As web applications become increasingly complex, it’s not uncommon for organizations to have multiple Node.js applications serving different purposes. However, managing and integrating these applications can present challenges. In this article, we will explore various approaches and best practices for combining multiple Node.js web applications effectively, ensuring seamless functionality and enhanced user experience.
Approach to Combine Multiple Node.js Web Applications
1. Initialize a new Node.js project
Create a new directory for the combined application and initialize a new Node.js project.
mkdir CombinedApp
cd CombinedApp
npm init -y
2. Install necessary dependencies
Install the required dependencies, including Express.js.
npm install express
3. Create the entry point for the combined application
In the root of the CombinedApp directory, create a new file named index.js
.
// Import the Express module const express = require( 'express' );
// Create an instance of an Express application const app = express(); // Mount App1 const app1 = require( './App1' );
// Mounts App1 at the '/app1' endpoint app.use( '/app1' , app1);
// Mount App2 const app2 = require( './App2' );
// Mounts App1 at the '/app2' endpoint app.use( '/app2' , app2);
// Start the server const port = 3000; app.listen(port, () => { console.log(`CombinedApp is listening on port ${port}`);
}); |
4. Create the directories and entry point files for each application
Create separate directories for App1 and App2 within the CombinedApp directory. Inside each directory, create a index.js
file.
For example, in the App1 directory, create a new file named index.js
:
const express = require( 'express' );
const app = express(); // Define routes for App1 app.get( '/' , (req, res) => {
res.send( 'Hello Geeks for Geeks from App1!' );
}); // Export the app module.exports = app; |
Similarly, create a similar index.js
file for App2:
const express = require( 'express' );
const app = express(); // Define routes for App2 app.get( '/' , (req, res) => {
res.send( 'Hello Geeks for Geeks from App2!' );
}); // Export the app module.exports = app; |
5. Run the combined application
Start the combined application by executing the following command in the terminal:
node index.js
6. Access the combined application
The combined application will be accessible at http://localhost:3000/app1
and http://localhost:3000/app2
. Each application will respond with their respective messages.
Output:
This output demonstrates accessing the combined application at http://localhost:3000/app1 and http://localhost:3000/app2, where each application responds with its respective messages.
Please note that the code provided is a simplified example, and in a real-world scenario, you may have more complex routes, middleware, and shared resources to handle. The key concept is to mount each application as middleware within the combined application, using different base URL paths to distinguish between them.