Learning Node.js A Hands-On Guide to Building Web Applications in JavaScript Node.js makes it far easier to create fast, compact, and reliable web/network applications and web servers, and is rapidly becoming indispensable to modern web developers. Learning Node.js brings together the knowledge and JavaScript code you need to build master the Node.js platform and build server-side applications with extraordinary speed and scalability. You’ll start by installing and running Node.js, understanding the extensions it uses, and quickly writing your first app. Next, building on the basics, you’ll write more capable application servers and extend them with today’s most powerful Node.js tools and modules. Finally, you’ll discover today’s best practices for testing, running Node.js code on production servers, and writing command-line utilities. Throughout the book, author Marc Wandschneider teaches by walking you line-by-line through carefully crafted examples, demonstrating proven techniques for creating highly efficient applications and servers. Build Node.js solutions that leverage your current JavaScript skills Master Node.js nonblocking IO and async programming Handle more requests and increase your application’s flexibility Use and write your own modules Perform common JSON/web server tasks Use browsers to generate pages on the fly via Ajax calls and template libraries Simplify development with the express framework Create database back-ends using popular NoSQL and relational databases Deploy and run Node.js apps on Unix/OS X or Windows servers Take advantage of multiprocessor hardware Support virtual hosts and SSL/HTTPS security Test Node.js programs that mix synchronous, async, and RESTful server API functionality  

Table of Contents:
Introduction PART I:  LEARNING TO WALK Chapter 1  Getting Started Installing Node.js Running Node.js and “Hello World!”  Your First Web Server  Debugging Your Node.js Programs Staying Up-to-Date and Finding Help Chapter 2  A Closer Look at JavaScript  Types Type Comparisons and Conversions Functions Language Constructs Classes, Prototypes, and Inheritance  Errors and Exceptions  Some Important Node.js Globals  Chapter 3  Asynchronous Programming The Old Way of Doing Things The Node.js Way of Doing Things Error Handling and Asynchronous Functions  Who Am I? Maintaining a Sense of Identity Being Polite–Learning to Give Up Control Synchronous Function Calls PART II:  LEARNING TO RUN Chapter 4  Writing Simple Applications Your First JSON Server Node Pattern: Asynchronous Loops Learning to Juggle: Handling More Requests More on the Request and Response Objects Increased Flexibility: GET Params  Modifying Things: POST Data Chapter 5  Modules Writing Simple Modules npm: The Node Package Manager Consuming Modules Writing Modules A Module So Common It Should Be Built In Chapter 6  Expanding Your Web Server Serving Static Content with Streams  Assembling Content on the Client: Templates    PART III:  WRITING WEB APPLICATIONS Chapter 7  Building Web Applications with Express Installing Express  Routing and Layers in Express  REST API Design and Modules  Additional Middleware Functionality  Chapter 8  Databases I: NoSQL (MongoDB) Setting Up MongoDB   Structuring Your Data for MongoDB   Understanding the Basic Operations     Updating Your Photo Albums App Recapping the App Structure  Chapter 9  Databases II: SQL (MySQL)  Getting Ready Creating a Schema for the Database  Basic Database Operations    Adding Authentication to the Application   Resource Pooling   PART IV:  GETTING THE MOST OUT OF NODE.JS Chapter 10  Deployment and Development   Deployment  Multiprocessor Deployment: Using a Proxy  Virtual Hosting  Securing Your Projects with HTTPS/SSL  Multiplatform Development   Chapter 11  Command-Line Programming Running Command-Line Scripts      Working with Files Synchronously  Interacting with the User: stdin/stdout    Working with Processes  Chapter 12  Testing  Choosing a Framework   Writing Tests  RESTful API Testing