Node.js and Express.js Tutorial Series

Introduction

• The series consists of 15 tutorials focused on Node.js, Express.js, and MongoDB.
• Recommended for those familiar with JavaScript basics.
• Projects include building a web server and handling user authentication.

Chapter 1: Introduction to Node.js

• Node.js: JavaScript runtime built on Chrome's V8 engine.
• Server-side JavaScript: Unlike client-side JS with HTML/CSS, Node.js runs on the server.
• Installation: Download from nodejs.org.
• Editor: Use Visual Studio Code for code examples.
• Terminal: Node.js console is in the terminal, not browser dev tools.

Differences from Vanilla JavaScript

• Global Object: Node.js uses global instead of window.
• Common Core Modules: Access to OS, file systems, etc., using require.
• Module Syntax: Uses CommonJS require vs. ES6 import.
• APIs: Some browser APIs are missing, e.g., fetch.

File System Module

• Reading/Writing Files: Using fs module to handle file operations.
• Async Nature: Node.js handles operations asynchronously.
• Error Handling: Catch uncaught exceptions.
• FS Promises: Use async/await for cleaner code.

Streams and Directories

• Streams: Efficiently handle large files using fs.createReadStream and createWriteStream.
• Directories: Use fs.mkdir and fs.rmdir to manage directories.

Node Package Manager (npm)

• Installation: npm i package-name, manage dependencies in package.json.
• Scripts: Define start, dev, and build scripts for automation.
• Semantic Versioning: Understanding major, minor, patch updates.

Working with Events

• Event Emitter: Create and listen for events with the events module.
• Logging: Use custom logging with timestamps and IDs.

Creating a Web Server

• HTTP Module: Use http to create a server.
• Routing: Handle different URL routes using switch statements initially.
• File Serving: Serve static files, handle 404s.

Express.js Framework

• Express Installation: npm i express.
• Routing with Express: Simplifies routing with methods like app.get().
• Middleware: Built-in, custom, and third-party middleware.

Middleware in Express

• Built-in Middleware: For handling JSON, serving static files, etc.
• Custom Middleware: Create logging and error handling.
• Third-party Middleware: Use cors for cross-origin requests.

Routing with Express

• Express Router: Organize routes using routers for different endpoints.
• Route Handlers: Chain multiple handlers per route using middleware.

MongoDB and Mongoose

• MongoDB Introduction: NoSQL database storing data in collections/documents.
• Mongoose: An ODM for MongoDB in Node.js.
• Schemas and Models: Define schemas to represent data structures.

CRUD Operations with Mongoose

• Connecting to MongoDB: Use mongoose.connect with connection URI.
• Defining Schemas: Set up schemas for users and employees.
• Performing CRUD: Implement CRUD operations using Mongoose methods.

User Authentication and JWT

• User Registration: Securely store user data with bcrypt for passwords.
• JWT: Issue JSON Web Tokens for authentication and authorization.
• Protected Routes: Use middleware to safeguard routes based on JWT.

Implementing Authorization

• Roles and Permissions: Add roles to users for access control.
• Verify Roles Middleware: Check user roles before allowing access.

Deployment

• Deploying to Glitch: Use the Glitch platform to host your Node.js application.
• Environment Variables: Use .env to manage secrets like tokens and URI.

Conclusion

• A comprehensive tutorial series covering Node.js, Express.js, and MongoDB.
• Ideal for building a full REST API with authentication and authorization.
• Recommended next steps: Explore the MERN stack by adding React.