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Learning Node.js for Mobile Application Development
Learning Node.js for Mobile Application Development

Learning Node.js for Mobile Application Development: Make use of Node.js to learn the development of a simple yet scalable cross-platform mobile application

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Profile Icon Stefan Buttigieg
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Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.1 (12 Ratings)
Paperback Oct 2015 248 pages 1st Edition
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Arrow left icon
Profile Icon Stefan Buttigieg
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$19.99 per month
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.1 (12 Ratings)
Paperback Oct 2015 248 pages 1st Edition
eBook
$9.99 $43.99
Paperback
$54.99
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Learning Node.js for Mobile Application Development

Chapter 2. Configuring Persistence with MongoDB

In this chapter, we will show you how to configure the persistence layer of your app, which is responsible for the provision of the central data storage and retrieval services. For this, we will use MongoDB, the widely popular NoSQL database, and its associated driver and interface for Node.js.

In this chapter, we'll cover the following topics:

  • Configuring documents, collections, and databases
  • Connecting to MongoDB using a product order database as an example
  • Creating relations between documents
  • Querying data and displaying results in the command line

Learning outcomes of MongoDB

After reading this chapter, you will have a solid understanding of the basics of how MongoDB stores data. You will also learn how to run queries against a MongoDB instance in order to store, manipulate, and retrieve data on it. You will also understand how to use the Node.js MongoDB driver for the same ends in order to manipulate your data directly from Node.js.

Finally, you will have a healthy dose of refreshment of memory as regards the internal workings of Node.js in order to help you understand how it interconnects with MongoDB.

An introduction to MongoDB

Let's start with a short but informative tour of MongoDB, which will give you the essential knowledge that you need in order to effectively work with it.

First, let's get a good grasp of how data is organized in a MongoDB instance. This will give us the foundation that is required to understand how storage and retrieval operations work later on.

Documents

MongoDB is a NoSQL Database Management System (DBMS). This means that it eschews the traditional table-based data storage model used by SQL-oriented systems such as MySQL, Oracle, and Microsoft SQL Server. Instead, it stores data as documents, which are data structures that are almost identical to standard JSON objects. For example, a MongoDB document can look like this:

{
  "_id" : ObjectId("547cb6f109ce675dbffe0da5"),
  "name" : "Fleur-De-Lys Pharmacy",
  "licenseNumber" : "DL 133",
  "address" : "430, Triq Fleur-de-Lys",...

Connecting to MongoDB

In order to be able to interact with a MongoDB instance, we first need to be sure that our server is running it. Then, we can access it through the Mongo shell application. In Chapter 1, Setting Up Your Workspace, we covered in some detail how to install and get MongoDB running on your specific operating system. You should go through these steps if you have not done so already. Once you have verified that MongoDB is running, open the MongoDB shell for your operating system.

Linux and Mac OS X

Start a console and run the following:

mongo

Windows

Start your command prompt and run the following:

C:\mongodb\bin\mongo.exe

You will see a prompt starting with the > character. From here, we can issue commands to MongoDB interactively and read the resulting output.

Creating a database

Let's start by defining the database that we are going to work with. In your shell, execute the following:

> use OrderBase

This will ask MongoDB to switch to a new database, called OrderBase, that we wish to run the commands against. The response will be as follows:

switched to db OrderBase

But wait, how can we switch to a database that does not exist yet? MongoDB flexibility to the rescue! When you tell MongoDB to use a database, it will create that database for you automatically before switching to it.

Creating our collections

Now that we have created a database, let's populate it with some collections by performing the following steps:

  1. Run the following to create a collection for Products:
    > db.createCollection('Products')
    

    MongoDB will respond with the following:

    { "ok" : 1 }
    

    The preceding code indicates that the command was executed successfully. Note that the response is returned to us in the JSON format.

  2. Let's pause for a minute and break down the preceding command so that we understand what we just did:
    • The db is a JavaScript object that represents the currently selected database. In our case, it is OrderBase.
    • The createCollection('Products') function is one of the many member methods of db. Needless to say, it creates a new collection and adds it to db. Its parameter, a string, is the name of the new collection.

In other words, working with MongoDB is actually a matter of issuing commands in pure JavaScript. Not only that, but the data itself...

Learning outcomes of MongoDB


After reading this chapter, you will have a solid understanding of the basics of how MongoDB stores data. You will also learn how to run queries against a MongoDB instance in order to store, manipulate, and retrieve data on it. You will also understand how to use the Node.js MongoDB driver for the same ends in order to manipulate your data directly from Node.js.

Finally, you will have a healthy dose of refreshment of memory as regards the internal workings of Node.js in order to help you understand how it interconnects with MongoDB.

An introduction to MongoDB


Let's start with a short but informative tour of MongoDB, which will give you the essential knowledge that you need in order to effectively work with it.

First, let's get a good grasp of how data is organized in a MongoDB instance. This will give us the foundation that is required to understand how storage and retrieval operations work later on.

Documents

MongoDB is a NoSQL Database Management System (DBMS). This means that it eschews the traditional table-based data storage model used by SQL-oriented systems such as MySQL, Oracle, and Microsoft SQL Server. Instead, it stores data as documents, which are data structures that are almost identical to standard JSON objects. For example, a MongoDB document can look like this:

{
  "_id" : ObjectId("547cb6f109ce675dbffe0da5"),
  "name" : "Fleur-De-Lys Pharmacy",
  "licenseNumber" : "DL 133",
  "address" : "430, Triq Fleur-de-Lys",
  "geolocation" : {
  "lat" : 35.8938857,
  "lng" : 14.46954679999999
  },
  "postCode" : ...

Connecting to MongoDB


In order to be able to interact with a MongoDB instance, we first need to be sure that our server is running it. Then, we can access it through the Mongo shell application. In Chapter 1, Setting Up Your Workspace, we covered in some detail how to install and get MongoDB running on your specific operating system. You should go through these steps if you have not done so already. Once you have verified that MongoDB is running, open the MongoDB shell for your operating system.

Linux and Mac OS X

Start a console and run the following:

mongo

Windows

Start your command prompt and run the following:

C:\mongodb\bin\mongo.exe

You will see a prompt starting with the > character. From here, we can issue commands to MongoDB interactively and read the resulting output.

Creating a database


Let's start by defining the database that we are going to work with. In your shell, execute the following:

> use OrderBase

This will ask MongoDB to switch to a new database, called OrderBase, that we wish to run the commands against. The response will be as follows:

switched to db OrderBase

But wait, how can we switch to a database that does not exist yet? MongoDB flexibility to the rescue! When you tell MongoDB to use a database, it will create that database for you automatically before switching to it.

Creating our collections


Now that we have created a database, let's populate it with some collections by performing the following steps:

  1. Run the following to create a collection for Products:

    > db.createCollection('Products')
    

    MongoDB will respond with the following:

    { "ok" : 1 }
    

    The preceding code indicates that the command was executed successfully. Note that the response is returned to us in the JSON format.

  2. Let's pause for a minute and break down the preceding command so that we understand what we just did:

    • The db is a JavaScript object that represents the currently selected database. In our case, it is OrderBase.

    • The createCollection('Products') function is one of the many member methods of db. Needless to say, it creates a new collection and adds it to db. Its parameter, a string, is the name of the new collection.

In other words, working with MongoDB is actually a matter of issuing commands in pure JavaScript. Not only that, but the data itself and the responses to the commands are encoded...

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Description

Node.js is a massively popular JavaScript library that lets you use JavaScript to easily program scalable network applications and web services. People approaching Node.js for the first time are often attracted by its efficiency, scalability, and the fact that it's based on JavaScript, the language of the Web, which means that developers can use the same language to write backend code. Also, it’s increasingly being seen as a modern replacement for PHP in web development, which relies on fast-paced data exchange. The growing community and the large amount of available modules makes Node.js one of the most attractive development environments. This book takes a step-wise and incremental approach toward developing cross-platform mobile technologies using existing web technologies. This will allow you to truly understand and become proficient in developing cross-platform mobile applications with Node.js, Ionic Framework, and MongoDB. The book starts off by introducing all the necessary requirements and knowledge to build a mobile application with a companion web service. It covers the ability to create an API from scratch and implement a comprehensive user database that will give you the opportunity to offer a mobile application with a personalized experience. Midway through the book, you will learn the basic processes to create a successful mobile application. You will also gain higher-level knowledge, allowing you to develop a functional and secure mobile application to ensure a seamless user experience for end users. Finally, the book ends with more advanced projects, which will bring together all the knowledge and expertise developed in the previous chapters to create a practical and functional mobile-application that has useful real-world features.

Who is this book for?

This book is intended for web developers of all levels of expertise who want to deep dive into cross-platform mobile application development without going through the pains of understanding the languages and native frameworks that form an integral part of developing for different mobile platforms.

What you will learn

  • Develop an API from scratch
  • Set up a MongoDB Database as part of your mobile application backend
  • Deploy a crossplatform mobile application from the command line
  • Incorporate features within your mobile application that use native phone features such as a gyroscope, GPS, and accelerometer
  • Implement mobile applications that use webenabled APIs
  • Build a mobile application with realtime chat messaging features
  • Develop a secure mobile application that is capable of functioning with realtime data

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Length: 248 pages
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Language : English
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Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781785280498
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Table of Contents

15 Chapters
1. Setting Up Your Workspace Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
2. Configuring Persistence with MongoDB Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
3. Creating an API Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
4. Securing Your Backend Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
5. Real-Time Data and WebSockets Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
6. Introducing Ionic Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
7. Building User Interfaces Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
8. Making Our App Interactive Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
9. Accessing Native Phone Features Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
10. Working with APIs Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
11. Working with Security Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
12. Working with Real-Time Data Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
13. Building an Advanced Chat App Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
14. Creating an E-Commerce Application Using the Ionic Framework Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

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Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.1
(12 Ratings)
5 star 58.3%
4 star 25%
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1 star 16.7%
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Alexander Frenkel Dec 08, 2015
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
I have been Node.js developer since v0.9 and seen it have evolved over time is fascinating. There is always something new to learn.Learning Node.js for Mobile Application Development is one of the most complete book you can find out there to get started with developing hybrid applications. This book introduces you to the ionic framework and it's use of angular 1.x. It guides you from the beginning of setting up environment then building UI with Ionic, angular , securing and building back-end API and using native phone features.Learning Node.js for Mobile Application Development is really easy to understand and follow (as most Packt books are). This book is a fantastic resource for a quick start in developing both iOS and Android Mobile applications.
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Helmuth Saatkamp Dec 04, 2015
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Anyone looking for a start in the android world using modern web technology should give this book a try.
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Giuseppe Rodriguez Dec 04, 2015
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Learning Node.js for Mobile Appication Development is by far the most complete book you can find out there to get started with developing hybrid apps.I've been a Node.js developer since v0.10 and seeing JavaScript take over the world little by little is by far a great feeling. This book introduces you to the ionic framework and it's use of angular 1.x to start developing mobile apps, all with the notion that you know nothing about ionic or angular. I highly recommend this book for those JavaScript developers looking into stepping up their game in the mobile app development world.
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Alistair Meney Dec 07, 2015
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Learning Node.js for Mobile Appication Development is a fantastic resource for a quick start in developing both iOS and Android Mobile apps. Realtime with Web sockets, Ionic framework, Cordova, all covered with excellent examples available to download. Highly recommended.
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Young Hwan Lee Sep 05, 2017
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best beginner node book I have ever read.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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