Quick Start Guide for Node.js Express Apps

I created this guide to help me when starting a new Express app. I took note of the starting steps needed as well as some helpful packages/middlewares.

Getting Started

• This guide assumes you understand how Node.js and Express applications work, and you just need help with the initial set up.
• The following instructions are assuming you are using the Linux OS. I use Ubuntu.
• Make sure to have the LTS (Long Term Support) of Node to avoid errors.

Table of Contents

1. Prerequisite
2. Creating the App
3. Packages
4. Middleware

[1] Prerequisite

• Install Express Application generator globally so you can create Express apps.

npm install express-generator -g

[2] Creating the App

• Deciding on a template library for your project such as EJS, Pug(Jade), Hbs, etc.

• Open a terminal instance in the directory you want to create your project folder and run the following command replacing VIEW_TEMPLATE with the template you will use.

express my-first-express-app --view=VIEW_TEMPLATE

• E.g. If I wanted to create an app named super-cool-app using the EJS template, I would run...

express super-cool-app --view=ejs

• This creates an Express app with some folders, an app.js and package.json files.

• NOTE: For the following steps, I will assume the app's name is super-cool-app.

• Follow the termianl instructions to go to the project directory, install packages, and run the app.

cd super-cool-app
npm install
DEBUG=super-cool-app:* npm start

[3] Packages

Here are some helpful packages you can use for your React projects.

nodemon

• Automatically restarts the Node.js application when there are file changes.

npm install --save-dev nodemon

• Additionally, go to your package.json file and edit the scripts to the following, replacing the app name below with your app name.

"scripts": {
    "start": "node ./bin/www",
    "devstart": "nodemon ./bin/www",
    "serverstart": "DEBUG=super-cool-app:* npm run devstart"
  },

• Now, to run your applications, just run this in the command line.

npm run serverstart

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Luxon

• A helpful way to format time using JavaScript.

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Mongoose

• Object modeling tool for MongoDB.

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dotenv

• Handles environment variables and secrets.

[4] Middleware

Here's some useful middleware you can use in your Express projects.

Express Async Handler

• Handles exceptions for async express routes.

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Express Validator

• Allows for sanitation and validation data.

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Compression

• Compresses the HTPP response sent to the client to reduce load times.

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Helmet

• Protects against vulnerabilities by setting appropriate HTTP headers.

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Express Rate Limit

• Limits repeated requests to public APIs and/or endpoints.

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PassportJS

• Handles authentication and sessions

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bcryptjs

• Encryption for hashing passwords.