I am looking to serve out some data from some json and csv files to my front end, which is built on create-react-app.
My idea is to have them both listen at different ports (3000 for React, 3001 for express backend) and then make API calls to 3001 to get whatever data I need through ajax.
How can this work in production?
For instance with Heroku, how would I go about deploying this since it's listening at 2 different ports?
What unforeseen issues will this have/ is there a better method?
To add some more info:
All my backend is doing is parsing some csv and json and serving it out in formatted and edited json.
If you use Heroku, it is recommended to use two dynos separately. One for serving static files and react, and the other for API server.
Or you can use PM2 to do the same things in one dyno, by using fork mode of it.
In both case, as two servers don't share the same port, you will have some problems using sessions, and troubles to make API requests. I think it can be solved by using token based authorization like jwt or using separate session storage like redis
Related
I have a full-stack application with Node and express for the back-end (with Postgres in a AWS RDS created already) and Angular for the front-end.
Now, when running locally in development I have the back-end listening to port 3000 and conected a Pool client with a Postgres DB in AWS RDS. Separately, I have my front-end listenting to port 4200.
When running the server and the angular in these two different ports and opening my browser everything works fine.
Now my questions are about how to deploy this same structure in AWS all together.
Shall I deploy in AWS the back-end and front-end listening to these two different ports (as deployment) or they should listen to the same one and add a proxy server like Ngnix like I have been reading?
In the last case, how?
If you have a simple setup, and you always deploy frontend and backend at the same time, one option would be: just let you express backend also serve your static Angular files.
This avoids any unnecessary complexity and components.
So, you have both frontend and backend exposed at the same port. Maybe all your backend APIs are listening under the /api route. Everything else is served statically, with a fallback to index.html for client-side routing.
By having frontend and backend on the same origin (host:port), you also avoid any CORS issues.
Greetings,
I have a project based on Nodejs (Typescript) as Backend and React with Express in the Frontend.
In Backend, I have 3 docker containers (1-Postgres, 2-ServiceA, 3-ServiceB) with each assigned to different Port.
Then the 3 Containers/services are up and running using (docker-compose build & docker-compose up) and after that I run (npm run start:dev) on each folders of ServiceA and Service B.
My problem is how to use Express React to call functions from ServiceA api, then on another browser page call functions from ServiceB api.
Help Please.
If I understand your question, I suggest you to use an api gateway, like krakend (https://www.krakend.io/) i.e.
An api gateway aggregate your multiple backend (that now works on different port), under one single port (basically like a proxy) that you'll use to be listened by express.
Can I / Should I host Angular, Node-express and Mongo on same server, say localhost:3000 or somehosting.com/server-address?
Also is it a good practice?
I've seen Angular and Node running on same server, but what about adding mongo too?
like everything equivalent to
mongodb://localhost:3000/db
ng serve --port 3000
server listen(3000)
Thanks
As you have not mentioned for what purpose - the answer will be depending on the purpose and context. If you are learning, then running webserver, database and serving Angular static files , all from the same server is not an issue. However, if you are going to have live web app, even with less or moderate traffic, then you must run database on its own server, and the webserver and static Angular files from one server. Of course, for SPAs that expect lot of traffic and real use, it is better to serve your static Angular files from a CDN or storage service like AWS S3, and web and database servers separately.
Happy learning!
It is best practice to keep the databases(stateful) in different servers then the applications(stateless) unless it is just for testing...
I just starting to learn MERN Stack development as a former .Net developer. I wanted to develop my skills in this area and after lots of researching I just can't figure it out why we need to have two different running port/app when we working with react js?
Firstly I have developed some simple application by using NodeJS, Express, EJS View Engine and already deploy it to Heroku. So far, this works fine for me. I can develop all my personel site with those technologies including MonoDb later. But to become complete MERN Stack developer I started to search React and realized that it only works with giving another port to seperate it like client application. Why we can't use react and all other things in under one port?
This confused me when I get two different web page under;
http://localhost:5000/ (React App)
http://localhost:3000/ (Server Side: opens different html given by me using EJS)
Apperantly if we give same port number with server (3000) in react's package.json file then it gives following warning;
Something is already running on port 3000.
npm run client exited with code 0
Is it due to nature of ReactJS?
You totally can run React and Node on a single port - but it doesn't make for an efficient workflow.
The core answer to your question lies in separating front-end routing from back-end routing. When using React Router your application manages the UI based on the URL parameters.
i.e
http://localhost:3000/some-ui-path
At the same time when using Node as a back-end to respond to HTTP requests - you send the requests to specific URL paths.
i.e
http://localhost:3000/some-api-path
Separating the ports easily lets you differentiate between which route should be handled by React Router on the front-end and which route should be directed to the Node on the back-end.
http://localhost:3000/some-ui-path = React Route
http://localhost:9000/some-api-path = Node HTTP Route
In your configuration files you can customize your front and back end setups so that any request to a certain path will be redirected to your node server.
An Example:you can define that any path prefixed with /api/ should be proxied to port 9000:
http://localhost:3000/api/some-api-path ==> http://localhost:9000/some-api-path
You can use whichever ports you like but 3000 5000 and 9000 are common defaults used by starter kits and module bundlers like create-react-app and webpack
Hope this helps, let me know if I can explain further!
You cannot run React and Node.js server in a single port.
Why?
React uses webpack to bundle all the component files into a
single JS file. This JS file is then served by a
webpack-dev-server which is a part of webpack.
This webpack-dev-server is needed only during development. In production, you use npm run build or yarn build to bundle everything into a directory called build which will be served as a static asset by your Node.js server.
So, during development, you need to use two different ports for:
webpack-dev-server: This by default runs on 3000. If you try to run your Node.js server, you'll get an error.
Node.js server: This should run on port other than 3000.
Note: webpack is used as a default module bundler when creating React app using create-react-app.
Let's start from the port. Port is a logical construct that identifies a specific process or a type of network service. Port is a communication endpoint. And you have two different services, so it seems logical to use different ports generally. Your question is really good. I'm waiting for new answers.
Also a .Net developer here! I had the exact same question around myself and this article seems to clarify a little for me.
It seems like you need two servers (two ports) for development only. In production, you will only have an API server running, with some endpoints simply serving static files in /build directory like:
app.get('/', (req, res) => {
res.sendFile(path.join(__dirname, 'build', 'index.html'))
})
I think the reason why we run two servers (one react webpack server and one API server) ports in development is because 1) we don't want to run npm build every time you make a change and 2) because of not needing to build every time you make changes, it allows hot-reloading for fast development.
The frontend is a React SPA and the backend is NodeJs app that exposes an API. The frontend queries the API for data from time to time but other than that it is fairly independent. What is the best way to host an app like this? Should I include the build folder in the NodeJs app and have the express server serve the static contents from a route? Or should I host both separately, set up a Nginx server for the React app on something like DO? I will host the backend on something like Heroku or Google App Engine. So considering this, what is the ideal solution? What are the pros and cons of either approach?
In case of production, include build folder in the nodejs app. Performance increase in case production. You can refer react docs for details.
In case of development, host it separately, so its easier to work on it.