Node.js as a running service is becoming more and more popular these days. One of the issues many developers face is how to ensure their node.js service starts automatically, and more importantly how to keep it running should it crash. Previously one had to install modules such as forever, and then create some autostart script to start the daemon when the server booted.

Most Linux systems have recently switched to using systemd, which makes this process a lot simpler and more efficient, and means that we do not need forever any more.