Node for front-end developers : [writing server-side JavaScript applications

If you know how to use JavaScript in the browser, you already have the skills you need to put JavaScript to work on back-end servers with Node. This hands-on book shows you how to use this popular JavaScript platform to create simple server applications, communicate with the client, build dynamic pages, work with data, and tackle other tasks. Although Node has a complete library of developer-contributed modules to automate server-side development, this book will show you how to program with Node on your own, so you truly understand the platform. Discover firsthand how well Node works as a web server, and how easy it is to learn and use. If you know how to use JavaScript in the browser, you already have the skills you need to put JavaScript to work on back-end servers with Node. This hands-on book shows you how to use this popular JavaScript platform to create simple server applications, communicate with the client, build dynamic pages, work with data, and tackle other tasks.Although Node has a complete library of developer-contributed modules to automate server-side development, this book will show you how to program with Node on your own, so you truly understand the platform. Discover firsthand how well Node works as a web server, and how easy it is to learn and use.Set up Node and learn how to build scaffolding for a web applicationWork with Node natively to see how it functions as a web serverUnderstand how Node receives client data from GET and POST requestsUse the Socket.IO module to facilitate realtime client-server communicationChoose from among several Node templates to create dynamic pagesLearn how to connect to a database, and store data in filesImplement the Model-View-Controller pattern, and share Node modules with server and client Table of Contents 5 Preface 7 Conventions Used in This Book 9 Using Code Examples 9 Safari® Books Online 9 How to Contact Us 10 Chapter 1. Getting Node Set Up 11 Node and NPM 11 REPL 12 File Organization 13 Chapter 2. Serving Simple Content 15 Writing a Response Manually 15 Serving a Static Page 16 Serving Client-Side Assets 18 Adding In Middleware 20 Chapter 3. Interaction with the Client 23 Receiving Data from the Querystring 23 Routing and Receiving Data from a Path 24 Receiving Data from a POST 25 Responding to Asynchronous Requests 26 Real-Time Communication 27 Chapter 4. Server-Side Templates 31 Creating a Dynamic Page 31 Partial Templates 34 Parsing Other File Types 36 Creating Files on the Fly 37 Chapter 5. Data Sources and Flow Control 39 Connecting to a Database 39 Storing Data in Files 42 Callbacks and Messaging 43 Chapter 6. Model-View-Controller and Sharing Code 47 Implementing the MVC Pattern 47 Out-of-the-Box MVC 52 Sharing Modules Between the Client and Server 53 Postscript 55 Node gives JavaScript developers incredible server-side power, but transitioning from front-end development to the server is difficult. This guide walks developers through the mental shift, demonstrating how techniques from the browser translate to work on the server, and helping them bring tools from the client side back to the server.