NODE FOR NOVICESBRINGING JAVASCRIPT TO THE SERVER

An original presentation by / David Wesst @davidwesst

PRESENTED AT THE WINNIPEG .NET USER GROUP - OCTOBER 28, 2013

http://www.winnipegdotnet.org

DAVID WESSTFROM WINNIPEG, MANITOBA

SYSTEMS ANALYST, UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA (FACULTY OFMEDICINE)

MICROSOFT MVP, INTERNET EXPLORER

IE USER AGENT USERAGENTS.IE

PRODUCER, BREWPUB STUDIOS

DAVID WESST@DAVIDWESST ON TWITTER

DAVIDWESST.COM ON THE WEB

DAVIDWESST.COM/BLOG ON THE BLOGOSPHERE

DW [AT] DAVIDWESST.COM ON EMAIL

FOLLOW ALONGHTTP://DAVIDWESST.GITHUB.IO/DW-PRESENTATIONS

SLIDES AND DEMOS WILLBE MADE AVAILABLE

AFTERWARDS

THE POINTTO ANSWER ONE OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

What is Node (a.k.a. NodeJS)?What do I need to get started?What makes NodeJS different to ASP.NET?Why aren't my JS frameworks working in NodeJS?

THE POINTTHEME FOR THIS PRESENTATION

UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUCAN DO WITH NODEJS

THE PLAN (A.K.A. THE AGENDA)How are we going to do this?

What is NodeJS?

Getting Yourself Setup

Your NodeJS Toolbox

Getting Your Node On

THE PLANSETTING YOUR EXPECTATIONS

This presentation is...

An introduction to NodeJSA dialogue about NodeJSComparing NodeJS to ASP.NETA review of NodeJS development toolsA "core sample" of NodeJS fundamentals

WHAT IS NODEJS?

WHAT IS NODEJS?

"NODE" = "NODEJS"

WHAT IS NODEJS?

Node is...

Node.js is a platform built on Chrome'sJavaScript runtime for easily building fast,

scalable network applications. Node.js uses anevent-driven, non-blocking I/O model that

makes it lightweight and efficient, perfect fordata-intensive real-time applications that run

across distributed devices.

WHAT IS NODEJS?

Node is...

...Server-Side JavaScript

...100% Multi-Platform

...Open Source

...Sponsored by Joyent

WHAT IS NODEJS?

Node is...

...Powered by Google's V8 JavaScript Engine

...Provides request-level control

...bundled with a package manager (a.k.a npm, node packagedmodules)...Built on the idea of Asynchronous I/O [or Non-Blocking I/O]

ASYNCHRONOUS I/O?I/O THAT DOESN'T BLOCK YOUR APPLICATION

YOU: I DON'TUNDERSTAND HOW THAT

IS POSSIBLE. TELL MEMORE!

I WILL.

EXAMPLE: CLIENT-SIDE JAVASCRIPT

// function with parameterfunction myClientFunction(message, callback) { // variable var msg = message; // objects var randomArray = new Array(); // function call alert(msg); // call the callback callback(); };

var theCallback = function() { //...do something}

myClientFunction(message, theCallback);

EXAMPLE: SERVER-SIDE (NODEJS)JAVASCRIPT

// function with parameterfunction myServerFunction(message, callback) { // variable var msg = message; // objects var randomArray = new Array(); // function call console.log(msg); // call the callback callback(); };

var theCallback = function() { //...do something}

myServerFunction(message, theCallback);

THE SECRET IS...

CALLBACKS

CALLBACKSCALLBACK ARE THE SECRET TO NON-BLOCKING OPERATIONS

On the client, UI is kept unblockedOn the server, Requests are unblocked

OPTIONAL DEMO:CALLBACKS

WHERE IS NODE BEING USED INPRODUCTION?

REAL EXAMPLESNodejitsu, Cloud PlatformLinkedInEbay

LET'S TALK NODEJS ANDJAVASCRIPT

FRAMEWORKS (LIKEBACKBONEJS)

GETTING YOURSELFSETUP

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO NEED?

Your development machine (Windows, Linux, or Mac)An Internet Connection(OPTIONAL) A bit of comfort with a command line

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO IT?WINDOWS AND MAC

1. Go to 2. Download the installer3. Follow the install wizard4. Test it in the CLI (command line interface)

NodeJS.org

YOUR NODEJS TOOLBOX

CORE TOOLBOX: TEXT EDITOR + TERMINALTHIS IS PRETTY GOOD TO GET YOU GOING

ViNotepadGEditTextMate

NODEJS TOOLS: NODECLIPSE / NODE IDEHTTP://WWW.NODECLIPSE.ORG/

Eclipse Plugin(s)Free and Open SourceAdds NodeJS running and debugging support in EclipseVery young project, but provides what you need

NODEJS TOOLS: CLOUD9HTTP://C9.IO

Hosted IDEFree and Paid OptionsOpen SourceProvides support for major web platformsIncludes other common development features, like MySQLand Terminal

NODEJS TOOLS: WEBMATRIXHTTP://WWW.MICROSOFT.COM/WEB/WEBMATRIX/

Windows Application from MicrosoftFreeEnvironment for popular web platforms (Node, Rails, PHP,HTML5, ASP.NET)Meant for development of Web Sites over Web Apps

NODEJS TOOLSWebStorm IDE by JetBrainsNetbeans Plugin Visual Node (Private Beta) by Redgate

LinkLink

Link

GETTING YOUR NODE ON

WARMING UP TO NODENODE PROJECTS ARE MADE UP OF THE FOLLOWING:

"App.js" - Your Main Executable File"Package.json" (OPTIONAL) - Describes details of yourapplication"node_modules/" (OPTIONAL) - Contains projectdependencies

DEMOINTRODUCING NODEJS

USING THE NPMNODE PACKAGED MODULES

NPM is bundled with Node base install as of v0.6.3Packages can be browsed at Installs packages either locally

...or globally

NPMjs.org

npm install underscore

npm install -g typescript

PACKAGE.JSON: REVISITEDTHE KEYS TO USING THE NPM

You can...

Define dependencies for running your applicationDefine dependencies for developing your applicationSet the name, version, and main for your own apps andpackagesPublish your own packages to the npm

DEMO: USING NPMCOMMAND LINE

PRO TIP

GITHUB IS YOUR FRIEND

CODING WITH CALLBACKSUSING THE REAL POWER OF NODEJS

Keys to remember:

Functions are first-class citizens in JavaScriptFunctions can be passed as argumentsDefining functions inside of functions makes them "private"Non-blocking means user waits less, which is good!

CODING WITH CALLBACKS

DEMOCODING WITH CALLBACKS

MAKING YOUR OWN MODULESMODULARITY FOR THE WIN

Keys to remember:

Modules provide a way to easily organize your codeCan be shared amongst other projectsPublished through npm or git repositoryVersion is defined in package.json

DEMOMAKING YOUR OWN MODULES

THINGS TO REMEMBERPrivate and Public variables existThink ModularNPM is your friend...and so is Github

LET'S TALK NODEJS ANDMICROSOFT STUFF

NODEJS AND MICROSOFTWebsites and Cloud Services support in Windows AzureIDE built into WebMatrixIIS and IIS Support through IISNode

ASP.NET VS NODEJSServes up JavaScript and HTMLNatively SynchronousRequires IISProvides multiple structured ways of doing web (Web Forms,MVC, Websites, WebAPI)

ASP.NET VS NODEJSServes up JavaScript and HTMLNatively AsynchronousDoes not require web server (e.g. IIS)Provides multiple unstructured ways of doing webOpen Source

PRO TIP

EXPRESSJS: YOUR NEW FAVOURITE NODEMODULE

POPULAR MVC FRAMEWORK FOR NODEProvides MVC Pattern for Web ApplicationsSupports Popular Middle ModulesCommand-Line SetupSupports popular UI tools (e.g. LESS, SASS, Jade Templates)

DEMOINTRODUCTION EXPRESSJS

THE PLAN (A.K.A. THE AGENDA)How are we going to do this?

What is NodeJS?

Getting Yourself Setup

Your NodeJS Toolbox

Getting Your Node On

THE POINTTO ANSWER ONE OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

What is Node (a.k.a. NodeJS)?What do I need to get started?What makes NodeJS different to ASP.NET?Why aren't my JS frameworks working in NodeJS?

THE POINTTHEME FOR THIS PRESENTATION

UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUCAN DO WITH NODEJS

NEXT STEPSWhere do we go from here?

NEXT STEPSInstall NodeJSCreate a NodeJS Application with or without ExpressJSExplore the npmPublish a package to the npm

NEXT STEPSCHECK OUT A RESOURCE

http://package.json.nodejitsu.com/http://blog.nodejitsu.com/npm-cheatsheethttp://npmjs.org

DAVID WESSTFROM WINNIPEG, MANITOBA

SYSTEMS ANALYST, UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA (FACULTY OFMEDICINE)

MICROSOFT MVP, INTERNET EXPLORERIE USER AGENT USERAGENTS.IE

PRODUCER, BREWPUB STUDIOS

DAVID WESST@DAVIDWESST ON TWITTER

DAVIDWESST.COM ON THE WEBDAVIDWESST.COM/BLOG ON THE BLOGOSPHERE

DW [AT] DAVIDWESST.COM ON EMAIL