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

init.d, node.js, raspbian

Solution

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.

Problem

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 working. My current code is: ``` #! /bin/sh # /etc/init.d/MyApp ### BEGIN INIT INFO # Provides: MyApp.js # Required-Start: $remote_fs $syslog # Required-Stop: $remote_fs $syslog # Default-Start: 2 3 4 5 # Default-Stop: 0 1 6 # Short-Description: Starts MyApp.js # Description: Start / stop MyApp.js at boot / shutdown. ### END INIT INFO # If you want a command to always run, put it here # Carry out specific functions when asked to by the system case "$1" in start) echo "Starting MyApp.js" # run application you want to start node /home/pi/app/MyApp/MyApp.js ;; stop) echo "Stopping MyApp.js" # kill application you want to stop killall MyApp.js ;; *) echo "Usage: /etc/init.d/MyApp {start|stop}" exit 1 ;; esac exit 0 ``` I have this in the etc/init.d folder, ran `chmod +x /etc/init.d/MyApp`, I'm able to run it manually, then I run `sudo update-rc.d MyApp defaults`, reboot and the script never runs. I've looked at some different examples, made adjustments and still no luck.

Original source