Node Backend Setup

We’re using a Node.js backend instead of a framework like Next.js because it gives you full control and works with any type of app — web, mobile, tools, or extensions. It’s simple, reliable, and matches how most production backends are built.

Next.js is great for some use cases, but serverless functions can get tricky with file uploads or long-running processes. A standalone Node backend keeps things straightforward.

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📁 Create Your Project

Let’s create a home for your backend:

mkdir node-backend
cd node-backend

Initialize a fresh Node.js project:

npm init -y

Create your environment file:

touch .env

This sets up a basic package.json and an .env file where you’ll store your API key safely.

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📦 Install Dependencies

Install the packages you need:

npm install express cors dotenv openai multer

Install development tools:

npm install -D nodemon

What each package does:

• express - Web server for your API
• cors - Allows frontend to connect to your backend
• dotenv - Loads secret keys from .env
• openai - Connects to OpenAI’s API
• multer - Handles file uploads
• nodemon - Auto-restarts server while you develop

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⚙️ Configure package.json

Update package.json to use modern JavaScript and add run scripts:

{
  "type": "module",
  "scripts": {
    "start": "node index.js",
    "dev": "nodemon index.js"
  }
}

What this does:

• "type": "module" - Lets you use import instead of require
• start script - Runs your server in production
• dev script - Runs with auto-restart when you save files

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🔑 Add Environment Variables

Add your API key and port in .env:

OPENAI_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
PORT=8000

Never commit this file — add .env to .gitignore.

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🛠️ Create the Server

Create index.js:

import express from "express";
import { config } from "dotenv";
import cors from "cors";

config();

const app = express();
const port = process.env.PORT || 8000;

app.use(cors());
app.use(express.json());

app.get("/", (req, res) => {
  res.send("Backend is running successfully.");
});

app.listen(port, () => {
  console.log(`🚀 Server running on http://localhost:${port}`);
});

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🚀 Test Your Server

Run the server:

npm run dev

Visit: http://localhost:8000

You should see:

Backend is running successfully.

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🔧 Troubleshooting

Issue	Fix
Cannot use import	Add "type": "module" to package.json
Port in use	Change PORT in .env file
Missing packages	Run npm install
Permission denied on .env	Create the file manually

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✅ What’s Next

Your backend is ready to connect to OpenAI. Next, you’ll build your first AI endpoint and make a real API call.

Let’s start building something smart! 🧠