Install Sails.js on Ubuntu: A Step-by-Step Guide

Install NVM

Node Version Manager (NVM) lets you manage different versions of Node.js easily. Run this command to install the latest stable NVM version:

curl -sL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.40.1/install.sh -o install_nvm.sh | bash install_nvm.sh

Next, update your bash profile:

source ~/.bashrc

Install Node.js

Now, use NVM to install the current Active LTS version of Node.js:

nvm install --lts

Install Sails.js

With Node.js ready, install Sails globally on your system:

npm -g install sails

Check the installation by running:

sails --version

Create Sails app

Creating a Sails app on Ubuntu is simple. You’ll make a new folder for your project and use the Sails command tool to set up your app’s basic structure.

sails new geek-app

Select “Web App” when prompted. Navigate into your folder, install dependencies, and start the app:

cd geek-app
npm install
sails lift

Check the official Sails.js documentation for current database adapter compatibility and potential Docker deployment alternatives. Open your browser to http://localhost:1337 to see your app.

Create Sails systemd service

Making your Sails app start automatically after your Ubuntu server restarts is easy with a systemd service file. This file makes sure your app runs on its own after a reboot, so you don’t have to start it manually.

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/geek-app.service

Paste the following into the file. Replace $USER with your actual system username:

[Unit]
Description=Sails.js App
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=$USER
WorkingDirectory=/home/$USER/geek-app
ExecStart=/bin/bash -c "source /home/$USER/.nvm/nvm.sh && npm start"
Restart=on-failure

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Reload the system and start your service:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable geek-app --now

You can now manage your app with sudo systemctl stop geek-app or sudo systemctl start geek-app.

Using reverse proxy

For a production setup on Ubuntu, it’s a good idea to run your Sails app behind a reverse proxy, like Nginx or Apache. This helps manage incoming traffic safely and efficiently.

How to set up a reverse proxy with Nginx

How to set up a reverse proxy with Apache

You may also secure your site with Let’s Encrypt:

Set up Let’s Encrypt with Nginx

Set up Let’s Encrypt with Apache

Conclusion

You have successfully installed Sails.js and configured it to run as a background service on Ubuntu. Your environment is now ready for professional web development.

[Unit] [Service] [Install] [22377] [22377] [22377] [22377] [22377] [22377] [22377] [22377] [22377]