How to Set Up a Node.js Project | Quick Start

 

1. Install Node.js

Start by downloading and installing the latest version of Node.js from nodejs.org. This will also include npm (Node Package Manager), which is essential for managing project dependencies.

2. Initialize a New Project

Once Node.js is installed, create a new directory for your project, open it in a terminal, and run:

npm init -y

This command generates a package.json file, which stores project settings and dependencies.

3. Install Dependencies

Decide on your dependencies. For example, if you want to use Express (a popular framework for building Node.js applications), run:

npm install express

4. Create a Basic Server

Create an index.js file. This will serve as your entry point. Inside, add a simple server setup:

const express = require('express');
const app = express();
 
app.get('/', (req, res) => {
  res.send('Hello, Node.js!');
});
 
app.listen(3000, () => {
  console.log('Server is running on port 3000');
});

5. Run Your Project

Start your server with:

node index.js

Open your browser, go to http://localhost:3000, and you should see "Hello, Node.js!"

6. Configure for Development

To avoid restarting the server on every change, install nodemon:

npm install -D nodemon

Update your package.json to use nodemon for development:

"scripts": {
  "start": "node index.js",
  "dev": "nodemon index.js"
}

With these steps, you’re ready to expand your Node.js project into something bigger.