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In this guide, you’ll learn how to set up a basic Node.js project, install dependencies, run tests, and launch a simple web server. By the end, you’ll be ready to incorporate these steps into a custom GitHub Action workflow.

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What Is Node.js?

Node.js is an open-source, event-driven JavaScript runtime built on Chrome’s V8 engine. It enables full-stack development in a single language by allowing JavaScript to run outside of the browser on Windows, macOS, and Linux environments. Installing Node.js also provides npm (Node Package Manager), which helps you discover, install, and manage JavaScript packages.
For production applications, it’s recommended to use the latest LTS version of Node.js. Check Node.js Releases for details.

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Checking Installed Versions

Before you begin, verify that both Node.js and npm are available:
If these commands fail, download and install Node.js from the official website.

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Sample Node.js Project Structure

A minimal Node.js application typically includes these items:

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Installing Dependencies

All required libraries are defined under dependencies and devDependencies in package.json. To install them:
You should see output similar to:

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Running Tests

Most Node.js projects include a test script in package.json. To execute your test suite:
Example output:
Ensure your tests cover edge cases and error paths. Incomplete test coverage can lead to undetected bugs in production.

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Starting the Application

Launch your application using the predefined start script:
You’ll see:

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Accessing Your Application

Open your browser and navigate to:
You should see the response defined in index.js, for example, “Hello, World!”.

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Next Steps

Now that you can install, test, and run a Node.js app locally, you’re ready to:
  • Automate these steps in a GitHub Actions workflow
  • Containerize your application with Docker
  • Deploy to a cloud provider using Terraform or Kubernetes

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References

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