Node.js convert reviews app to use express web framework
In my previous posts I build a simple node.js app without the use of a web framework. Its a good learning exercise but now I want to use a web framework. I choose Express for node because from what I read its proven, well documented and has support for what I wish to build. I can also use dust templates server side with express (I used consolidate.js to facilitate).
So here's what I did to convert to using Express.
For "my next trick" I'm going to convert the reviews app to use the express web framework and have it reuse the dust templates I'm already using with backbone.js
- install express globally
- create app scaffolding with express:
express expreviews
- that creates a new folder "expreviews" with a folder structure which express proscribes
expreviews
/public (the apps public folder includes /javascript, /images and /stylesheets subfolders)
/routes (express route mappings/definitions)
/views (view template files)
app.js (the node server code)
package.json
Since the existing review app organization is quite different from express default organization then I decided it would be best to conform to the express organization. You can do the other way around and set "views", express.static to match reviews app layout but I think doing it the "express way" is better when using express. It also highlights the contrasts more clearly.
- I researched and am using consolidate.js to add in dust.js support. Consolidate.js is referenced on express FAQ and there's a simple example to follow for using with dust.js templates.
- npm install
- all ok
- run node app.js and hit http://localhost:3000/ to see the default scaffolding index page
Ok, so node running with jade template works ok. Lets change to use dust.js:
1. add the dust libraries and consolidate to the package.json
"dustjs-linkedin": "*",
"dustjs-helpers": "*",
"consolidate": "*"
2. npm install
3. update app.js to include and use dust and consolidate (6 changes)
4. create layout.dust and index.dust files under views (I copied from review app)
5. change file paths to read from new express locations for images, css and js
6. hit the page; ok loads aok
7.
So here's what I did to convert to using Express.
For "my next trick" I'm going to convert the reviews app to use the express web framework and have it reuse the dust templates I'm already using with backbone.js
- install express globally
- create app scaffolding with express:
express expreviews
- that creates a new folder "expreviews" with a folder structure which express proscribes
expreviews
/public (the apps public folder includes /javascript, /images and /stylesheets subfolders)
/routes (express route mappings/definitions)
/views (view template files)
app.js (the node server code)
package.json
Since the existing review app organization is quite different from express default organization then I decided it would be best to conform to the express organization. You can do the other way around and set "views", express.static to match reviews app layout but I think doing it the "express way" is better when using express. It also highlights the contrasts more clearly.
- I researched and am using consolidate.js to add in dust.js support. Consolidate.js is referenced on express FAQ and there's a simple example to follow for using with dust.js templates.
- npm install
- all ok
- run node app.js and hit http://localhost:3000/ to see the default scaffolding index page
Ok, so node running with jade template works ok. Lets change to use dust.js:
1. add the dust libraries and consolidate to the package.json
"dustjs-linkedin": "*",
"dustjs-helpers": "*",
"consolidate": "*"
2. npm install
3. update app.js to include and use dust and consolidate (6 changes)
4. create layout.dust and index.dust files under views (I copied from review app)
5. change file paths to read from new express locations for images, css and js
6. hit the page; ok loads aok
7.
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