Running Angular2 app with Node Js server

Question

I'm starting a new project with Angular2 (client-side) and Node JS (server-side) technologies.

I've managed to create a RESTful API using node and express. When specific URL is entered, the matching Json response is displayed. So far so good.

Now I'm trying to integrate Angular 2 in the process. I've created the app.component. When the page is displayed, the component is not loaded and I got some 404 codes:

Failed to load resource: 404 (not found) http://localhost:3000/node_modules/core-js/client/shim.min.js
...
Failed to load resource: 404 (not found) http://localhost:3000/systemjs.config.js

Here is my project structure:

├── App
|    └── app.component.ts                //copied from Angular2/get-started
|    └── main.ts                         // copied from Angular2/get-started
├── dist                                 //contains generated JS files
├── node_modules
├── server                               // contains Server Typescript files
├── index.html                           // copied from Angular2/get-started
├── index.ts                             // server entry point
├── package.json
├── systemjs.config.js
├── tsconfig.json
├── typings.json

My package.json:

{
  "main": "index.js",
  "scripts": {
    "start": "tsc && concurrently \"npm run tsc:w\" \"node dist/js/index.js\" ",
    "postinstall": "typings install",
    "tsc": "tsc",
    "tsc:w": "tsc -w",
    "typings": "typings"
  },
  "dependencies": {

    "@angular/common":  "2.0.0-rc.1",
    "@angular/compiler":  "2.0.0-rc.1",
    "@angular/core":  "2.0.0-rc.1",
    "@angular/http":  "2.0.0-rc.1",
    "@angular/platform-browser":  "2.0.0-rc.1",
    "@angular/platform-browser-dynamic":  "2.0.0-rc.1",
    "@angular/router":  "2.0.0-rc.1",
    "@angular/router-deprecated":  "2.0.0-rc.1",
    "@angular/upgrade":  "2.0.0-rc.1",

    "systemjs": "0.19.27",
    "core-js": "^2.4.0",
    "reflect-metadata": "^0.1.3",
    "rxjs": "5.0.0-beta.6",
    "zone.js": "^0.6.12",
    "angular2-in-memory-web-api": "0.0.11",
    "bootstrap": "^3.3.6",

    "express": "^4.13.4",
    "mysql": "^2.5.4"
  },
  "devDependencies": {
    "concurrently": "^2.0.0",
    "typescript": "^1.8.10",
    "typings": "^1.0.4"
  }
}

And my index.ts (server):

var express = require('express');
var app = express();
var path = require('path');

var __projectRoot = __dirname + '/../../';

app.get('/', function (req, res) {
    res.sendFile(path.join(__projectRoot + '/index.html'));
});

console.log('Server up and running on http://localhost:3000/');
app.listen(server_port);

To conclude, index.html:

<html>
<head>
    <script>document.write('<base href="' + document.location + '" />');</script>
    <title>Angular 2 QuickStart</title>
    <meta charset="UTF-8">
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
    <!-- 1. Load libraries -->
    <!-- Polyfill(s) for older browsers -->
    <script src="node_modules/core-js/client/shim.min.js"></script>
    <script src="node_modules/zone.js/dist/zone.js"></script>
    <script src="node_modules/reflect-metadata/Reflect.js"></script>
    <script src="node_modules/systemjs/dist/system.src.js"></script>
    <!-- 2. Configure SystemJS -->
    <script src="systemjs.config.js"></script>
    <script>
        System.import('app').catch(function (err) {
            console.error(err);
        });
    </script>
</head>
<!-- 3. Display the application -->
<body>
<h1>index.html</h1>
<my-app>Loading...</my-app>
</body>
</html>

When loading http://localhost:3000/, I see "Index.html Loading..." but the component is not displayed.

On the official Angular2 website, they use lite-server dependency. I guess my server has something wrong, but I can't figure out how to make it work. Or is there a way to implement RESTful API using Express and lite-server?

Zen · Accepted Answer · 2016-06-12 17:29:31Z

2

You forgot to add a middleware function to serve static files like js libs and css. Adding this line before app.get("/", ...) should work:

app.use(express.static(__projectRoot));

answered Jun 12, 2016 at 17:29

Zen

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2 Comments

DavidL Over a year ago

Yeah I figured that earlier, thanks for the solution anyway!

FirstOfMany Over a year ago

I have a related question. Are you willing to comment? Here is the link: stackoverflow.com/questions/38625483/…

Rakesh Roy · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-21 19:20:33Z

0

after installing path package npm i path --save

use this on top

var path = require('path');

and use this after

var app = express();

 app.use(express.static(path.join(__dirname, 'your-dir-name')));

edited Mar 21, 2017 at 19:20

answered Jan 13, 2017 at 16:04

Rakesh Roy

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