Deploy a Node.js App with npm | Hostvento Knowledge Base

What are Node.js and npm?

Node.js lets you run JavaScript on a server instead of only in a browser. npm is the tool that downloads packages for Node.js. A package is a bundle of ready-made code. To deploy means to move your app to a server and start it so everyone can use it.

Some shared hosting plans have a Node.js tool in the control panel. Ask Hostvento support whether your plan has one.

Steps

Log in to your server with SSH. SSH is a safe way to type commands on a server from far away.
Check that Node.js and npm are installed.
```
node -v
npm -v
```
If you see "command not found", install them with your system's package tool.
Copy your app to the server. You can use Git or an upload tool like SFTP.
```
git clone https://example.com/your/repo.git myapp
cd myapp
```
Use your own repository address.
Install the packages your app needs.
```
npm install --omit=dev
```
This reads package.json and downloads everything in it. The option skips tools used only for development.
Test the app.
```
npm start
```
This runs the start script from package.json. Stop it with Ctrl+C after you see it works.
Install PM2. PM2 is a tool that keeps your app running and restarts it if it crashes.
```
sudo npm install -g pm2
```
Start your app with PM2.
```
pm2 start npm --name myapp -- start
```
Make it start again after a reboot.
```
pm2 save
pm2 startup
```
Run the command that pm2 startup prints.

Make it reachable

Your app listens on a port, such as 3000. A port is like a numbered door. Visitors expect the normal web doors, 80 and 443. Set up a reverse proxy with Nginx or Apache to pass traffic from those doors to your app. Also open the right ports in your firewall.

Keep it safe

Keep secrets in an .env file. Never upload that file to a public repository.
Take a backup before you update.
Run pm2 logs myapp to read errors.

Tip: To update later, pull your new code, run npm install, then pm2 restart myapp.

Quick recap

Copy your app, run npm install, test with npm start.
Use PM2 to keep it running.
Use a reverse proxy to serve it on ports 80 and 443.