Error: Most middleware (like bodyParser) is no longer bundled with Express

Question

EDIT: I have posted a fork of Brian's seed with all the changes given below: https://github.com/LossyHorizon/angular-socket-io-seed

I found this discussion while fighting this my self. I am updating my copy of
https://github.com/btford/angular-socket-io-seed before I begin a new project. I plan to submit my changes back to Brian Ford when I figure out how.

OLD package.json

    "socket.io": "~0.9.16",
    "jade": "~0.31.2",
    "express": "~3.2.6"

NEW package.json

    "socket.io": "1.1.*",
    "jade": "1.6.*",
    "express": "4.8.*",
    "serve-favicon": "2",
    "morgan": "1.3.*",
    "method-override":"*", //added missing ,
    "body-parser": "1.8",
    "errorhandler": "*",
    "express-session": "*",
    "multer": "0.1.*"

You will need to explicitly add the middle ware that used to be just present, one line:

    var express = require('express');

Becomes a bunch of lines:

    var express = require('express');
    var favicon = require('serve-favicon');
    var logger = require('morgan');
    var methodOverride = require('method-override');
    var session = require('express-session');
    var bodyParser = require('body-parser');
    var multer = require('multer');
    var errorHandler = require('errorhandler');

OLD setup code:

    app.set('port', process.env.PORT || 3000);
    app.set('views', __dirname + '/views');
    app.set('view engine', 'jade');
    app.use(express.logger('dev'));
    app.use(express.bodyParser());
    app.use(express.methodOverride());
    app.use(express.static(path.join(__dirname, 'public')));
    app.use(app.router);

NEW setup code:

    app.set('port', process.env.PORT || 3000);
    app.set('views', __dirname + '/views');
    app.set('view engine', 'jade');
    app.use(favicon(__dirname + '/public/favicon.ico'));
    app.use(logger('dev'));
    app.use(methodOverride());
    app.use(session({ resave: true, saveUninitialized: true, 
                      secret: 'uwotm8' }));

    // parse application/json
    app.use(bodyParser.json());                        

    // parse application/x-www-form-urlencoded
    app.use(bodyParser.urlencoded({ extended: true }));

    // parse multipart/form-data
    app.use(multer());

    app.use(express.static(path.join(__dirname, 'public')));

This is the part that took me forever. Sadly once I worked this out I looked in express/lib/application.js, searched for app.listen and there is a wonderful comment that explains things quite nicely. Not sure why I was so slow to look up the source, though it looks like I am not alone in that.

Demos, docs, most blog posts, say you start your app with this, and it works, but locks us out from using socket.io (http & https at the same time also).

    app.listen(app.get('port'), function(){
       console.log('Express server on port ' + app.get('port'));
    });

This is functionally the same, but makes socket.io usage easy. Look up the source for app.listen() and you will see that this is what it is doing anyway.

    // could be/remain at top of file
    var http = require('http');    

    var server = http.createServer (app);
    // delete this line if NOT using socket.io
    var io = require('socket.io').listen(server);   

    server.listen(app.get('port'), function(){
       console.log('Express server on port ' + app.get('port'));
    });

I does not matter if you use the new express 'standard' syntax, or this syntax, the same http object is used either way, and as I recall http is a built in component to node.js anyway.

I hope this helps someone else.

• First you install bodyParser :

  npm install body-parser

• And use it:

  var bodyParser = require('body-parser'); 
  app.use(bodyParser.urlencoded({
      extended: true
  }));
  app.use(bodyParser.json());
  

You need to replace your old bundled middleware usage (express.bodyParser, express.methodOverride, express.errorHandler) with external/separate middleware. The link in the error gives you the names of these new middleware. You may want to check the documentation for these middleware to check for any API changes since Express 3.

You need install body parser separately via npm:

1. In your project root:

   npm install body-parser

See

https://www.npmjs.org/package/body-parser

https://github.com/strongloop/express/wiki/Migrating-from-3.x-to-4.x

I am having a similar problem, and havent been able to resolve it yet.

But as per my reading, from various sources you need to:

1. Either update your package.json to include the dependencies for all the middleware like:

    "dependencies": {
                      "express": "*",
                      "body-parser": "*",
                      "method-override": "*",
                     .
                     .
                     .  
                   }  

   or you can just run each one separately on the command prompt as

   npm install body-parser --save-dev

   You will have to do this for the middleware that you use out of the short list shown here or the complete list here.

   As far as I can make out, in your code, you are using: body-parser, method-override, static and errorhandler.

2. You will have to remove the line:

    app.use(app.router); 

   as described here

As I said, I am also, working on it. I suggest you make the changes, and tell me if the error on the console changes.