The meetup will begin with an introduction to Node.js, covering its history, installation, and practical uses. Then there will be an update on progress for an AWS chatbot project and discussion of next steps. Attendees can ask questions and provide feedback on topics for future meetups.
2. Overview
We'll begin this meetup with an introduction to NodeJS, covering the following topics:
The history of Node.js
How to install and get up and running
Practical solutions using NodeJS
Resources for learning
Open discussion
Then we'll follow up with the progress for the AWS Chatbot Challenge solution and
discuss next steps for the ongoing project.
3. Node.js - What is it?
In a nutshell, Node.js is a JavaScript-based server-side
platform.
From the product website https://nodejs.org:
Node.js® is a JavaScript runtime built on Chrome's V8
JavaScript engine. Node.js uses an event-driven, non-
blocking I/O model that makes it lightweight and efficient.
Node.js' package ecosystem, npm, is the largest ecosystem
of open source libraries in the world.
4. NPM - Node Package Manager
NPM provides the mechanism to easily import packages and
effectively manage the dependencies between packages.
It is the primary way of importing functionality into Node.js
applications.
From the Package Manager website https://www.npmjs.com:
“npm is the package manager for JavaScript and the world’s
largest software registry”
5. Getting up and running
On Windows or Linux:
Download the installer from https://nodejs.org
On Windows you’ll get an msi installer
On linux you’ll get a tarball - you may need to look up
details for installation for your distro
Recommend the LTS version (currently v6.11.0)
Installer provides the Node engine as well as the
NPM command-line utility
6. Node.js Basics
Interpreted Environment - run from command line
ES6 features largely supported
See http://node.green for full support matrix
Tool called NVM can be used to keep Node.js version
up to date
NPM can be updated using: npm -install npm -g
7. Practical ApplicationsMEAN Stack Development
Full stack from DB, Server-side/API, and HTML5 GUI
JavaScript used at each level in the Stack
Middleware
Design fits well based on efficient I/O support
Microservices
Note that Node.js apps can also be run as Windows Services
Scripts
Useful for small but frequent processing tasks
Spawning and managing processes
8. ResourcesCore resources:
Node.js: http://nodejs.org
NPM (package repository): http://npmjs.com
Node.green (EcmaScript support matrix): http://node.green
Tutorials:
Node School: http://nodeschool.io - Excellent self-guided tutorials for learning Node.js
Node School Toronto: https://nodeschool.io/toronto - Monthly gathering to do nodeschool.io
workshops with others
Libraries and Tools:
Express (web server application framework): https://expressjs.com
10. AWS Chatbot Challenge
Quick catch-up on progress
New Slack group created:
haltonsoftware.slack.com
Project channel on Slack for Chatbot
Challenge
11. Meetup Wrap-up
Takeaways from today’s session?
Open Floor
Next Meetup - Ideas?
More on JavaScript? ES6, TypeScript, etc.
Another software technology, framework, language?
