How to setup a server with Nodejs and Expressjs (Deploy on Heroku)

What we'll do ? 

In this tutorial, we will be creating a simple "Hello-Node" web app server using NodeJs and ExpressJs. We will deploy this web app on Heroku!

What are Requirements?

• npm and node
• Git Bash
• Heroku CLI
  
• Heroku Account

Visit the links given above and install all in your system and Signup for a Heroku Free Account!

Note: I'm assuming that you've some knowledge of JavaScript.

Let's Start!

Working on Local Environment

• Create a directory and enter in the same.
• In the directory enter npm init
• Install ExpressJs npm install --save express
• Create a file server.js
• In Server.js import Express
  const express = require('express')
const app = express()
• declare a port variable
  
  var port = process.env.PORT || 8080;
  
  Instead of forcing server to listen to a specific port may result in error or server crash!
  
  What's process.env.PORT ?
  In many environments (e.g. Heroku), and as a convention, you can set the environment variable PORT to tell your web server what port to listen on.
  So process.env.PORT || 8080 means: whatever is in the environment variable PORT, or 8080 if there's nothing there.
• Now, Let's write something which will appear on website!
  
  

    
  
  app.get("/", function(req, res){
  
      res.send('Hello Node');
   
   });
   

• Now We'll make this app listen to either port 8080 or whichever is configured as per this host (heroku here).
  app.listen(port, function(){
console.log('App Running on port ' + port);
})
• Now, Test if it works on local environment! run:
  node server.js
  
  
• Go to localhost:8080 to see if it's working!
• Final server.js will look like -
  
  

  
  const express = require("express");
  const app = express();
  
  
  var port = process.env.PORT || 8080;
  
  
  app.get("/", function(req, res){
  res.send('Hello Node!');
  });
  
  
  app.listen(port, function(){
  console.log('App Running on port ' + port);
  })
  
  

 Deploying on Heroku

• Run git init  in that directory.
• Run heroku login in terminal or comand line! and Provide login information which you used to create account on heroku.
• Run heroku create
  It'll clone your repo into heroku server.
• Run git add . and git commit -m "initial commit" 
• Finally Push your code on heroku cloud!
  git push heroku master
• Now, Run heroku open
  It'll open the url in browser on which your web app is deployed

This was the simplest app deployed on cloud using NodeJs and ExpressJs.

If I missed anything or you've got stuck somewhere! Shoot your questions below.
Thanks for passing by :)

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