Generate NODE JS web application - Express generator module

Auto generate NODE JS web application folder structure.

This article is for beginners who wants to create a web application using NODE JS but don’t know about the project structure and basic files inside the folders.  You can create a folder Skelton using  Express generator module.

It’s very simple to generate web application using express-generator. Before auto generate project structure, you need to ensure that NODE JS is properly installed in you PC. Must read  https://java.gunustories.com/2018/06/create-first-node-js-application.html article to ensure that NODE JS framework is installed in your PC.

 You just need to follow below instruction to generate it.

1) Create a folder NodeJSExamples in your C:\ drive.

2) OPEN Command prompt and run cd NodeJSExamples command.

3) run $ npm install express-generator -g command to install express generator

4) run $ express --view=hbs mywebapp command. This command will generate the folder structure inside the mywebapp folder.

Below output will be generated

C:\NodeJSExamples>express --view=hbs mywebapp

   create : mywebapp\

   create : mywebapp\public\

   create : mywebapp\public\javascripts\

   create : mywebapp\public\images\

   create : mywebapp\public\stylesheets\

   create : mywebapp\public\stylesheets\style.css

   create : mywebapp\routes\

   create : mywebapp\routes\index.js

   create : mywebapp\routes\users.js

   create : mywebapp\views\

   create : mywebapp\views\error.hbs

   create : mywebapp\views\index.hbs

   create : mywebapp\views\layout.hbs

   create : mywebapp\app.js

   create : mywebapp\package.json

   create : mywebapp\bin\

   create : mywebapp\bin\www

   change directory:

     > cd mywebapp

   install dependencies:

     > npm install

   run the app:

     > SET DEBUG=mywebapp:* & npm start

C:\NodeJSExamples>

5) Now go to the mywebapp folder using cd mywebapp command and install dependency as below

C:\NodeJSExamples>cd mywebapp

C:\NodeJSExamples\mywebapp>npm install

npm notice created a lockfile as package-lock.json. You should commit this file.

added 81 packages in 2.489s

6) Run your first web app using npm start command.

7) Once your application will have ran successfully.

8) GO TO the browser and type http://localhost:3000/ .

J Now you have learn how to create web application in NODE JS using express generator.