Node.js app Upstart Script example

chef.template.erb

# <%= @app_name %>.conf
# This file is generated by Chef for <%= node[:fqdn] %>

description "<%= @app_name %>"

start on filesystem or runlevel [2345]
stop on runlevel [06]
expect fork

respawn
respawn limit 5 30

pre-start script   
    echo "[`date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%T.%3NZ`] (upstart) Starting" >> <%= @logfile %>
end script

pre-stop script
    rm /var/run/<%= @app_name %>.pid
    echo "[`date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%T.%3NZ`] (upstart) Stopping" >> <%= @logfile %>
end script

script
  echo $$ > /var/run/<%= @app_name %>.pid
  chdir <%= @path %>
  exec sudo -u <%= @username %> \
  NODE_ENV=<%= @node_env %> \
  npm start >> <%= @logfile %> 2>&1
end script

my_app.conf

# my_app.conf
# This file is generated by Chef for myapp.example.biz

description "my_app"

start on filesystem or runlevel [2345]
stop on runlevel [06]
expect fork

respawn
respawn limit 5 30

pre-start script   
    echo "[`date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%T.%3NZ`] (upstart) Starting" >> /var/log/my_app.log
end script

pre-stop script
    rm /var/run/my_app.pid
    echo "[`date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%T.%3NZ`] (upstart) Stopping" >> /var/log/my_app.log
end script

script
  echo $$ > /var/run/my_app.pid
  chdir /opt/my_app/1.2.0
  exec sudo -u nodeuser \
  NODE_ENV=production \
  npm start >> /var/log/my_app.log 2>&1

recipe.rb

app_name = node[:myapp][:name]

template "/etc/init/#{app_name}.conf" do
  source "chef.template.erb"
  owner "root"
  group "root"
  mode "0744"
  variables({
    :path     => node[:myapp][:deploy_path],
    :app_name => app_name,
    :node_env => node[:myapp][:node_env],
    :user     => node[:myapp][:user],
    :logfile  => node[:myapp][:logfile]
    })
end