Routing to different node.js express-apps on one server

Question

I want to run different apps on one server, but the routing between them should be made with paths and not with sub-domains.

I read about bouncy and the connect vhost middleware, but they just allow me to route sub-domains to different ports.

I want something like this:

domain.com -> app1

domain.com/api -> app2, in order that /api is / for app2

domain.com/some/path -> app3, in order that /some/path is / for app3

The position in the route tree should be transparent to the apps and it would be nice if I don't have to restart any other app when adding a new one.

Do I have to code it myself or is there some solution out there?

Answer 1

Assuming each app is running in its own process, you essentially need a reverse proxy.

http-proxy is your best bet. You can mix an Express app and the proxy ("app1"), and forward requests for /api to app2 and /some/path to app3.

app2 and app3 can be running on the same box or different boxes.

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If this is all happening in the same process, just use the router from app1 and app2 mounted to a path:

var app1=express(), app2=express(), app3=express();

app1.use(app1.router);
app1.use('/api', app2.router);
app1.use('/some/path', app3.router);