---
title: "Configure the Job function"
url: https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/tutorials/newsapp/nodejs/configure-job-function/
description: "Build a web news application that automatically fetches news from a third-party service periodically using the Catalyst Job Scheduling Cron component, and a Job Function and Advanced I/O function coded in Node.js."
last_updated: 2026-08-17T12:16:04Z
service: All Services
type: tutorial
related_links:
  - name: "Job Scheduling"
    url: /en/job-scheduling/getting-started/introduction/
  - name: "Job Functions"
    url: /en/serverless/help/functions/job-functions/
---

# Configure the Job Function

Next, we'll begin coding the news application by configuring the job function component.

The function's directory, in this case `functions/NewsApp`, contains:

* The `index.js` main function file
* The `catalyst-config.json` configuration file
* Node modules
* [`package.json`](https://docs.npmjs.com/files/package.json) and [`package-lock.json`](https://docs.npmjs.com/configuring-npm/package-lock-json.html) dependency files

We will be adding code in the `index.js` file. You will not be modifying the code of the configuration and dependency files.

As mentioned in the [introduction](https://docs.catalyst.zoho.com/en/tutorials/newsapp/nodejs/introduction/), the job function performs two tasks: making the API calls to the [NewsAPI](https://newsapi.org/) to fetch news, populating the news in Catalyst Data Store. The API calls are made using an API key provided by NewsAPI. 

### Register with NewsAPI

Before you code the job function, you must register for a free developer subscription with NewsAPI and obtain the API key in the following way:

1. Visit [https<span></span>://newsapi.org/register](https://newsapi.org/register).

2. Provide the required details and click **Submit**.

![register-api-key](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/cron/register-api-key.webp)

After your registration is complete, NewsAPI will provide you with an API key. You must use this in your cron function, as instructed after the code section.

![api-key](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/cron/api-key.webp)

### Install Packages for Node.js

The Node.js Cron function requires two packages to be installed: [`express`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/express) and [`axios`](https://www.npmjs.com/package/axios).

`express`

We will use the Express framework to manage the routing operations that enable us to fetch and delete files.

To install `express`, navigate to the function's directory (`functions/NewsApp`) in your terminal and execute the following command:

```sh
npm install express
```

This will install the Express module and save the dependencies.

![express](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/cron/express.webp)

`axios`

`axios` is a promise-based HTTP client that we will use to fetch data by executing the NewsAPI.

To install `axios`, navigate to the Node function's directory (`functions/NewsApp`) and execute the following command:

```sh
npm install axios
```

This will install the module.

![axios](https://catalyst-docs-development.zohostratus.in/images/tutorials/cron/axios.webp)

You can copy the code below and paste it in index.js located in the `functions/NewsApp` directory of your project and save the file. You can use any IDE to work with the application's files. 

> **Note**: Please go through the code given in this section to make sure you fully understand it.

**index.js**

```javascript
/**
 * 
 * @param {import("./types/job").JobRequest} jobRequest 
 * @param {import("./types/job").Context} context 
 */
const catalyst = require("zcatalyst-sdk-node");
const axios = require('axios');
const HOST = "https://newsapi.org";
const TABLENAME = [
	"HEADLINES",
	"BUSINESS",
	"ENTERTAINMENT",
	"HEALTH",
	"SCIENCE",
	"SPORTS",
	"TECHNOLOGY",
  ];
  const COUNTRY = "US";
  const APIKEY = "cc30ddcae1684e848f08ed474f6aaf0e";
  const DATASTORE_LOAD = 5;
  const pushNewstoDatastore = async ({ table, rowIds, articles }) => {
	return Promise.all(
	  articles.map(async (article, idx) => {
		const payload = {
		  title: article.title,
		  url: article.url,
		};
		if (rowIds.length === 0) {
		  //insert the new row
		  return table.insertRow(payload);
		}
		return table.updateRow({ &#46;&#46;&#46;payload, ROWID: rowIds[idx] });
	  })
	);
  };
module.exports = async (jobRequest, context) => {
	try{
		console.log('Execution started');
		const catalystApp = catalyst.initialize(context);
		const zcqlAPI = catalystApp.zcql();
		const datastoreAPI = catalystApp.datastore();		
		const metaArr = await Promise.all(
			TABLENAME.map(async (table) => {
			  //construct request path to newsapi
			  let url = `${HOST}/v2/top-headlines?country=${COUNTRY}&apiKey=${APIKEY}`;
			  if (table !== TABLENAME[0]) {
			   url += "&category=" + table;
			  }
			  const response = await axios({
			   method: "GET",
			   url
			 });
		   let data = response.data;	   
			  //query using zcql to check if row exists
			  const queryResult = await zcqlAPI.executeZCQLQuery(
				`SELECT ROWID FROM ${table}`
			  );
			  return {
				table_name: table,
				table: datastoreAPI.table(table),
				zcql_response: queryResult,
				articles: data.articles.splice(0, 15),
			  };
			})
		  );
		  //sync insert/update to datastore
		  for (const meta of metaArr) {
			let rowIds = [];
			while (meta.articles.length > 0) {
			  const chunk = meta.articles.splice(0, DATASTORE_LOAD);
			  if (meta.zcql_response.length > 0) {
				rowIds = meta.zcql_response
				  .splice(0, DATASTORE_LOAD)
				  .map((row) => row[meta.table_name].ROWID);
			  }
			  await pushNewstoDatastore({ ...meta, articles: chunk, rowIds });
			}
			console.log(
			  `${meta.table} table ${
				rowIds.length === 0 ? "inserted" : "updated"
			  } with current news'`
			);
		  }
		context.closeWithSuccess(); //end of application with success
	}catch(err){
		console.log("Error :: "+err);
		context.closeWithFailure(); //end of application with failure
	};
};

```

> **Note**: After you copy and paste this code in your function file, ensure that you replace value of `APIKEY` in the line **19** with the API key you obtained from NewsAPI.

The job function is now configured. We will discuss the application's architecture after we configure the client.