Chapter 6: index.js cannot serve static files this way !

[Em-Ant]

You should replace the last lines of index.js

...
 } else {
    // Try to send static files
    res.writeHead(200);
    res.end('static file maybe');
  }

with

...
 } else { 
    staticFile(req.url,res); 
  }

The program as is will continue to respond with 'static file maybe' to every request not intercepted by the preceding routing tests.

[elbankster]

Thank you! It was obvious something was wrong with the code but I couldn't figure it out. I replaced the old code with:

staticFile(req.url);

which does not work. I was stumped. Can you or someone explain why we send two arguments to staticFile when exports.staticFile only asks for one?

[Em-Ant]

// from ./responseGenerator.js
// (...)
exports.staticFile = function (staticPath) {

\*************** LOOK HERE !! **********************\  
  return function(data, response) {

    var readStream;

    // Fix so routes to /home and /home.html both work.
    data = data.replace(/^(\/home)(.html)?$/i,'$1.html');
    data = '.' + staticPath + data;

    fs.stat(data, function (error, stats) {

      if (error || stats.isDirectory()) {
        return exports.send404(response);
      }

      readStream = fs.createReadStream(data);
      return readStream.pipe(response);
    });
  }
}

When you require the module, then call staticFile(path)

// from index.js
var responder = require('./responseGenerator');
var staticFile = responder.staticFile('/public');

you get a function(data, response), as shown in the previous code sample !!

[iulian-covrig]

... } else { staticFile(req.url,res); }
it works, only if you type '/home' or '/home.html' in your browser, otherwise it will give a 404 page. Hope this help. It was the only way I could make it work. Cheers!