Express-subdomain not seeing route

Question

I am using the example setup from the https://www.npmjs.com/package/express-subdomain package. However, when I try api.localhost:3000 in a browser it throws an error: "Cannot GET /"

How can I get api.localhost:3000 running? I would consider other solutions, not just ones using express-subdomain as long as you don't have to type in the fqdn in the setup.

app.js:

var subdomain = require('express-subdomain');
var express = require('express');
var app = express();

// *** Code examples below go here! ***
var router = express.Router();

//api specific routes
router.get('/', function(req, res) {
    res.send('Welcome to our API!');
});

router.get('/users', function(req, res) {
    res.json([
        { name: "Brian" }
    ]);
});

app.use(subdomain('api', router));
app.listen(3000);

package.json:

{
  "name": "auth_manager",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "description": "",
  "main": "app.js",
  "scripts": {
    "test": "echo \"Error: no test specified\" && exit 1"
  },
  "author": "",
  "license": "ISC",
  "dependencies": {
    "express": "^4.16.3",
    "express-subdomain": "^1.0.5"
  }
}

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Feb 26 '19 at 00:54

1

I think that the API is alive at http://api.example.com/ and not in the api.localhost:3000. However if you want to run them locally I suggest that you follow https://www.npmjs.com/package/express-subdomain#developing-locally

answered Feb 26 '19 at 00:54

Giannis

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1

Still having an issue with a host file. It works without the subdomain but not with it. – GavinBelson Feb 26 '19 at 01:20

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Feb 26 '19 at 18:03

If you plan to use this middleware while developing locally, you have to ensure that your subdomain is listed in your hosts file. Refer here.

On MacOS:

Adjust host file to forward requests from url:

sudo nano /etc/hosts

127.0.0.1 myapp.dev

127.0.0.1 api.myapp.dev
Clear cache:

sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
In express:

app.use(subdomain('api', router));
Any authentication middleware needs to be adjusted to authenticate api.myapp.dev not localhost
In Chrome you can use the api.myapp.dev url
If you are using SSL (https) and have a self signed cert: Chrome usually blocks the hostfile URL if it is not localhost. Then, you need to click anywhere in the Chrome window and literally type in thisisunsafe and it will let you through. Refer to this ticket.

Express-subdomain not seeing route

2 Answers2