How can I run a node server with a next.js application? - node.js

Question

I'm setting up a webapp in next.js that runs in parallel with a node express server which does some middleware work to interface with an API server.
I have everything working however I don't know how to make it all work together when making a npm run start. The only way it works is with a "node server.js" in one terminal and a "npm run start" in another.
I've tried to add a package.json script like this:
"start-server": "next start && node server.js"
but it only starts the next.js instance, and if I reverse the order then it only starts the node instance.
How do I make them both work so I can deploy this project?

Answer 1

Also since Next is a server-side package, you can build the next app to use your server.js code before deploying the server.
like so:
/* eslint-disable no-undef */
const express = require('express');
const next = require('next');
const dev = process.env.NODE_ENV !== 'production';
const app = next({ dev });
const handle = app.getRequestHandler();
const options = {
...
};
app.prepare().then(() => {
const server = express();
server.get('*', (req, res) => {
return handle(req, res);
});
server.listen('8700', err => {
if (err) throw err;
console.log(`> Ready on Port 8700`);
});
});

Answer 2

Install Concurrently npm package to your node dependencies.
npm install concurrently
Add the following scripts to node server's package.json
"frontend-install": "npm install --prefix frontend",
"start": "node server.js",
"server": "nodemon server.js",
"frontend": "cd ./frontend && npm run start",
"dev": "concurrently \"npm run server\" \"npm run frontend\""
i am assuming that your next application is in a folder/directory called "frontend".
3. Add the following code to package.json of the nextjs application.
"proxy": "http://localhost:5000"
Now npm run start command to start node server and nextjs app together.