Node.js is an advanced PHP framework, it is open-source and cross-platform to build web applications, APIs and desktop applications. It is accessible on Google Chrome V8 JavaScript engine. Also, in this framework, there are JavaScript functions where any programming language can be used. Moreover, applications built on this framework comprise of package library and a command line package manager (NPM or Node Package Manager).
A major concern is – How to host Node.js applications. MilesWeb provides a robust IT infrastructure to host Node.js applications, making it a reliable choice for best Node.js hosting, and it can handle events/connections/logic by firing JavaScript callback functions.
Several frameworks use Node.js, including Single Page Applications (AngularJS, ReactJS) and API development (using the “express” module). MilesWeb also provides ReactJS hosting for deploying React-based applications efficiently.
If you are a beginner looking forward to deploy Node.js application for your web project, this is the best guide for you.
Tips to Deploy Node.Js Application
- Create a project
- Develop a new project with a relevant name.
- Then you will get one environment Production
- Enter the Application name you want to add by pressing the “Add application” button.
- Setting up the GIT repository
The next step is to set up your GIT repository.
- From the repository, select the branch or tag you want.
- The deploy key generated by the platform should be added to all private GIT repositories if you wish to use them.
- You can do this via “Settings”>> “Deploy Keys” in the Github repository.
- You can do this in Gitlab repositories by clicking on “Settings”>> “Repository”>> “Deploy Keys”.
- Add other items to the stack (if necessary) depending on the Node.js version you want.
- Launch the app
- The Node.js platform provides more network connectivity and other perquisite configuration in this step. Therefore, you will get a running container with Node.js and NPM pre-installed.
- Cloning
- Next is the step to create a deployed scenario. Here are some underlying tasks to look after
- Git clone the application repository.
- Our first step is to clone the GIT repository in the Node.js stack item to download and build the Node.js application code. All the code will be downloaded into a new “build” folder during this process.
- We need to follow this step to avoid overridden codebase and provide, in that manner, a “build” versioning option on the Node.js instance.
- NPM install dependencies
Now, you have to install all modules in the Node.js platform using the NPM package. These modules will be defined as package.json, which will be downloaded in the node_modules folder. Here is the command that will run after downloading.
npm install
It may take several minutes to complete this process, depending on the number of modules.
- Configure a program for Supervisor.
Deploying Node.js Application is a continuous process where the error occurs frequently. Thus, ensure that all deploying process gets restarted automatically. For the same, use ‘Supervisord’ as our process manager. You can be parameterised using a default Supervisor configuration task in this platform.
http://supervisord.org/configuration.html contains a much wider range of configuration parameters.
- Supervisor – Reread & Update program configuration
You have understood that Supervisord will be managing our deployment process. Therefore, it is recommended to restart itself only sometimes because somebody is editing a configuration file. It would help if you had control over the program configuration. Using mentioned commands below, you will get power when a program configuration gets loaded in Supervisord, and it updates the running program
supervisorctl reread
supervisorctl update
- Symlink release
By symlinking them as “current”, the platform will mark the latest build folder as “release”. Then, go to the current folder of Node.js instances to review the active codebase.
If any tasks fail, there will be no other symlinking process. To execute the same, go into the “failed” build folder to see what went wrong or do manual tasks via SSH.
- Supervisor – Restart all services
The supervisor restart task restarts a specific “program” or “all” without configuration changes, and a managed application is stopped and restarted. None of the changes will be reflected when you continue after creating or changing a configuration.
To ensure the latest code changes have been loaded, we have added this task to ensure our Node.js process is restarted.
Run the following command via SSH if you wish to know if the program is still running:
supervisorctl status
- Run Deploy
“Deploy scenario” allows you to deploy any code changes safely and highly automatedly without affecting the Node.js Application. Your running Node.js Application is not affected by an error in tasks 1,2 or 3. This scenario can be run as many times as necessary.
Test the Node.js Application
This tutorial shows you how to build a Node.js application by following the steps above.
Type the following URL into your browser: https://< deltablue-app-url >
- Configure HTTPS
Now that our Node.js Application is up and running, it is serving our Application over HTTP. Adding a “proxy” like Nginx in front of Node.js and adding logic to pass requests to Node.js and handle LetsEncrypt certificate installation could enable HTTPS. We prefer an easier approach by using the cloud platform’s built-in HTTPS option.
You can find this menu by going to your Application’s details >> clicking the “Config” tab >> and then clicking “HTTPS & SSL.”
LetsEncrypt certificates or your own SSL certificate can be used to activate an SSL certificate. LetsEncrypt certificates will be automatically renewed.
