Upstart node.js working directory

Question

Starting Node.js with Upstart, when trying to access files within Node.js it cannot access them without using the full path. I need it to use the working directory.

start on startup
stop on shutdown

script
        echo $$ > /var/run/mynodeapp.pid
        exec sudo -u mynodeapp node server.js >> /var/log/mynodeapp.sys.log 2>&1
end script

pre-start script
        echo "Starting" >> /var/log/mynodeapp.sys.log
end script

pre-stop script
        rm /var/run/mynodeapp.pid
        echo "Stopping" >> /var/log/mynodeapp.sys.log
end script

Answer 1

The solution is to change directory within the script. In my case, the user is mynodeapp and the node files are in the users directory (/home/mynodeapp/).

script
        chdir /home/mynodeapp/
        echo $$ > /var/run/mynodeapp.pid
        exec sudo -u mynodeapp node server.js >> /var/log/mynodeapp.sys.log 2>&1
end script

I have yet to find out what $$ means on the echo line or 2>&1. Maybe somebody could chime in with this if they know!

Answer 2

You should use the chdir stanza as per the Upstart docs: http://upstart.ubuntu.com/cookbook/#chdir