Electron, Angular2, and the File System module

Question

Electron, Angular2, and the File System module

As someone who is unfamiliar with Angular and Javascript, I am attempting to create a TypeScript Angular2-Electron application that requires access to the file system. Most advice I receive suggests simply requiring the "fs" module, but this approach is not working for me.

When I try using var fs = require('fs');, my app attempts to load the "fs" module from the root folder of my application resulting in an error message: ..myapp/dist/fs net::ERR_FILE_NOT_FOUND

All my other external modules are properly referenced in the index.html:

    <!-- build:js app/scripts/combined.js -->
    <script src="../node_modules/jquery/dist/jquery.js"></script>
    <script src="../node_modules/angular2/bundles/angular2-polyfills.js"></script>
    <script src="../node_modules/systemjs/dist/system.js"></script>
    <script src="../node_modules/angular2/bundles/angular2.dev.js"></script>
    <script src="../node_modules/angular2/bundles/http.js"></script>
    <script src="../node_modules/angular2/bundles/router.js"></script>
    <script src="../node_modules/rxjs/bundles/Rx.js"></script>
    <script src="../node_modules/bootstrap/dist/js/bootstrap.js"></script>
    <script src="../node_modules/pdfjs-dist/build/pdf.combined.js"></script>
    <script src="boot.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
    <!-- endbuild -->

I suspect that while these modules can be found, "fs" belongs to node.js which is integrated with electron. Could there be a mistake in my understanding?

Thank you,
Chris

typescript angular electron

Answer 1

Answer №1

It appears that the issue lies in my Angular Application where I am using SystemJS. SystemJS is attempting to load modules from within my own application.

To address this, I have included the following code in my index.html file which has resolved the issue:


    <script>
    if (require) {
        window.$ = window.jQuery = require('./app/assets/js/jquery.min.js');
        window.fs = require('fs');
        window.path = require('path');
    }
</script>

Answer 2

It appears that the issue lies in my Angular Application where I am using SystemJS. SystemJS is attempting to load modules from within my own application.

To address this, I have included the following code in my index.html file which has resolved the issue:


    <script>
    if (require) {
        window.$ = window.jQuery = require('./app/assets/js/jquery.min.js');
        window.fs = require('fs');
        window.path = require('path');
    }
</script>

Answer 3

Answer №2

Managing a github project that goes beyond just Angular 2 and electron, also incorporating native libraries has presented various challenges similar to those you are facing, especially when it comes to accessing node.js modules within an electron application.
Perhaps leveraging this existing project as a foundation would be more beneficial than starting from scratch.

In regards to your specific issue, consider utilizing System._nodeRequire('fs') instead of require('fs') due to the unique lookup mechanism of SystemJS compared to that of node.

Answer 4

Managing a github project that goes beyond just Angular 2 and electron, also incorporating native libraries has presented various challenges similar to those you are facing, especially when it comes to accessing node.js modules within an electron application.
Perhaps leveraging this existing project as a foundation would be more beneficial than starting from scratch.

In regards to your specific issue, consider utilizing System._nodeRequire('fs') instead of require('fs') due to the unique lookup mechanism of SystemJS compared to that of node.

Answer 5

Answer №3

Referencing meltedspark's insightful response to a related inquiry:

System.js takes precedence over Node.js's require function and implements its own resolution process.

Here is my approach to resolving this issue:

Establish re-exports for each Node.js module you wish to utilize:

// scripts/node-re-exports/fs.ts
declare const System: any;
const fs = System._nodeRequire('fs');
export = fs;

// scripts/node-re-exports/electron.ts
declare const System: any;
const electron = System._nodeRequire('electron');
export = electron;

Instruct systemjs.config.js on where to locate these re-exports.

map: {
  ...

  // Re-exports of Node.js modules.
  fs: 'compiled/node-re-exports/fs.js',
  electron: 'compiled/node-re-exports/electron.js'
}

Import these modules into your Angular2 components as usual:

import { Component } from '@angular/core';
import { clipboard } from 'electron';
import { existsSync } from 'fs';

@Component({
  selector: 'my-app',
  template: `<h1>Hello {{name}}</h1>`,
})
export class AppComponent {
  name = 'Angular';

  constructor() {
      const text = existsSync("c:\\boot.txt") ? "exists" : "does not exist";
      clipboard.write({ text: text });
  };
}

Answer 6

Referencing meltedspark's insightful response to a related inquiry:

System.js takes precedence over Node.js's require function and implements its own resolution process.

Here is my approach to resolving this issue:

Establish re-exports for each Node.js module you wish to utilize:

// scripts/node-re-exports/fs.ts
declare const System: any;
const fs = System._nodeRequire('fs');
export = fs;

// scripts/node-re-exports/electron.ts
declare const System: any;
const electron = System._nodeRequire('electron');
export = electron;

Instruct systemjs.config.js on where to locate these re-exports.

map: {
  ...

  // Re-exports of Node.js modules.
  fs: 'compiled/node-re-exports/fs.js',
  electron: 'compiled/node-re-exports/electron.js'
}

Import these modules into your Angular2 components as usual:

import { Component } from '@angular/core';
import { clipboard } from 'electron';
import { existsSync } from 'fs';

@Component({
  selector: 'my-app',
  template: `<h1>Hello {{name}}</h1>`,
})
export class AppComponent {
  name = 'Angular';

  constructor() {
      const text = existsSync("c:\\boot.txt") ? "exists" : "does not exist";
      clipboard.write({ text: text });
  };
}

Answer 7

Answer №4

To fully address the issue, include "fs" : "@node/fs" in the map section of your systemjs configuration. This will enable you to import native node modules seamlessly:

import {existsSync} from 'fs';

Answer 8

To fully address the issue, include "fs" : "@node/fs" in the map section of your systemjs configuration. This will enable you to import native node modules seamlessly:

import {existsSync} from 'fs';

Electron, Angular2, and the File System module

Answer №1

Answer №2

Answer №3

Answer №4

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