Fetching API Data with Editor X | NodeJS + NoCode

Hey there! Have you ever thought about creating API requests and integrating them into a no code platform? If not, then today's your lucky day! In this blog post, we will walk you through the process of building a tiny Node.js backend, hosting it, and creating a front-end to interact with it. Yep, you read that right! We're going to combine the best of both worlds: coding and no code. Let's dive right in!

Before we proceed, let me give you a short intro about our community. The website livelearning.editorx.io hosts Monthly NoCode Design Challenges with amazing prizes! We invite you all to join the community and get access to mentoring on how to build design businesses and further your career. Don't miss the opportunity to learn, create, and grow!

Setting Up your Node.js Backend

First things first, we need to build our little backend with Node.js. For this, we'll be using Visual Studio Code (VS Code) with GitHub Copilot. GitHub Copilot is an AI tool that understands what you're trying to accomplish and helps you write code faster.

In our case, we'll be creating an Express application to handle the pricing calculator's API requests. The endpoints will receive some data, do the necessary calculations, and return the final price as the response.

Let's get started by initializing a new Node.js project:

```bash

npm init -y

```

Now, let's add the necessary packages for our project. We need to install `express` and `cors` (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) to handle requests from different domains.

```bash

npm install express cors --save

```

Next, we'll create an instance of the express application and require the `cors` package. Although it is common practice to use a `body-parser` for parsing JSON data from post requests, we won't be needing it for our simple pricing calculator.

Create a new file called `app.js` and add the following code:

```javascript

const express = require('express');

const cors = require('cors');

const app = express();

app.use(cors());

// Your API endpoints go here

const PORT = process.env.PORT || 3000;

app.listen(PORT, () => {

console.log(`Server running on port ${PORT}`);

});

```

Feel free to add your own API endpoints and logic for your pricing calculator here. Once you have your API set up, run the server:

```bash

node app.js

```

Now that our backend is up and running, it's time to create a front-end to interact with it using Editor X - without writing any code!

Building the NoCode Front-End with Editor X

Editor X is a powerful no-code platform that lets you design and build modern, responsive web applications with ease. Let's see how you can create a front-end to interact with our freshly-made Node.js backend.

1. Sign up for Editor X: If you haven't already, create an account on Editor X and log in.

2. Create a New Project: In the Editor X dashboard, click on the "New" button and choose "Blank" from the templates list.

3. Add a Pricing Calculator: Use the design tools to create a pricing calculator form. Make sure to include input fields for the necessary data and a button to submit the form and fetch the price.

4. Connect to the API: To fetch the price from our backend, click on the submit button, and choose the "Connect to Data" option. From the available options, select "Call an API Endpoint".

5. Configure the API Request: In the API settings, enter the necessary information, such as the request method (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE), your backend's API endpoint URL, and any additional parameters required for the request.

6. Display the Price: After configuring your API request, make sure to bind the response data to a text element in your design. This will display the price fetched from the API when the user submits the form.

7. Publish Your Site: When you're happy with your design and setup, hit the "Publish" button to make your no-code pricing calculator live!

And that's it! You've successfully built a Node.js backend and a front-end using Editor X without writing any code. How cool is that?

Wrapping Up

In this blog post, we showed you how to integrate a Node.js backend API with a no-code platform like Editor X. It's an excellent example of combining the best of both worlds: code and no code, to build powerful and functional web applications.

Don't forget to check out livelearning.editorx.io for Monthly NoCode Design Challenges with fantastic prizes! Join our growing community and learn how to build design businesses and further your career with the help of our professional mentors. Happy NoCoding!