Using the same framework to build both server and client-side applications saves you time and money. This book teaches you how you can use JavaScript and Node.js to build highly scalable APIs that work well with lightweight cross-platform client applications. It begins with the basics of Node.js in the context of backend development, and quickly leads you through the creation of an example client that pairs up with a fully authenticated API implementation.
This book balances theory and exercises, and contains multiple open-ended activities that use real-life business scenarios for you to practice and apply your newly acquired skills in a highly relevant context.
We have included over 20 practical activities and exercises across 9 topics to reinforce your learning. By the end of this book, you'll have the skills and exposure required to get hands-on with your own API development project.
This book is ideal for developers who already understand JavaScript and are looking for a quick no-frills introduction to API development with Node.js. Though prior experience with other server-side technologies such as Python, PHP, ASP.NET, Ruby will help, it's not essential to have a background in backend development before getting started.
Chapter 1, Introduction to Node.js, covers a few fundamental concepts in Node.js, basic Node.js code and run it from the Terminal, module system, its categories, and asynchronous programming model that is at the heart of how Node.js works, and what actually makes Node.js tick.
Chapter 2, Building the API – Part 1, covers building a basic HTTP server, setting up Hapi.js, building basic API with Hapi.js Framework, and fundamental concepts of web applications.
Chapter 3, Building the API – Part 2, covers introduction to Knex.js and how we can use it to connect and use the database, essential CRUD database methods, API authentication using the JWT mechanism, CORS mechanism, testing the API using Lab library, and test automation using Gulp.js.
- Prior experience with other server-side technologies, such as Python, PHP, ASP.NET, and Ruby will be beneficial but is not mandatory.
- This book will require a computer system. The minimum hardware requirements are 1.8 GHz or higher Pentium 4 (or equivalent) processor, 4 GB RAM, 10 GB hard disk, and a stable internet connection.
- The software required are Visual Studio Code (https://code.visualstudio.com/), Node.js (8.9.1) (https://nodejs.org/en/), MySQL Workbench 6.3 (https://www.mysql.com/products/workbench/), and MySQL (https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/).
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There are a number of text conventions used throughout this book.
CodeInText: Indicates code words in text, database table names, folder names, filenames, file extensions, pathnames, dummy URLs, user input, and Twitter handles. Here is an example: "After this setup is done, we then start the server using the server.start method."
A block of code is set as follows:
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Activity: These are scenario-based activities that will let you practically apply what you've learned over the course of a complete section. They are typically in the context of a real-world problem or situation.
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