How to add static file to http server?

Question

I'd like to implement a chatroom by node.js.

I use the template provided by socket.io.

var app = require('express')();
var http = require('http').Server(app);
var io = require('socket.io')(http);
var fs = require('fs');

app.get('/', function(req, res) {
    fs.readFile(__dirname + '/style.css');    // I don't know how to import the style.css to the chat.html
    // fs.readFile(__dirname + '/images/');   // And how to add images file to the server
    res.sendFile(__dirname + '/chat.html');
});

io.on('connection', function(socket) {
    console.log('a user connected');
    socket.on('disconnect', function() {
        console.log('user disconnected');
    });
    socket.on('chat message', function(msg) {
        console.log('message: ' + msg);
    })
    socket.on('chat message', function(msg){
        io.emit('chat message', msg);
    });
    socket.broadcast.emit('hi');
});


http.listen(8888, function() {
    console.log('listening on *:8888');
});

When I type

node index.js

in the terminal, it'll show up

listening on *:8888
(node:12873) [DEP0013] DeprecationWarning: Calling an asynchronous function without callback is deprecated.

Now, the server can work but the format is gone.

I don't know how to correct this. I hope that the chat.html can be in the format specified by the style.css and the messages can be sent in the format(also specified by the style.css) I desired not just pure text.

If only this was something [covered in the manual](https://expressjs.com/en/starter/static-files.html). — Quentin, Jun 15 '17 at 12:32

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 15 '17 at 12:30

You have to tell node the directory that you plan to use for "Static files".

You do it like so

const staticCont = express.static(__dirname + "/public");

Where "public" is the name of the folder that will hold your static content like CSS or front end JS files etc.

hope this helps

How to add static file to http server?

1 Answers1