Introduction to NodeJS with LOLCats

Introduction to Node.JS
By Derek Anderson

What is Node.JS?

Evented I/O for V8 JavaScript

Why?

Node's goal is to provide an easy way
to build scalable network programs.
- nodejs.org

Traditional I/O
var data = fs.readFile('large.mov');

// Wait until file.read finishes
doSomethingWith(data);

Waiting for disk operation to finish is slow!

Asynchronous I/O
fs.readFile('large.mov', function(data){
doSomethingWith(data);
});

// Do Something Else Right Away!
doSomethingElse();

Read from the disk, and ﬁre a callback when done.
Meanwhile, Do Something Else!

Inspiration: Felix Geisendörfer

THE GOOD
• JavaScript on the Server

THE GOOD
• Desktop / Web / CLI Applications

THE GOOD
• Desktop / Web / CLI Applications
• Non Blocking I/O: DB, Filesystems, etc

THE GOOD
• Write CLI / GUI Applications
• NPM : Node Package Manager

THE GOOD
• Write CLI / GUI Applications
• NPM : Node Package Manager
• Active and friendly Community

Installation
Compile from Source
https://github.com/joyent/node/wiki/Installation

Install NPM
$ curl http://npmjs.org/install.sh | sh

Hello World
/hello-world.js

console.log('Hello World');

$ node hello-world.js
Hello World

Core Modules
• HTTP/HTTPS - Rock on!

Core Modules
• TCP - That’s nifty...

Core Modules
• DNS - Perform DNS operations

Core Modules
• Filesystems - read/write/watch !!

Core Modules
• Crypto, SSL/TLS, Readline, etc...

Core Modules
• Crypto, SSL/TLS, Readline, etc...
Over 3,400 Community Modules and counting !
http://search.npmjs.org/

Modules
var fs = require('fs'),
sys = require('sys'),
http = require('http'),
foo = require('./lib/foo'),
bar = require('./lib/bar');

Import system wide modules such as fs,
sys, http or local modules like /lib/foo.js

Roll Your Own Modules
lib/say.js
exports.say = function(something){
return something;
}

server.js
var baz = require('./lib/say');
console.log(baz.say('Foo Bar!'));

$ node server.js
Foo Bar!

HTTP Server
If you want to make an HTTP Server,
you must ﬁrst create the universe.
- Carl Sagan

HTTP Server
/hello-http.js
var http = require('http')

http.createServer(function(req, res){
res.writeHead(200, {'Content-Type': 'text/plain'});
res.end('Hello World!');
}).listen(3000);

console.log('Hello World');

$ node hello-http.js
Server Running

Resources & Tutorials
List of Resources from Joyent
https://github.com/joyent/node/wiki/Resources

Node.js Beginners Guide
http://nodeguide.com/beginner.html

Read the API
http://nodejs.org/docs/latest/api/

Questions

?http://github.com/mediaupstream

email: derek@mediaupstream.com twitter: @derekanderson

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