Express: a simple Node.js Framework

minimal and flexible Node.js web application framework that provides a robust set of features for web and mobile applications. Provides EASIER WAY (than just nodeJS):

• it adds a DIRECTORY STRUCTURE

it is a minimalist

• basic routing(mapping URLs -> code/static page), middleware, template engine and static files serving, sessions/cookies

• (fast) I/O performance of Node.js doesn’t get compromised.

• Not true MVC framework (people will add another package for the presenation layer -- like Angular JS)

• because so light weight, as project grows and more devleopers may get codebase that does not apply same design priniciples -- is not a pattern oriented framework:<

   

front end setup

uses generator to setup project that defines folder/locations for content

npm install express-generator -g express helloapp create : helloapp create : helloapp/package.json create : helloapp/app.js create : helloapp/public create : helloapp/public/images create : helloapp/routes create : helloapp/routes/index.js create : helloapp/routes/users.js create : helloapp/public/stylesheets create : helloapp/public/stylesheets/style.css create : helloapp/views create : helloapp/views/index.jade create : helloapp/views/layout.jade create : helloapp/views/error.jade create : helloapp/bin create : helloapp/bin/www   install dependencies: $ cd helloapp && npm install run the app: $ DEBUG=helloapp:* npm start create : helloapp/public/javascripts

 

 

middleware -- functions that have access to request/response objects

An Express application is essentially Node.js with a host of middleware functions, 

CODE SAMPLE   var app = express(); app.use(cookieParser()); app.use(bodyParser()); app.use(logger()); app.use(authentication()); app.get('/', function (req, res) { // ... }); app.listen(3000);

template engine

 

• templates let you embed backend variables into an HTML file and when requested it renders the HTML file with the variables set to their actual values

• uses Pug (template engine)

 

Routing, _ Static Files , _ Middleware, _ Form Processing, Authentication (simple using session)

 

MORE yet read on your own- Cookies, Sessions