This high-level introduction to node.js gives the casual JavaScript developer everything they need to start building web applications, JSON APIs, network servers and more. Let Derek Watson, tech lead at The Working Group, veteran developer and JavaScript fanatic share key insights into this exciting new platform. presented live at FITC's Spotlight: MEAN Stack event held on March 29, 2014 More info at FITC.ca

1. Intro to Node.js
Derek Watson
Mar 29, 2014

2. Story time!
JavaScript
Pretty cool language
#javascript
The Working Group
Software shop
@twg
Derek Watson
Developer guy
@dcwca
and me

3. what is it good for?

4. What is it good for?
•JSON APIs
#twg@twg

5. What is it good for?
•JSON APIs
•Network servers
#twg@twg

6. What is it good for?
•JSON APIs
•Network servers
•Realtime applications
#twg@twg

7. !
MODULES

8. everything is a module

9. Modules everywhere
•Your app code is written as modules
•Libraries you use are modules
•Your whole app is one big module
#twg@twg

10. doge.js: An example module
#twg@twg

11. doge.js

12. program.js

13. Try it out!

14. “The main thing that distinguishes
legacy code is a lack of tests.”
- Michael Feathers

15. test/doge.js

16. test/doge.js

17. test/doge.js

19. server.js

20. server.js

21. Try it out!

22. server.js

23. package.json

24. Module Learnings
•Write some code
•Export: module.exports = { say: say }
•Import: var doge = require(‘../doge’)
•Write some tests
•Compose modules into apps
•The outside world: package.json
#twg@twg

25. NODE.JS API

27. QUALITY:
• Very well documented
• Almost completely stable
• Moving towards 1.0
!
QUANTITY:
• As small as possible
• You can learn it in a day or two
Core API
#twg@twg

28. NODE PACKAGE
MANAGER

29. 65,000 packages

31. But which packages are good?
•Learn to sniff out the quality
•Read npm’s Most Starred, Most Required
•Build your own bag of tricks
#twg@twg

32. express, restify
jade, stylus
mongoose, sequelize
async, q
ws, primus
mocha, chai
yargs
bunyan
forever

33. “It’s not what you know,
it’s who you know”
- Abraham Lincoln

34. substack
caolanbriancv1feross
tjholowaychuk isaacs henrikjoreteg

36. Node.js is General-Purpose
•Conventional web apps
#twg@twg

37. Node.js is General-Purpose
•Conventional web apps
•Realtime web apps
#twg@twg

38. Node.js is General-Purpose
•Conventional web apps
•Realtime web apps
•Cross-platform desktop apps
#twg@twg

39. Node.js is General-Purpose
•Conventional web apps
•Realtime web apps
•Cross-platform desktop apps
•Network servers
#twg@twg

40. CONTROL ROBOTS
#twg@twg

41. Inclusive, friendly people
who are open to learning and teaching
!
Toronto Node.JS Meetup
Currently hosted at the TWG studio
!
Amazing conferences
Such as this one! And many others
Vibrant
Community
#twg@twg

42. #twg@twg
NodeUp Podcast -
Team Episodes

43. #twg@twg
Node.js Low barrier
to entry
Simple
Powerful
BE EXCITED
be, be excited

44. QUESTIONS?
Email: derek@twg.ca
Twitter: @dcwca

45. Thank You.