LocalTunnel is a Node.js module that allows you to expose your local development server to the internet via a secure tunnel. This is useful when you need to share your work with someone else or when you need to test webhook integrations with external services.
Here’s a quick tutorial on using the LocalTunnel module in Node.js:
- Install LocalTunnel
First, you’ll need to install LocalTunnel globally on your system using npm. Run the following command in your terminal:
npm install -g localtunnel
- Start your local server
Before using LocalTunnel, make sure you have a local server running on your system. For this example, let’s assume you have a server running on port 3000.
Setting Up a Local Server in Node.js: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Create a tunnel
To create a tunnel to your local server, execute the following command in a new terminal (Make sure to keep the terminal where you started your server open.), replace <port> with the port number on which your local server is running (e.g., 3000):
lt --port <port>
For example:
lt --port 3000
- Get your public URL
Once you’ve run the above command, LocalTunnel will provide you with a public URL that you can share with others. The URL will look something like this:
your url is: https://randomsubdomain.loca.lt
Now, anyone with the provided URL can access your local server through the secure tunnel.
- Close the tunnel
When you’re done sharing your local server, you can close the tunnel by pressing Ctrl + C in your terminal.
Note: Keep in mind that the public URL is temporary and will change each time you create a new tunnel. If you need a custom subdomain, you can use the --subdomain flag when creating the tunnel:
lt --port 3000 --subdomain mycustomsubdomain
This will create a tunnel with a URL like https://mycustomsubdomain.loca.lt. However, custom subdomains are not guaranteed to be available, so choose a unique one to increase your chances of success.
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Louise
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Elizaveta
First, Anuj makes efforts to simplify explanations of a concept and gives practical examples in a structured way. Second, he doesn’t just teach us things. He takes time to listen to our concerns and motivates us by sharing his personal experience and thoughts as an experienced software engineer.
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Anuj is a great instructor who is very knowledgeable and passionate about what he teaches. He worked well with his co-instructor, which led to a positive learning experience. The course itself is an introductory course but still has a lot of material to cover, but Anuj was very meticulous in explaining concepts to ensure lessons were executed and understood. He is a great listener and always willing to answer questions no matter how obvious (and sometimes silly). I have already signed up for another course and am hoping he will be part of the team!
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Maria
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Everything Anuj! As a teacher myself, I loved learning from you. You were so patient with us and answered every question we asked so well. You also had a way of making difficult things seem easy. Your passion and dedication showed.
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