Building A RESTful API With Node.js And Hapi Framework

Back when I was really getting into the swing of Node.js, I had written about creating a simple RESTful API that made use of the Express framework. Express was, and still is, one of the most popular frameworks for creating web applications with Node.js. However, this doesn’t mean it is the best solution.

Recently I’ve been hearing a lot around Hapi for Node.js. The common feedback that I hear is that it is specifically designed for creating RESTful web services making them significantly easier to create without as much boilerplate code.

We’re going to see how to create a simple API using Hapi as well as packages such as Joi for request validation.

Unit Testing a Node.js Application with the Jasmine Testing Framework

When building an application, regardless if it is mobile, web, or neither, it is a good idea to come up with a collection of tests that can be used in a continuous integration scenario. I must admit, I don’t have the best habits when it comes to writing tests, but I’m sure my applications would be significantly better if I did.

Previously I had written about unit testing in Golang as well as unit testing in NativeScript with Angular. This time around it makes sense to talk about writing tests in Node.js, another technology that I have in my tool belt.

Consume RESTful API Endpoints Within A Golang Application

I am a huge fan of the Go programming language and have written a decent amount of material on the subject. For example, a popular tutorial I wrote titled, Create a Simple RESTful API with Golang, focuses on developing an API. However, I recently received questions on the subject of consuming data from other APIs from within a Go application.

We’re going to see how to issue HTTP requests from within Go, in an effort to consume or send data to other RESTful APIs that might exist on the internet.

Validate Form Submissions In Node.js With Google reCAPTCHA

Anyone that operates a website or web application with a contact page knows how bad the SPAM problem on the internet is. Spammers, phishers, and other malicious people create bots that will crawl search engines for contact forms and send emails to the hosts, register accounts, or something else. There was a point in time that I was receiving more than ten emails a day from spammers that wanted to redesign my website. This kind of activity is incredibly annoying on my inbox.

This is where CAPTCHA and reCAPTCHA form elements come into play. These elements typically require some interaction such as typing words from an image or solving a math problem. Adding this small amount of form complexity can go a long way towards stopping bots.

We’re going to see how to hook up a Google reCAPTCHA element into a client facing form and validate that element using a Node.js backend.

TPDP Episode #14: Object Storage for Application Developers

I am pleased to announce that the latest episode of The Polyglot Developer Podcast is now available to download from all the popular podcasting networks. In this episode titled, Object Storage for Application Developers, I’m joined by Krishna Srinivas from Minio to talk about what object storage is and the various solutions that are available.

Episode #14 can be downloaded for free from iTunes, Pocket Casts, and every other popular network, but it can also be heard below.

Add Two-Factor Authentication To A Golang RESTful API

When it comes to authenticating users for making use of your API, it is a good idea to add an extra step beyond standard username and password. This is called two-factor authentication (2FA) and it acts as a second layer of security for users making use of your application.

Not too long ago I had written about adding 2FA to a RESTful API created with Node.js and Express Framework, but what if we wanted to do it in Golang? The logic isn’t any different, just a new syntax for a new language.

We’re going to see how to add two-factor authentication to a Golang API that makes use of Json Web Tokens (JWT).

Form Validation In An Angular Web Application With Custom Directives

When creating a web application that accepts user input, it is often a good idea to validate anything the user provides. While you should always validate this information via some backend server-side code, it often provides a good user experience to validate via the frontend as well. By doing form validation on the frontend, you set yourself up for the possibility to catch and display errors before form submission.

If you’ve been keeping up, I once demonstrated how to do form validation in AngularJS via an Ionic Framework application. As of now, AngularJS is ancient technology, so we’re going to see how to do the same with Angular. However, we’ll be seeing from the perspective of a web application, rather than a cross-platform hybrid mobile application.

We’re going to be basing everything in this guide off a new project created via the Angular CLI. This means that you should have installed the Angular CLI before going forward.