Build a Full-Stack Video Streaming App with NestJS & React

Building a full-stack video streaming application using NestJS and React is a rewarding project that enables web developers to harness the power of two robust technologies. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting, this guide will walk you through creating a seamless video streaming experience. We'll cover everything from setting up your development environment to deploying your application.

Prerequisiteslink

Before diving into the development process, ensure you have the following:

• Node.js installed on your machine. You can download it from Node.js.
• Basic understanding of JavaScript, TypeScript, React, and NestJS.
• MongoDB Atlas account for database management. Sign up at MongoDB Atlas.

Setting Up Your Development Environmentlink

Step 1: Initialize Your Project

Start by creating a new directory for your application. Inside this directory, initialize a new NestJS project:

mkdir video-streaming-app
cd video-streaming-app
nest new backend

Set up a new React project:

npx create-react-app frontend
cd frontend
npm install axios react-router-dom

Step 2: Set Up Backend with NestJS

NestJS is a progressive Node.js framework that's great for building efficient and scalable server-side applications. We'll use NestJS as our backend framework to handle video uploads and metadata.

1. Install Dependencies: Inside the backend directory, install the required dependencies:

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   npm install mongoose multer
   

   • Mongoose for handling MongoDB operations.
   • Multer for managing file uploads.

2. Configure MongoDB: Connect your backend to MongoDB Atlas. In src/app.module.ts, replace the MongoDB URI with your connection string.

3. Create File Upload Service: Create a service to handle video uploads, using Multer middleware for parsing multipart/form-data.

4. Generate a Video Module: Use Nest CLI to create a new module for videos:

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   nest generate module videos
   nest generate service videos
   nest generate controller videos
   

Step 3: Build Frontend with React

React will serve as the frontend framework, responsible for the user interface and experience. We'll handle client-side routing and HTTP requests.

1. Set Up Routing: Use react-router-dom to handle navigation between components like video upload and video player.

2. Creating Components: Develop components such as UploadVideo, VideoPlayer, and VideoList to enable uploading, playing, and listing of videos.

3. API Integration: Utilize axios for making HTTP requests to the NestJS backend.

Step 4: Implementing Core Features

Video Upload

• Backend: Use Multer in the NestJS app to handle file streams.

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  @Post('upload')
  @UseInterceptors(
    FileInterceptor('file', {
      storage: diskStorage({
        destination: './uploads',
        filename: (req, file, cb) => {
          const uniqueSuffix = Date.now() + '-' + Math.round(Math.random() * 1E9);
          cb(null, file.fieldname + '-' + uniqueSuffix);
        }
      })
    })
  )
  uploadFile(@UploadedFile() file: Express.Multer.File) {
    console.log(file);
  }
  

Video Streaming

• Backend: Implement video streaming using HTTP Range requests.

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  @Get('stream/:id')
  streamVideo(@Param('id') id: string, @Res() res: Response) {
    const videoPath = path.resolve(__dirname, '..', 'uploads', `${id}.mp4`);
    const videoSize = fs.statSync(videoPath).size;
  
    const headers = {
      'Content-Range': `bytes 0-${videoSize}/${videoSize}`,
      'Accept-Ranges': 'bytes',
      'Content-Length': videoSize,
      'Content-Type': 'video/mp4',
    };
  
    res.writeHead(206, headers);
    const videoStream = fs.createReadStream(videoPath);
    videoStream.pipe(res);
  }
  

• Frontend: Use the <video> HTML element to stream the video content.

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  <video src={`http://localhost:3000/videos/stream/${videoId}`} controls />
  

Deployment and Scalabilitylink

Deploy your application using services like Heroku or Vercel for the frontend and AWS or DigitalOcean for the backend. Refer to their documentation for guidelines regarding hosting and scaling your applications.

Enhancing Your Applicationlink

Consider incorporating features such as user authentication, a commenting system, and recommendations based on user preferences. Integrate a front-end framework like Material-UI or TailwindCSS for an improved UI.

For more detailed information about NestJS and React, you may refer to the NestJS Documentation and React Documentation.

By following this guide, you've created a foundation for a full-stack video streaming application using NestJS and React. Keep exploring, improving your application, and pushing the boundaries of web development with innovative technologies.