cloud-node-container/README.md

# Cloud Node Container

This is a base container for running Node.js applications, supporting multiple Node.js versions (18, 20, 22). The default is Node.js 20. The container is based on AlmaLinux 9 and uses Nginx as a reverse proxy with SSL. It is designed for both development and production use.

**You must have Docker or compatible containerization software running.**

---

## What's Included?

- **Multiple Node.js Versions:** 18, 20, 22 (set with `NODEVER` or `-a` flag)
- **PM2 Process Manager:** For production-grade Node.js application management
- **Nginx Reverse Proxy:** SSL-enabled reverse proxy with automatic HTTP to HTTPS redirect
- **Development Features:** Memcached for sessions, automatic backups, log rotation
- **Health Monitoring:** Built-in `/ping` endpoint for health checks

---

## Quick Start: Local Development with `local-dev.sh`

The easiest way to start a local development environment is with the provided `local-dev.sh` script. This script automates container setup, volume creation, log directories, and creates a sample Node.js application.

### Usage Example

```bash
./local-dev.sh -n local-dev
```

**Flags:**
- `-n`  Name of the container (required)
- `-p`  HTTP port (default: 80)
- `-s`  HTTPS port (default: 443)
- `-r`  Root path for files (default: current directory)
- `-a`  Node.js version (default: 20; options: 18, 20, 22)
- `-v`  Enable verbose mode
- `-h`  Show help

The script will:
- Create a user directory and log folders
- Create a default Node.js Express application if none exists
- Start the container with the correct environment variables
- Generate helper scripts in your root path:
  - `instance_start` – Start the container
  - `instance_stop` – Stop the container
  - `instance_logs` – View container logs
  - `instance_shell` – Access container shell

---

## Manual Docker Usage

You can also run the container manually:

```bash
mkdir -p local-development/domain.tld
cd local-development/domain.tld
mkdir user
mkdir -p user/{app,logs/{nginx,nodejs}}
docker run -d -p 80:80 -p 443:443 -e NODEVER=20 -e environment=DEV --mount type=bind,source="$(pwd)"/user,target=/home/$(whoami) -e uid=$(id -u) -e user=$(whoami) -e domain=localhost --name local-dev cloud-node-container:latest
```

---

## Accessing the Container

```bash
docker exec -it local-dev /bin/bash
```

---

## For Users: How to Deploy Your Application

### Step 1: Prepare Your Node.js Application

Your Node.js application needs just two files to get started:

**Required Files:**
- `package.json` - Describes your app and its dependencies
- A main JavaScript file (usually `server.js` or `index.js`)

**Optional Files:**
- `public/` folder for static files (HTML, CSS, images)
- `ecosystem.config.js` for advanced PM2 configuration

### Step 2: What Users Need to Do

**If you're not familiar with Node.js, here's what you need to know:**

1. **Create a `package.json` file** - This tells Node.js about your app:
```json
{
  "name": "my-website",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "main": "server.js",
  "scripts": {
    "start": "node server.js"
  },
  "dependencies": {
    "express": "^4.18.2"
  }
}
```

2. **Create your main server file** - This runs your application:
```javascript
const express = require('express');
const app = express();
const port = process.env.PORT || 3000;

app.use(express.static('public')); // Serve static files

app.get('/', (req, res) => {
  res.send('<h1>My Website is Running!</h1>');
});

app.get('/ping', (req, res) => {
  res.json({ status: 'ok' }); // Health check for the container
});

app.listen(port, () => {
  console.log(`Server running on port ${port}`);
});
```

3. **Put your files in the right place**:
   - Copy your `package.json` and `server.js` to `user/app/`
   - Put HTML, CSS, images in `user/app/public/`

4. **Start the container**:
```bash
./local-dev.sh -n my-app
```

**That's it!** The container will:
- Install your dependencies automatically
- Start your application with PM2
- Handle SSL and reverse proxy
- Provide health monitoring

### Step 3: Example Applications

See the `examples/` directory for complete working examples:

**Simple Website** (`examples/simple-website/`):
- Static HTML pages with navigation
- CSS styling
- Express.js server for routing

**API Server** (`examples/api-server/`):
- REST API with CRUD operations
- JSON responses
- In-memory data storage

### What Happens Automatically

When you place your app in `user/app/`, the container automatically:
1. Runs `npm install` to install dependencies
2. Starts your app with PM2 process manager
3. Sets up Nginx reverse proxy with SSL
4. Configures logging and health checks
5. Starts Memcached for session storage (in DEV mode)

### Troubleshooting for New Users

- **App won't start?** Check that your `package.json` has a valid "start" script
- **Can't access your site?** Make sure your app listens on port 3000 and has a `/ping` endpoint
- **Dependencies missing?** List all required packages in your `package.json` dependencies section
- **Static files not loading?** Put them in a `public/` folder and use `app.use(express.static('public'))`

---

## Features

- **Multiple Node.js Versions:** 18, 20, 22 (set with `NODEVER` environment variable)
- **Process Management:** PM2 for production-grade Node.js application management
- **Reverse Proxy:** Nginx handles SSL termination and proxies requests to Node.js
- **Automatic Backups:** Application files backed up every 30 minutes in DEV mode
- **Log Management:** Log rotation compresses logs older than 3 days, deletes after 7 days
- **Session Storage:** Memcached available in DEV mode for session management
- **SSL:** Self-signed certificate enabled by default with automatic HTTP→HTTPS redirect
- **Health Checks:** `/ping`, `/info` endpoints for monitoring
- **Static Files:** Nginx serves static files from `/home/$user/app/public/`

---

## Environment Variables

**Required:**
- `uid` – User ID for file permissions
- `user` – Username for file permissions
- `domain` – Primary domain for configuration

**Optional:**
- `environment` – Set to `DEV` to start Redis and enable development features
- `serveralias` – Comma-separated list of alternative hostnames
- `NODEVER` – Node.js version (18, 20, 22)

---

## Default Application Endpoints

The default Express.js application provides:
- `/` – Basic application info and status
- `/ping` – Health check endpoint (JSON response)
- `/info` – Detailed system information
- `/session` – Session demo endpoint (shows Memcached sessions working)

---

## Helpful Notes

- To restart the instance: `./instance_start` or `docker start {container-name}`
- To stop: `./instance_stop` or `docker stop {container-name}`
- To view logs: `./instance_logs` or `docker logs -f {container-name}`
- To access shell: `./instance_shell` or `docker exec -it {container-name} /bin/bash`
- To delete a container: `docker rm {container-name}` (does not delete user files)
- Application logs are in `/home/$user/logs/nodejs/`
- Nginx logs are in `/home/$user/logs/nginx/`

---

## System Requirements

### Memory Requirements
- **Minimum RAM**: 256MB (basic applications)
- **Recommended RAM**: 512MB (standard applications)  
- **Development**: 512MB-1GB (with all services enabled)

The container is optimized for memory efficiency with automatic memory management and process restarts. See `MEMORY-GUIDE.md` for detailed memory optimization information.

### Performance Features
- Automatic application restart at 256MB memory usage
- V8 heap limited to 200MB by default
- Nginx optimized for single-worker, low-memory operation
- Memcached limited to 32MB cache size

## Troubleshooting

- The first run may take a few minutes as Node.js and dependencies are installed
- If you need to change Node.js version, stop and remove the container, then recreate with the desired version
- For custom applications, ensure your `package.json` has a valid start script
- Check `/home/$user/logs/nodejs/error.log` for application errors
- The health check endpoint `/ping` should return a 200 status when the application is running properly
- **Memory issues**: Run `/scripts/memory-info.sh` inside container to check memory usage
- **Process monitoring**: Use `pm2 monit` to watch application performance