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npm install now

Quick "Hello World" Example

Once NowJS is installed on your server, creating your first application is simple:

Copy this code into helloworld_server.js

var html = require('fs').readFileSync(__dirname+'/helloworld.html');
var server = require('http').createServer(function(req, res){
  res.end(html);
});
server.listen(8080);

var nowjs = require("now");
var everyone = nowjs.initialize(server);

everyone.now.distributeMessage = function(message){
  everyone.now.receiveMessage(this.now.name, message);
};

Copy this code into helloworld.html in the same directory

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<title>nowjs test</title>
<script type="text/javascript" src="http://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.5.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
<script src="/nowjs/now.js"></script>

<script>
$(document).ready(function(){

  now.receiveMessage = function(name, message){
    $("#messages").append("<br>" + name + ": " + message);
  }

  $("#send-button").click(function(){
    now.distributeMessage($("#text-input").val());
    $("#text-input").val("");
  });

  now.name = prompt("What's your name?", "");

});
</script>
</head>

<body>
  <div id="messages"></div>
  <input type="text" id="text-input">
  <input type="button" value="Send" id="send-button">
</body>
</html>

You've just created a chat server

Let's test it!

Run node helloworld_server.js in your terminal.
Navigate your browser to http://localhost:8080.

Try it with two tabs or even different browsers for that hot realtime chat action.

Having trouble?

We're always available to help via email team@nowjs.com. Also try our mailing list / Google group. You can also ask us questions on IRC #nowjs on Freenode

Next

Next: The now Object