npm Package Require

A flow that requires an installed npm package (axios) and uses it inside a code-mode Handler Function. Demonstrates how to declare npm dependencies and reference them by their require variable name.

Nodes involved: express.init, express.middleware.jsonParser, logic.require (npm mode, targeting axios), express.route, logic.handlerFunction (code mode, using axios in raw JavaScript), handler.sendJson, express.listen.

The route's Handler Function (POST /reverse) accepts a text parameter, posts it to an external API via axios.post(), and returns the result — the full Express request/response cycle with a real async operation. The Handler Function's Async Handler checkbox is checked, so the generated function is async and await axios.post() works natively.

Generated server.js

const axios = require("axios");
const express = require("express");

const app = express();

async function handler(req, res, next) {
  const text = req.body.text ?? "";
  const response = await axios.post("https://api.example.com/reverse", {
    input: text,
  });
  res.status(200).json({ result: response.data });
}

app.use(express.json());

app.post("/reverse", handler);

app.listen(3006, () => {
  console.log("Server running on port 3006");
});

Run it

npx visual-node examples/05-npm-package-require

curl http://localhost:3005/id
# {"id":"...","generatedAt":"..."}