Book excerpt: In just 24 sessions of one hour or less, Sams Teach Yourself Node.js in 24 Hours will help you master the Node.js platform and use it to build server-side applications with extraordinary speed and scalability. Using this text’s straightforward, step-by-step approach, you’ll move from basic installation, configuration, and programming all the way through real-time messaging between browser and server, testing and deployment. Every lesson and case-study application builds on what you’ve already learned, giving you a rock-solid foundation for real-world success! Step-by-step instructions carefully walk you through the most common Node.js development tasks. Quizzes and Exercises at the end of each chapter help you test your knowledge. By the Way notes present valuable additional information related to the discussion. Did You Know? tips offer advice or show you easier ways to perform tasks. Watch Out! cautions alert you to possible problems and give you advice on how to avoid them. Learn how to... · Create end-to-end applications entirely in JavaScript · Master essential Node.js concepts like callbacks and quickly create your first program · Create basic sites with the HTTP module and Express web framework · Manage data persistence with Node.js and MongoDB · Debug and test Node.js applications · Deploy Node.js applications to thirdparty services, such as Heroku and Nodester · Build powerful real-time solutions, from chat servers to Twitter clients · Create JSON APIs using JavaScript on the server · Use core components of the Node.js API, including processes, child processes, events, buffers, and streams · Create and publish a Node.js module