How to CRUD MongoDB using NodeJS and SailsJS Part 1

Introduction

This tutorial is an installment of the multiple-series “How to CRUD MongoDB using NodeJS and SailsJS.” Here, in Part 1, you’ll learn the beginning steps to successfully construct a new SailsJS project. This includes completing the project directory setup and modules installation steps for the application.

The basic computer programming actions are create, read, update, and delete (CRUD). It’s great that MongoDB database environments utilize CRUD standards and contain the flexibility for using NodeJs and creating SailsJs projects. This gives developers more freedom to design applications that meet their organization’s needs. Let’s begin.

Prerequisites

• NodeJs – Install, and then properly configure NodeJs based on your OS requirements.

• MongoDB – Install, and then properly configure MongoDB. Next, create a sample database for this CRUD MongoDB using NodeJs and SailsJs tutorial.

• VSCODIUM/VSCODE – Install the text editor.

• Make a global installation of nodemon at the command line: npm install -g nodemon

• Make a global installation of SailsJs at the command line: npm install -g sails

Make a New SailsJs Project

• At the terminal, go to the project directory and use this command:

• A message prompt should appear that looks like this:

• To manually setup SailsJs, select Option #2. Do this so that the dependencies will automatically install.

• Confirm that SailsJs created the customerinfo directory by going there.

• Open the customerinfo directory and use the sails lift command to get the SailsJs server started.

• Your result should resemble something like this:

Everything looks fine in the image shown above. The server is actively running. The port :1337 is ready and listening for connections.

• If you want to, you can use the browser to verify it with the localhost:1337 URL.

• Here’s an example of what our sample customerinfo SailsJs project directory’s fundamental structure should look like.

• In the screenshot above, the Model-View-Controller (MVC) shows that the creation of new folders required in the CRUD MongoDB using NodeJs and SailsJs project was achieved.

Setup the SailsJs API

• Use the command sails generate api customer to bring about the API.

The image lists resource files CustomerController.js and Customer.js in the MVC. They are both important. You’ll use them at some point in subsequent tutorials within this multiple-series.

• When you’re finished getting the API, use the sails lift command to start your project once more.

• You should see a result that looks like this:

• At the prompt, pick Option #2.

• Next, in Models.js, uncomment the code // migrate: 'alter' by removing the //.

• From here on, use the nodemon app.js command instead of the sails lift command to start the server. (Nodemon is a tool in NodeJs that’s used to start a server after the directory is altered.)

• In a browser, test the customer.js API you made with the localhost:1337/customer URL.

• You should see a result like this one here:

• It’s blank because the database is empty. This is exactly what you want to see at this point until you add a table with data. It’s a success because no exceptions were raised. Good job!

Conclusion

In this tutorial, “How to CRUD MongoDB using NodeJS and SailsJS, Part 1,” you learned how to activate the SailsJs server. You discovered how to construct an API for your SailsJs project to get it ready to store files, retrieve them, and utilize them for additional uses in CRUD operations in MongoDB. All of the above are essential components of database management.