node.js + express error: cannot read property 'url' of undefined - node.js

Question

I'm fairly new to Node.js, installing it to try out the DrupalChat (v7dev) module. I believe this problem is with either node.js or express, as I am beyond the stage where the chat module's settings are loaded. I am faced with the following output when trying to start the chat server
Extension loaded: drupalchat_nodejs.server.extension.js
Started http server.
info - socket.io started
node.js:201
throw e; // process.nextTick error, or 'error' event on first tick
^
TypeError: Cannot read property 'url' of undefined
at Function.handle (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/express/node_modules/connect/lib/proto.js:105:18)
at Server.app (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/express/node_modules/connect/lib/connect.js:60:31)
at Server.serverListening (/usr/local/lib/node_modules/npm/node_modules/socket.io/node_modules/policyfile/lib/server.js:136:16)
at Server.g (events.js:154:14)
at Server.emit (events.js:64:17)
at Array.1 (net.js:710:10)
at EventEmitter._tickCallback (node.js:192:40)
I remember when express installed, it gave a warning like ".... bugs['web'] should probably be bugs['url']" (I can't remember the prefix)
So is it that the server is trying to read an (API?) variable 'url' but its currently 'web'?
I have all the modules up to date, is it that I should downgrade? Or is there some way of working around this using another module?
EDIT:
line 201 is the last very line (delete authenticatedClients[authData.authToken];)... I just added to whole function for proper context
var authenticateClientCallback = function (error, response, body) {
if (error) {
console.log("Error with authenticate client request:", error);
return;
}
if (response.statusCode == 404) {
if (settings.debug) {
console.log('Backend authentication url not found, full response info:', response);
}
else {
console.log('Backend authentication url not found.');
}
return;
}
var authData = false;
try {
authData = JSON.parse(body);
}
catch (exception) {
console.log('Failed to parse authentication message:', exception);
if (settings.debug) {
console.log('Failed message string: ' + body);
}
return;
}
if (!checkServiceKey(authData.serviceKey)) {
console.log('Invalid service key "', authData.serviceKey, '"');
return;
}
if (authData.nodejsValidAuthToken) {
if (settings.debug) {
console.log('Valid login for uid "', authData.uid, '"');
}
setupClientConnection(authData.clientId, authData, authData.contentTokens);
authenticatedClients[authData.authToken] = authData;
}
else {
console.log('Invalid login for uid "', authData.uid, '"');
delete authenticatedClients[authData.authToken];
}
}

Answer 1

Per #thesnufkin's post, looks like the underlying express version currently pulled is not stable. Roll back to 2.5.9 and you should be good to go:
npm uninstall express
npm install express#2.5.9

Answer 2

As requested,
The v7 chat module from drupal is not stable. You should not use it in production.
Check bugs : http://drupal.org/project/issues/drupalchat?status=All&categories=All
Check forums : http://drupalchat7.botskool.co.in/?q=forum
Still looking for a new maintener:
"New maintainer wanted - please ping beejeebus if you're interested!".

Answer 3

nodejs module has this issue, so I don't think its related to the drupalchat server specifically. Here is the issue for that: http://drupal.org/node/1537702

Answer 4

The option to use node.js as backend in DrupalChat is currently under development. It also depends when (date on which) you downloaded the DrupalChat since the dev code is updated everyday, if new code is committed.
Please raise an issue for the same at this link - http://drupal.org/project/issues/drupalchat?status=All&categories=All.
Thanks,
darklrd