How to start a Node.js app on system boot?

Question

I\'m working on a Raspberry Pi running Raspbian running a Node.js app and trying to get it to start when the Pi boots. I found a couple of examples but I can\'t seem to get it

Answer 1

If you're using a prebuilt Pi release like 0.10.24, you may be experiencing a PATH issue.

You can either provide the full path to the node binary as part of the start command or make sure the PATH to the node binaries are set before /etc/init.d/MyApp is ran. I had the same issue and tried both with success. Also, the stop command as you have it may not be working.

#! /bin/sh
# /etc/init.d/test

### BEGIN INIT INFO
# Provides:          test
# Required-Start:    $remote_fs $syslog
# Required-Stop:     $remote_fs $syslog
# Default-Start:     2 3 4 5
# Default-Stop:      0 1 6
# Short-Description: Example initscript
# Description:       This file should be used to construct scripts to be
#                    placed in /etc/init.d.
### END INIT INFO

# Carry out specific functions when asked to by the system
case "$1" in
   start)
    echo "Starting test.js"
    # run application you want to start
    #node /home/pi/test.js > /home/pi/test.log
    /home/pi/downloads/node-v0.10.24-linux-arm-pi/bin/node /home/pi/test.js >> /home/pi/test.log
   ;;
   stop)
    echo "Stopping test.js"
    # kill application you want to stop
    killall -9 node
    # Not a great approach for running
    # multiple node instances
    ;;
  *)
    echo "Usage: /etc/init.d/test {start|stop}"
    exit 1
    ;;
esac

exit 0

If you'd like to do sudo node, you can add the PATH to Defaults secure_path using sudo visudo.

Also, I would recommend using something like forever to keep your process running after crashes and what not.