Learning Node.JS and Express - Part 1 (Configuration)

I recently started working on node.js and would like to share the important details of the same with you through this series – Learning Node.js and Express.

As a first step, we would download node.js in our system. In order to do so, go to the following url.

Simply click on the download to start with it and then install the same.



After installation, let’s check the current working of the same.

Go to the Start Menu and search Node.js. Select the same, it will open as a Command Prompt.



Write statements like x=10 and press enter, you should get the output as 10. Also, try to write something like console.log(“Learning Node.js”). You should get the following output:



This means that your node.js is now working. We will now install Express. It helps us provide many features for web and mobile development. In order to install express, we just need to enter the command in the same cmd as above : npm install express. You will get the messages accordingly in the cmd itself after installation is complete.

Now, I have been using the trial version of WebStorm IDE to work on node.js. There are other editors as well, but its my personal favorite.

Let’s make a new project in WebStorm IDE. The simple steps for the same are:

1. If you are opening the IDE for the first time, then you will get “Create New Project” option directly. As I have been working on it so it loads the last project automatically. So, for me the option will be to go to File, then New Project.
   
   
2. Select the project type as ‘Node.js Express App”. The screen will be as in the following screenshot:
   
   
   
   You can select the desired location of the project. The Node interpreter and Npm executable would be detected automatically by the IDE. Also, select the version of the Express that you will work on. I am working on version 4.11.0 for now.
   
   
3. So after clicking on Create, you might get the following option:
   
   
   
   Let the settings be as they are and click Configure. The IDE will automatically download all the required packages for its execution.