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Version: v3

Developing with Node.JS

Step 0. Creating the initial source code (optional)​

We will create the example source code by using some popular frameworks.

Before we begin, we will create a new directory and cd into it.

mkdir quickstart-demo && cd quickstart-demo

This is optional and you may use an existing project instead (make sure you cd into the project directory before running any odo commands) or a starter project from odo init.

For Node.JS we will use the Express framework for our example.

  1. Install Express:
npm install express --save
Example
$ npm install express --save

added 57 packages, and audited 58 packages in 6s

7 packages are looking for funding
  run `npm fund` for details

found 0 vulnerabilities
  1. Generate an example project:
npx express-generator
Example
$ npx express-generator
  warning: the default view engine will not be jade in future releases
  warning: use `--view=jade' or `--help' for additional options

destination is not empty, continue? [y/N] y

   create : public/
   create : public/javascripts/
   create : public/images/
   create : public/stylesheets/
   create : public/stylesheets/style.css
   create : routes/
   create : routes/index.js
   create : routes/users.js
   create : views/
   create : views/error.jade
   create : views/index.jade
   create : views/layout.jade
   create : app.js
   create : package.json
   create : bin/
   create : bin/www

   install dependencies:
     $ npm install

   run the app:
     $ DEBUG=express:* npm start

Your source code has now been generated and created in the directory.

Step 1. Preparing the target platform​

Before starting on Podman, you should have Podman installed and configured properly on your machine. See Podman installation instructions for further details.

You also need odo 3.8.0 or later.

To make sure that odo has the appropriate version and detects your local Podman, run the command below and check that it reports the Podman Client version.

odo version
Sample Output
$ odo version
 ⚠  unable to fetch the cluster server version
odo v3.13.0 (6c1c8b2a1)

Podman Client: 4.6.0

Step 2. Initializing your application (odo init)​

Now we'll initialize your application by creating a devfile.yaml to be deployed.

odo handles this automatically with the odo init command by autodetecting your source code and downloading the appropriate Devfile.

Note: If you skipped Step 0, select a "starter project" when running odo init.

Let's run odo init and select Node.JS:

odo init
Sample Output
$ odo init
  __
 /  \__     Initializing a new component
 \__/  \    Files: Source code detected, a Devfile will be determined based upon source code autodetection
 /  \__/    odo version: v3.15.0
 \__/

Interactive mode enabled, please answer the following questions:
 ✓  Determining a Devfile for the current directory [1s]
Based on the files in the current directory odo detected
Supported architectures: all
Language: JavaScript
Project type: Node.js
Application ports: 3000
The devfile "nodejs:2.1.1" from the registry "DefaultDevfileRegistry" will be downloaded.
? Is this correct? Yes
 ✓  Downloading devfile "nodejs:2.1.1" from registry "DefaultDevfileRegistry" [3s]

↪ Container Configuration "runtime":
  OPEN PORTS:
    - 3000
    - 5858
  ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES:
    - DEBUG_PORT = 5858

? Select container for which you want to change configuration? NONE - configuration is correct
? Enter component name: my-nodejs-app

You can automate this command by executing:
   odo init --name my-nodejs-app --devfile nodejs --devfile-registry DefaultDevfileRegistry --devfile-version 2.1.1

Your new component 'my-nodejs-app' is ready in the current directory.
To start editing your component, use 'odo dev' and open this folder in your favorite IDE.
Changes will be directly reflected on the cluster.
note

If you skipped Step 0 and selected "starter project", your output will be slightly different.

Step 3. Developing your application continuously (odo dev)​

Now that we've generated our code as well as our Devfile, let's start on development.

odo uses inner loop development and allows you to code, build, run and test the application in a continuous workflow.

Once you run odo dev, you can freely edit code in your favourite IDE and watch as odo rebuilds and redeploys it.

Let's run odo dev to start development on your Node.JS application:

odo dev --platform podman
Sample Output
$ odo dev --platform podman
  __
 /  \__     Developing using the "my-nodejs-app" Devfile
 \__/  \    Platform: podman
 /  \__/    odo version: v3.15.0
 \__/

↪ Running on podman in Dev mode
 ✓  Deploying pod [14s]
 ✓  Syncing files into the container [312ms]
 ✓  Building your application in container (command: install) [6s]
 •  Executing the application (command: run)  ...
 ✓  Waiting for the application to be ready [1s]
 -  Forwarding from 127.0.0.1:20001 -> 3000

↪ Dev mode
 Status:
 Watching for changes in the current directory /home/user/quickstart-demo

 Keyboard Commands:
[Ctrl+c] - Exit and delete resources from podman
     [p] - Manually apply local changes to the application on podman

Then wait a few seconds until odo dev displays Forwarding from 127.0.0.1:... in its output, meaning that odo has successfully set up port forwarding to reach the application running in the container.

You can now access the application via the local port displayed by odo dev (127.0.0.1:20001 in the sample output above) and start your development loop. odo will watch for changes and push the code for real-time updates.

You can now follow the advanced guide to deploy the application to production.