How to use helpers in Node.js to load settings?

Question

In the Laravel Framework we have the configuration files centralized in the directory /config, these are simple files php returning a array key and value.

To access these settings anywhere in the application we can use the Helper config, therefore, when using config('app.timezone'); we can access the contents of /config/app.php, key timezone and return the value of this.

How could it have a similar behavior in nodejs, preferably using a Helper as simple as the one mentioned above?

Note: if relevant, I am using Express.js in the project.

Answer 1

You create a configuration file .js, this file containing module.exports of the data you intend to use. As an example:

app.config.js

module.exports = 
{
    webPort: 80,
    database:
    {
         url : "mongodb://localhost/app",
         user : "admin",
         password : "1234"
    }
}

Preferably this file will be in the root of the project. To access it, just give a require:

const config = require("./app.config.js") //Considerando esteja no mesmo diretório.