Online Training Session on Node.js Runtime

General Information

• Beginner-level class on Node.js runtime
• Interactive session, no slides, Sam Hernandez presenting
• Recording available in YouTube and split by topic on GiasComplete
• Questions can be asked on GiasComplete Slack channel
• Lecture duration: 2.5 hours

Introduction

• No assumptions about prior Node.js knowledge
• Assumes basic JavaScript and general programming knowledge
• Lecture's purpose: familiarizing with Node.js, raising confidence, correct learning pathway
• Emphasis on understanding raw runtime before exploring external packages
• Importance of using the latest version of Node.js (preferably LTS)

Instructor Background - Sam Hernandez

• Experience in various programming languages before settling on Node.js
• Backend Node.js development and frontend React development
• Maintains JiS Complete written in Node.js and React

Getting Started with Node.js

• Node.js consists of: node, npm, and npx commands
• Node.js is a runtime built on Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine
• Explore through REPL (Read-Eval-Print Loop): node command in terminal

Core Libraries and Features

Important Node.js Built-in Libraries

• HTTP/HTTPS: Start and manage HTTP servers
• Console: Similar to browser console for logging
• Process: Interface between Node.js and OS for interacting with environment variables and process states
• File System (fs): Read/write files
• Path: Managing and creating paths
• Events: Create and manage event-driven architecture
• Streams: Work with large datasets
• Crypto: Security and encryption
• Timers: Handle time-based asynchronous operations

Node.js Versions and Installation

• Use Homebrew on Mac for installations
• Use NVM (Node Version Manager) for switching Node versions
• Ensure minimum Node.js version 10 for compatibility

Modules and Packages

• require and module.exports for modular code
• Use npm for package management and package.json for meta information
• export default and import ES6 modules vs CommonJS modules require/module.exports
• Module caching to optimize performance

Debugging and Development Tools

• Use Node.js CLI for various development tasks
• Debugging tools: node inspect, Chrome DevTools integration for step-by-step debugging
• ESLint for code linting and quality checks
• TypeScript recommended for type safety and project scalability

Node.js Application Setup and Best Practices

• Use package.json scripts section to manage project-specific tasks
• Lifecycle scripts (e.g., start, test, build) to define project execution commands
• Avoid global dependencies, manage locally within project

Starting an HTTP Server

• Basic server using built-in HTTP module
• Event-driven: Handle requests and responses via callback functions
• Example: Create a simple server and handle routes

Express Framework for Simplified HTTP Handling

• Express as a popular, feature-rich framework for HTTP servers
• Installation via npm and setup examples
• Route management, request handling, serving static files

Callbacks, Promises, and Async/Await

• Callback pattern (error-first callback): Managing asynchronous operations, handling errors
• Promises: Cleaner alternative to callbacks, better trust and control
• Async/Await: Syntactic sugar over promises for better flow control
• Promisify utility from util library

Advanced Topics

Streams and Event Emitters

• Streams: Efficient data processing handling large datasets over time
• Event Emitters: Observers for state changes and multiple event handling
• Examples and use cases in typical Node.js applications

Performance and Scalability

• Using Cluster module: Load balancing and zero-downtime restarts
• Recommended: Use pm2 for process management in production

Further Resources and Learning

• JiS Complete courses and books on Node.js
• Pluralsight courses recommended for in-depth learning
• Reading and understanding official Node.js documentation
• Focus on mastering the core built-in module features

Additional Recommendations

• Use ESLint and Prettier for maintaining code quality
• Focus on understanding modern JavaScript features: Arrow functions, destructuring, spread/rest operators, modules
• Familiarity with TypeScript and its benefits

Questions and Answers

• Discussion on general practices, avoiding bad parts of JavaScript
• Recommendations for using strict mode, TypeScript, and linting tools to enforce code quality