Getting Started

Goal

This snapshot advances Glasspoint Notes by teaching you to create a minimal Express + Lit SSR app.

Every numbered folder is a complete app. Run this stage independently, then compare it with the previous folder.

Prerequisites

Use Node.js 20+, npm, and a terminal. No Docker is required — each snapshot uses a local SQLite file.

Port 3006 must be free. Copy .env.example before starting database stages.

• Node.js and npm
• A code editor and terminal

Concepts

Express boots an HTTP server; Lit HTML templates render on the server.

Keep handlers thin: Express routes load data, Lit templates present escaped HTML, and mutations re-check authorization on the server.

Walkthrough

Return a JSON hello from the root path.

Read the example, then open the matching snapshot. The repository includes the surrounding setup and error handling.

app.get('/', (_req, res) => res.json({ message: 'Glasspoint Notes is live' }))

Run and verify

Enter 01-Getting-Started, install dependencies, copy .env.example, and start Express on port 3006.

Open http://127.0.0.1:3006. Watch the terminal for validation and database errors.

git clone https://github.com/michaeldunga1/fcc-lit-blog.git
cd fcc-lit-blog/01-Getting-Started
npm install
cp .env.example .env
npm run dev

Troubleshooting

If the browser cannot connect, confirm the process is still running.

For database failures, delete glasspoint.db and restart so schema and seeds recreate. Never commit .env, *.db, or node_modules.

• Read the first error first
• Restart after environment changes
• Never commit secrets

Try this

Add a /health route that returns JSON ok: true.

Test a happy path and one invalid or unauthorized request.

• Make one small change
• Test it in the browser
• Compare with the next snapshot only after it works