Node.js setup guide

This guide will show you how to setup Trigger.dev in your existing Node.js project, test an example task, and view the run.

Prerequisites

• Setup a project in
• Ensure TypeScript is installed
• Create a Trigger.dev account
• Create a new Trigger.dev project

Initial setup

1. Run the CLI `init` command

   The easiest way to get started is to use the CLI. It will add Trigger.dev to your existing project, create a /trigger folder and give you an example task.

   Run this command in the root of your project to get started:

   npm

   npx trigger.dev@latest init
   

   It will do a few things:

   1. Log you into the CLI if you’re not already logged in.
   2. Create a trigger.config.ts file in the root of your project.
   3. Ask where you’d like to create the /trigger directory.
   4. Create the /trigger directory with an example task, /trigger/example.[ts/js].

   Install the “Hello World” example task when prompted. We’ll use this task to test the setup.

2. Run the CLI `dev` command

   The CLI dev command runs a server for your tasks. It watches for changes in your /trigger directory and communicates with the Trigger.dev platform to register your tasks, perform runs, and send data back and forth.

   It can also update your @trigger.dev/* packages to prevent version mismatches and failed deploys. You will always be prompted first.

   npm

   npx trigger.dev@latest dev
   

3. Perform a test run using the dashboard

   The CLI dev command spits out various useful URLs. Right now we want to visit the Test page .

   You should see our Example task in the list , select it. Most tasks have a “payload” which you enter in the JSON editor , but our example task doesn’t need any input.

   Press the “Run test” button .

   

4. View your run

   Congratulations, you should see the run page which will live reload showing you the current state of the run.

   

   If you go back to your terminal you’ll see that the dev command also shows the task status and links to the run log.

   

Useful next steps

Tasks overview

Learn what tasks are and their options

Writing tasks

Learn how to write your own tasks

Deploy using the CLI

Learn how to deploy your task manually using the CLI

Deploy using GitHub actions

Learn how to deploy your task using GitHub actions