nodejs

Node.js Backend Patterns

Purpose

Core patterns for building scalable Node.js backend applications with TypeScript, emphasizing clean architecture, error handling, and testability.

When to Use This Skill

• Building Node.js backend services
• Implementing async/await patterns
• Error handling and logging
• Configuration management
• Testing backend code
• Layered architecture (routes → controllers → services → repositories)

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Quick Start

Layered Architecture

src/
├── api/
│   ├── routes/         # HTTP route definitions
│   ├── controllers/    # Request/response handling
│   ├── services/       # Business logic
│   └── repositories/   # Data access
├── middleware/         # Express middleware
├── types/             # TypeScript types
├── config/            # Configuration
└── utils/             # Utilities

Flow: Route → Controller → Service → Repository → Database

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Async/Await Error Handling

Basic Pattern

async function fetchUser(id: string): Promise<User> {
  try {
    const user = await db.user.findUnique({ where: { id } });
    if (!user) {
      throw new Error('User not found');
    }
    return user;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching user:', error);
    throw error;
  }
}

Async Controller Pattern

class UserController {
  async getUser(req: Request, res: Response): Promise<void> {
    try {
      const { id } = req.params;
      const user = await this.userService.getById(id);

      res.json({
        success: true,
        data: user,
      });
    } catch (error) {
      console.error('Error in getUser:', error);
      res.status(500).json({
        success: false,
        error: 'Failed to fetch user',
      });
    }
  }
}

Promise.all for Parallel Operations

async function getUserDashboard(userId: string) {
  try {
    const [user, posts, followers] = await Promise.all([
      userService.getById(userId),
      postService.getByUser(userId),
      followerService.getByUser(userId),
    ]);

    return { user, posts, followers };
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error loading dashboard:', error);
    throw error;
  }
}