How to use glitch to build Node.js APIs

Nowadays building nodejs API in the browser is so easy with Glitch and you can also be hosted for free. I'm a big fan of this tool and using glitch API into my projects. You don't need to install any tools, you just need a browser with the internet.

Let's start in short.

• Create an account here <a href="https://glitch.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">glitch.com</a>.
• Create New Project
• Select hello-express template.

So, after creating a new express project you will see that view. this has all features in a single window.

Now go to server.js file and replace with this basic code.

const express = require('express');
const app = express();

app.get('/', function (request, response) {
    response.send({ message: 'Glitch is so powerful. 💪' });
});

const listener = app.listen(process.env.PORT, function () {
    console.log('Your app is listening on port ' + listener.address().port);
});

There is only one GET route that / and you can use your nodejs APIs with glitch sub-domain url. https://<project_name>.glitch.me/

Let's make an simple POST route where we send some data and will return as JSON. Add this new code snippts into server.js

app.post('/say-hello', function (request, response) {
    const { name, message } = request.query;
    response.send({ name, message });
});

If you send data as query params then you will recive into request.query & if you send into body then you will get through request.body.

Now test POST call into Postman tool. URL: https://<project_name>.glitch.me/say-hello

Here is the complete code URL. https://glitch.com/edit/#!/glitch-nodejs-api

Here I'm listing all the features that will be useful to build and debug your nodejs APIs.

You can:

• Make your glitch project private.
• Remix your glitch project into a new project.
• Invite others to edit your project.
• Embed the project into your portfolio website.
• Live view your project with a glitch endpoint. Ex: https://<project_name>.glitch.me
• Format the files with one click.
• View your APIs logs into the browser.
• Import/Export into git.
• Custom Domain.

Yes, it's all free for you to build your project, learn & experiment. it's really fun to build things with no hassle.

Thanks for reading my noob style tutorial. I hope this will help you to know something new. So, if you have suggestions and feedback about this post then let me know. hello@mohddanish.me