Build REST APIs with Hapi.js and MongoDB

I search google for “node framework for writing APIs”. So, Google gives me many options as Express, Koa, Hapi, Restify and so more. I choose Hapi and start to explore Hapi. Hapi.js is a good choice for a newbie.

Photo by John Carlisle on Unsplash

About Hapi.js

Hapi.js is Node framework for writing reusable applications and services. Hapi.js developed at WalmartLabs and Lead by Eran Hammer.

Pre-requirements

• NodeJS
• MongoDB ( install MongoDB, if not installed on your device )
• Hapi.js

Verify NodeJS

first, verify node is installed on your local machine or not. I already installed node v7.7.3 and Node version must be > v4.0

C:\Users\Danish>node -v
v7.7.3

Setup Hapi.js

mkdir hapiproject
cd hapiproject
npm init
npm install --save hapi

–save will save project dependencies in package.json. that’s all for hapi.js now. So, lets write basic code to run a hapi server on localhost with 3000 port. create a file name app.js in the hapiproject directory.

hapiproject/app.js

'use strict';
const Hapi = require('hapi');
const server = new Hapi.Server();
server.connection({ port: 3000, host: 'localhost' });
server.start((err) => {
    if (err) {
        throw err;
    }
    
    console.log('Server Running at : ', server.info.uri);
});

Open your command line and run the command node app.js. this will return console message if all goes well.

Now your hapi server is running here http://localhost:3000/ but when you open in your browser it will return a JSON data. Because of no route assign to this server.

{
     "statusCode": 404,
     "error": "Not Found"
}

Setup Route to the Hapi Server

'use strict';
const Hapi = require('hapi');
const server = new Hapi.Server();
server.connection({ port: 3000, host: 'localhost' });
server.route({
    method: 'GET',
    path: '/',
    handler: function (request, reply) {
        reply('Hello, world!');
    }
});
server.start((err) => {
    if (err) {
        throw err;
    }
    console.log('Server Running at : ', server.info.uri);
});

In server.route({}) three parameters passing method, path, and handler. method: there any mostly used methods are GET, POST, DELETE, PUT. path: is defined as route mean which routes you want to assign ‘/’ = root node. handler: in handler section, you can define you function that you want to execute to that route.

npm app.js

http://localhost:3000/ will reply with “Hello World”.