node.js running alongside Apache PHP?

Question

I am trying to get my head round node.js...

I am very happy with my LAMP set up as it currently fulfils my requirements. Although I want to add some real-time features into my PHP app. Such as showing all users currently logged into my site and possible chat features.

I don't want to replace my PHP backend, but I do want scalable real-time solutions.

1. Can I throw node.js into the mix to serve my needs without rebuilding the whole application server-side script?

2. How best could node.js serve my 'chat' and 'currently logged in' features?

Great to hear your views!

W.

Answer 1

I suggest you use Socket.io along side node.js. Install and download the libs from http://socket.io/. You can run it along side your Apache server no problems.

First create a node server:

var http = require('http')   , url = require('url')   , fs = require('fs')   , io = require('../')//path to your socket.io lib   , sys = require(process.binding('natives').util ? 'util' : 'sys')   , server;  server = http.createServer(function(req, res){   var path = url.parse(req.url).pathname; }),  server.listen(8084);//This could be almost any port number 

Second, run your server from the command line using:

node /path/to/your/server.js 

Third, connect to the socket using client side js:

var socket = new io.Socket(null, {port: 8084, rememberTransport: false}); socket.connect(); 

You will have to have include the socket.io lib client side aswell.

Send data from client side to the node server using:

socket.send({data:data}); 

Your server.js should also have functions for processing requests:

io.on('connection', function(client){ //action when client connets   client.on('message', function(message){     //action when client sends msg   });    client.on('disconnect', function(){     //action when client disconnects   }); }); 

There are two main ways to send data from the server to the client:

client.send({ data: data});//sends it back to the client making the request 

and

client.broadcast({  data: data});//sends it too every client connected to the server