syntax error near unexpected token `(' in node js

Question

I started setting up a node app but it prompt me this

 syntax error near unexpected token `('
'/app.js: line 1: `var http = require("http");

this is my code for app.js

var http = require("http");
http.createServer(function(req, res) {
  res.writeHead(200, {'Content-Type': 'text/plain'});
  res.end('Hello World\n');
}).listen(8080, 'localhost');
console.log('Server running at http://localhost:8080/');

can anyone help me in this

not sure if this is exactly the issue, but you need to put the second http in quotes, so: var http = require("http");. You also probably want to change that 300 in .listen to 8080 — Henry
– Henry, Commented Mar 12, 2019 at 2:06
With that updated code, it works fine for me, did you try copy & pasting straight from here? — Henry
– Henry, Commented Mar 12, 2019 at 2:19
@HenryWoody yes i tried copy & pasting, and i also have https for my server — customio
– customio, Commented Mar 12, 2019 at 2:22

Soulimane Mammar · Accepted Answer · 2021-02-11 12:30:46Z

9

This is probably because you are running your script as if it is a bash script. You have two options

run your program with the command $ node your_pgm.js
add the line #!/path/to/node to the beginning of your program (it must be the very first line)

answered Feb 11, 2021 at 12:30

Soulimane Mammar

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3 Comments

Filnor Over a year ago

Tip: To find the path to the current node you can use the command which node.

damdafayton Over a year ago

I was trying to run a shell script under spawnof child_process and gettings similar error when I use shopt within it. (All other commands work fine). Inspired by this reply I did prepend the command with #!/bin/bash and somehow it worked.

Vinod Poorma Over a year ago

This way we have to add for node js: #!/usr/bin/env node

CodingCat · Accepted Answer · 2021-02-11 09:48:10Z

0

Why are you typing in bash?

Please try to type "$ node" first and then you should see: Welcome to Node.js v14 (or any version that you have installed).

answered Feb 11, 2021 at 9:48

CodingCat

1

1 Comment

Soulimane Mammar Over a year ago

I tried your code on my setup and it is working fine

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