading
Technical requirementsGetting familiar with the Express libraryInstalling ExpressHello WorldUsing the generatorDebuggingUnderstanding template enginesChoosing a template engineRendering a templateUnderstanding the processMastering requestsHTTP methodsRoutesHandlersMastering responsesHeader managementStatus codesRedirectsSending dataSending filesUsing the middleware patternUnderstanding the scopeMiddleware anatomyAdding middleware to the applicationAdding middleware to a routeCommon middleware used in ExpressUsing third-party middlewareSummaryFurther reading
Technical requirementsThe project KickoffThe project goalStarting with the first stepBuilding a REST APIAdding the routesAdding the storesAdding the static filesAdding the templatesTesting with supertestAdding stores to the serverCreating test utilsAdding server testsReviewing the final result of the projectThe about pageLet’s celebrate it!Next stepsSummary
Technical requirementsWhat is MongoDB?VersionsSetting up MongoDBInstalling DockerRunning MongoDB with a containerRunning MongoDB with Docker ComposeAdding Docker commands to package.jsonConnecting to MongoDBOther ways to install MongoDBHow to load secrets in Node.jsEnvironment variablesThe .env filedotenvUsing an ORM – MongooseMigrating a web application to MongoDBInstalling dependenciesManaging the secretsMigrating the data layerTesting our MongoDB integration layerUpdate the utilitiesRefactoring the test suiteSome tests must changeChecking the coverageSummaryFurther reading
Technical requirementsUnderstanding modern authentication and authorizationAuthenticationAuthorizationJWT in a nutshellThe processThe theoryCryptography 101JWT structureJWT.ioUnderstanding Passport.js fundamentalsAdding authentication and authorization to our web applicationClone the base projectSetupRun the testsThe UI changesAdded dependenciesChanges in the frontendAdded a new store for usersJWT utilitiesAdding new routesImproved testing utilitiesTest case changesTest coverageSummaryFurther reading
Technical requirementsExploring the types of errorsSyntax errorsRuntime errorsThrowing meaningful errorsThe error objectCustom errorsManaging errors in ExpressError-handling middlewareCustom errorsGracefully shutting down the applicationEventsExit codesAvoiding zombie processesSummaryFurther reading
Technical requirementsThe importance of securitySocial engineeringRisks in the supply chainThe business impactWhere to start with securityOWASP Top 10 overviewCWECVENode.js threat modelThe Node.js official recommendationsImproving the security of our applicationsPut it into practiceBecoming an ethical hackerCoordinated vulnerability disclosure (CVD)Bounty programsGetting the skillsSummaryFurther reading
Technical requirementsDefining the requirementsUsing a GitHub repositoryCreating a GitHub repositoryPushing the code to the repositoryContinuous integration with GitHub ActionsUsing MongoDB AtlasDeploying Node.js applications with PM2Creating a DigitalOcean DropletConnecting to the machinePreparing the machineCloning the repositoryInstalling the dependenciesPreparing the environmentManaging the application with PM2Accessing the applicationSummaryFurther reading
Technical requirementsContainers and cloud-native solutions with DockerDocker lifecycleDockerizing the applicationManaging the application with DockerAdding docker build to the CIPushing the image to Docker HubPublishing the image with GitHub ActionsRunning the containersUsing CloudflareNext level – Twelve-Factor App principlesCleaning upSummaryFurther reading
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Overview

"Node.js for Beginners" is your essential first step into the world of Node.js, the popular JavaScript runtime for building server-side applications. Through this comprehensive guide, you'll gain a solid foundation in Node.js, enabling you to create modern, efficient web applications. Whether you're venturing into back-end development for the first time or expanding your full-stack development skills, this book has you covered.

What this Book will help me do

Build secure, scalable, and efficient Node.js web applications from scratch.
Understand the fundamentals of JavaScript used in server-side programming.
Learn to create and consume RESTful APIs with authentication and error handling.
Deploy Node.js applications using modern tools like Docker and PM2.
Gain hands-on experience by completing a full-featured web application project.

Author(s)

Ulises Gascón, a Node.js core collaborator and releaser, uses his extensive experience with Node.js in teaching and mentoring developers. He adopts a practical approach to guide readers through the basics of Node.js to advanced deployment topics, ensuring an enriching and accessible learning experience. His writing reflects his passion for empowering developers to harness the potential of Node.js.

Who is it for?

This book is perfect for aspiring back-end developers or front-end developers striving to become full-stack professionals. If you have a working knowledge of JavaScript and front-end development and are keen to explore server-side and full-stack development using Node.js, this book provides all the guidance you'll need to succeed.