file-box
FileBox is a virtual container for packing a file data into it for future read, and easily transport between servers with the least payload, no mater than where it is (local path, remote url, or cloud storage).
Currently the FileBox supports almost all kinds of the data input/output methods/formats:
File Type | Pack Method | Unpack Method | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Local File | fromFile() |
toFile() |
Local file in file system |
Remote URL | fromUrl() |
toUrl() (TBW) |
Remote file in a HTTP/HTTPS URL |
Buffer | fromBuffer() |
toBuffer() |
JavaScript Buffer |
Stream | fromStream() |
toStream() |
JavaScript Stream |
Base64 | fromBase64() |
toBase64() |
Base64 data |
DataURL | fromDataURL() |
toDataURL() |
DataURL data |
QRCode | fromQRCode() |
toQRCode() |
QR Code Image Decode/Encode |
UUID | fromUuid() |
toUuid() |
UUID by loader/saver helper functions |
JSON | fromJSON() |
toJSON() |
Serialize/Deserialize FileBox |
Examples
The following example demos:
- Save URL to File
- Convert Buffer to Stream
- Pack from Base64 then Unpack to DataURL
import { FileBox } from 'file-box'
/**
* 1. Save URL to File
*/
const fileBox1 = FileBox.fromUrl(
'https://huan.github.io/file-box/images/file-box-logo.jpg',
'logo.jpg',
)
fileBox1.toFile('/tmp/file-box-logo.jpg')
/**
* 2. Convert Buffer to Stream
*/
import fs from 'fs'
const fileBox2 = FileBox.fromBuffer(
Buffer.from('world'),
'hello.txt',
)
const writeStream = fs.createWriteStream('/tmp/hello.txt')
fileBox2.pipe(writeStream)
/**
* 3. Pack Base64, Unpack to DataURL
*/
const fileBox3 = FileBox.fromBase64('d29ybGQK', 'hello.txt')
fileBox3.toDataURL()
.then(console.log)
// Output: data:text/plain;base64,d29ybGQK
Known Issues
- TypeError [ERR_UNESCAPED_CHARACTERS]: Request path contains unescaped characters #56
API Reference
1. Load File in to Box
fromFile(filePath: string): FileBox
1.1 Alias: fromLocal()
const fileBox = FileBox.fromLocal('/tmp/test.txt')
fromUrl(url: string, name?: string, headers?: http.OutgoingHttpHeaders): FileBox
1.2 Alias: fromRemote()
const fileBox = FileBox.fromUrl(
'https://huan.github.io/file-box/images/file-box-logo.jpg',
'logo.jpg',
)
fromStream(stream: Readable, name: string): FileBox
1.3 const fileBox = FileBox.fromStream(res, '/tmp/download.zip')
fromBuffer(buffer: Buffer, name: string): FileBox
1.4 const fileBox = FileBox.fromBuffer(buf, '/tmp/download.zip')
FileBox.fromBase64(base64: string, name: string): FileBox
1.5 Decoded a base64 encoded file data.
const fileBox = FileBox.fromBase64('d29ybGQK', 'hello.txt')
fileBox.toFile()
FileBox.fromDataURL(dataUrl: string, name: string): FileBox
1.6 Decoded a DataURL data.
const fileBox = FileBox.fromDataURL('data:text/plain;base64,d29ybGQK', 'hello.txt')
fileBox.toFile()
FileBox.fromJSON()
1.7 Restore a FileBox.toJSON()
text string back to a FileBox instance.
const restoredFileBox = FileBox.fromJSON(jsonText)
FileBox.fromQRCode(qrCodeValue: string)
1.8 Get a FileBox instance that represent a QR Code value.
const fileBox = FileBox.fromQRCode('https://github.com')
fileBox.toFile('qrcode.png')
FileBox.fromUuid(uuid: string)
1.9 Load a FileBox from a UUID.
See: FileBox.setUuidLoader()
2. Get File out from Box
toFile(name?: string): Promise<void>
2.1 Save file to current work path(cwd) of the local file system with the default name
.
if name
specified with a full path, then will use the speficied file name instead.
const fileBox = FileBox.fromRemote(
'https://huan.github.io/file-box/images/file-box-logo.jpg',
)
await fileBox.toFile('/tmp/logo.jpg')
toStream(): Readable
2.2 Get the stream of file data.
const fileBox = FileBox.fromRemote(
'https://huan.github.io/file-box/images/file-box-logo.jpg',
)
const readableStream = fileBox.toStream()
pipe(destination: Writable): Promise<void>
2.3 Pipe to a writable stream.
const fileBox = FileBox.fromRemote(
'https://huan.github.io/file-box/images/file-box-logo.jpg',
)
const writableStream = fs.createWritable('/tmp/logo.jpg')
fileBox.pipe(writableStream)
toBase64(): Promise<string>
2.4 Get the base64 data of file.
const fileBox = FileBox.fromRemote(
'https://huan.github.io/file-box/images/file-box-logo.jpg',
)
const base64Text = await fileBox.toBase64()
console.log(base64Text) // Output: the base64 encoded data of the file
toJSON(): string
2.5 Get the JSON.stringify
-ed text.
Not Implement Yet: Working In Progress...
const fileBox = FileBox.fromRemote(
'https://huan.github.io/file-box/images/file-box-logo.jpg',
)
const jsonText1 = fileBox.toJSON()
const jsonText2 = JSON.stringify(fileBox)
assert(jsonText1 === jsonText2)
console.log(jsonText1) // Output: the stringified data of the fileBox
const restoredFileBox = fileBox.fromJSON(jsonText1)
restoredFileBox.toFile('/tmp/file-box-logo.jpg')
toDataURL(): Promise<string>
2.6 Get the DataURL of the file.
const fileBox = FileBox.fromFile('tests/fixtures/hello.txt')
const dataUrl = await fileBox.toDataURL()
console.log(dataUrl) // Output: data:text/plain;base64,d29ybGQK'
toBuffer(): Promise<Buffer>
2.7 Get the Buffer of the file.
const fileBox = FileBox.fromFile('tests/fixtures/hello.txt')
const buffer = await fileBox.toBuffer()
console.log(buffer.toString()) // Output: world
toQRCode(): Promise<string>
2.8 Decode the QR Code value from the file.
const fileBox = FileBox.fromFile('qrcode.jpg')
const qrCodeValue = await fileBox.toQRCode()
console.log(`QR Code decoded value is: "${qrCodeValue}"`)
// Output: QR Code decoded value is: "https://github.com"
toUuid(): Promise<string>
2.9 Save the FileBox to a UUID file and return the UUID.
See: FileBox.setUuidSaver()
toJSON(): string
2.10 Encode a FileBox instance to JSON string so that we can transfer the FileBox on the wire.
const fileBox = FileBox.fromBase64('RmlsZUJveEJhc2U2NAo=')
const jsonText = JSON.stringify(fileBox)
// the above code equals to the following line of code:
// const jsonText = fileBox.toJSON()
// we will get the serialized data for this FileBox:
console.log(jsonText)
// Output: {"name":"qrcode.png","metadata":{},"boxType":1,"base64":"RmlsZUJveEJhc2U2NAo="}
// restore our fleBox:
// const newFileBox = FileBox.fromJSON(jsonText)
Limitation
Because we want to enable the JSON.stringify(fileBox)
, which will call fileBox.toJSON()
, so the toJSON()
can not be async
, which means we can only support limited FileBoxType(s):
- FileBoxType.Base64
- FileBoxType.Url
- FileBoxType.QRCode
For other types like FileBoxType.File
, FileBoxType.Buffer
, FileBoxType.Stream
, etc, we need to transform them to FileBoxType.Base64
before we call toJSON
:
const fileBoxLazy = FileBox.fromFile('./test.txt')
const base64 = await fileBoxLazy.toBase64()
const fileBox = FileBox.fromBase64(base64, 'test.txt')
// fileBox will be serializable because it do not need async operations
const jsonText = JSON.stringify(fileBox)
console.log(jsonText)
3. Misc
name
3.1 File name of the file in the box
const fileBox = FileBox.fromRemote(
'https://huan.github.io/file-box/images/file-box-logo.jpg',
)
console.log(fileBox.name) // Output: file-box-logo.jpg
metadata: Metadata { [key: string]: any }
3.2 Metadata for the file in the box. This value can only be assigned once, and will be immutable afterwards, all following assign or modify actions on metadata
will throw errors
const fileBox = FileBox.fromRemote(
'https://huan.github.io/file-box/images/file-box-logo.jpg',
)
fileBox.metadata = {
author : 'huan',
githubRepo : 'https://github.com/huan/file-box',
}
console.log(fileBox.metadata) // Output: { author: 'huan', githubRepo: 'https://github.com/huan/file-box' }
fileBox.metadata.author = 'Tank' // Will throw exception
version(): string
3.3 Version of the FileBox
toJSON(): string
3.4 Serialize FileBox metadata to JSON.
ready(): Promise<void>
3.5 Update the necessary internal data and make everything ready for use.
syncRemoteName(): Promise<void>
3.6 Sync the filename with the HTTP Response Header
HTTP Header Example:
Content-Disposition: attachment; filename="filename.ext"
type: FileBoxType
3.7 Return the type of the current FileBox instance.
The currently supported types are defined at file-box-type.ts as the following demonstrated:
enum FileBoxType {
Unknown = 0,
Base64 = 1,
Url = 2,
QRCode = 3,
Buffer = 4,
File = 5,
Stream = 6,
Uuid = 7,
}
FileBox.setUuidLoader(loader: UuidLoader): void
3.8 Required by static method FileBox.fromUuid()
class FileBoxUuid extends FileBox {}
const loader: UuidLoader = async (uuid: string) => {
const stream = new PassThrough()
stream.end('hello, world!')
return stream
})
FileBoxUuid.setUuidLoader(loader)
const fileBox = FileBoxUuid.fromUuid('12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789012', 'test.txt')
await fileBox.toFile('test.txt')
The UuidLoader
is a function that takes a UUID and return a readable stream.
type UuidLoader = (this: FileBox, uuid: string) => Readable
FileBox.setUuidSaver(saver: UuidSaver): void
3.9 Required by instance method fileBox.toUuid()
class FileBoxUuid extends FileBox {}
const saver: UuidSaver = async (stream: Readable) => {
// save the stream and get uuid
return '12345678-1234-1234-1234-123456789012'
})
FileBoxUuid.setUuidSaver(saver)
const fileBox = FileBoxUuid.fromFile('test.txt')
const uuid = await fileBox.toUuid()
The UuidSaver
is a function that takes a readable stream and return a UUID promise.
type UuidSaver = (this: FileBox, stream: Readable) => Promise<string>
size
3.10 The file box size in bytes. (-1
means unknown)
It is not the size of the target (boxed) file itself.
For example:
const fileBox = FileBox.fromUrl('http://example.com/image.png')
console.log(fileBox.size)
// > 20 <- this is the length of the URL string
remoteSize
3.11 The remote file size in bytes. (-1
or undefined
means unknown)
For example:
const fileBox = FileBox.fromUrl('http://example.com/image.png')
await fileBox.ready()
console.log(fileBox.remoteSize)
// > 102400 <- this is the size of the remote image.png
Features
- Present A File by Abstracting It's Meta Information that supports Reading & toJSON() API.
- Follow DOM File/BLOB Interface
- Present a file that could be: Local, Remote, Stream
- Lazy load
- Serializable
- Can be Transfered from server to server, server to browser.
SCHEMAS
Url
Node.js Documentation > URL Strings and URL Objects
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ href │
├──────────┬──┬─────────────────────┬─────────────────────┬───────────────────────────┬───────┤
│ protocol │ │ auth │ host │ path │ hash │
│ │ │ ├──────────────┬──────┼──────────┬────────────────┤ │
│ │ │ │ hostname │ port │ pathname │ search │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ ├─┬──────────────┤ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │ query │ │
" https: // user : pass @ sub.host.com : 8080 /p/a/t/h ? query=string #hash "
│ │ │ │ │ hostname │ port │ │ │ │
│ │ │ │ ├──────────────┴──────┤ │ │ │
│ protocol │ │ username │ password │ host │ │ │ │
├──────────┴──┼──────────┴──────────┼─────────────────────┤ │ │ │
│ origin │ │ origin │ pathname │ search │ hash │
├─────────────┴─────────────────────┴─────────────────────┴──────────┴────────────────┴───────┤
│ href │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Path
Node.js Documentation > path.parse(path)
┌─────────────────────┬────────────┐
│ dir │ base │
├──────┬ ├──────┬─────┤
│ root │ │ name │ ext │
" / home/user/dir / file .txt "
└──────┴──────────────┴──────┴─────┘
History
main v1.4 (Nov 14, 2021)
-
fileBox.size
will be serialized to/from JSON, and present theContent-Length
of the file. (-1
means unknown) -
mimeType
has been renamed tomediaType
, and added to theFileBoxInterface
v1.0 (Oct 20, 2021)
- Suppert ES Module. (#54)
- Add UUID boxType support:
FileBox.fromUuid()
andFileBox.toUuid()
- Add
size
property to return the size of the file. (-1
means unknown) - Add
remoteSize
property to present the remote size of the file (if applicable,-1
means unknown) - Add
UniformResourceNameRegistry
class for providing a production-ready basic UUID management tool. - Add
FileBoxInterface
,FileBox.isInstance()
, andFileBox.isInterface()
Breaking changes:
-
toJSON
format renamedboxType
totype
-
type()
has been changed totype
-
version()
has been changed toversion
v0.16 master
- Throw error when consume a stream twice to prevent data lost. (#50)
v0.14 (Oct 2020)
- Add
fileBox.type()
to return theFileBoxType
of a FileBox. (wechaty/wechaty#1918) - Change
Readable
tostream.Readable
for better compatibility. (Jun 27, 2020) - Add
chunkerTransformStream
totoStream
(#44)
v0.12 (Feb 2020)
Add support to JSON.stringify()
(#25):
-
FileBox.fromJSON()
- Static method for deserialization -
fileBox.toJSON()
- Instance method for serialization
v0.10 (Jan 2020)
- Add support to QR Code:
FileBox.fromQRCode()
andFileBox.toQRCode()
- Start using @chatie/tsconfig
v0.8 (Jun 2018)
- Add two new factory methods:
fromBase64()
,fromDataURL()
- Add
toBuffer()
,toBase64()
andtoDataURL()
to get the Buffer and BASE64 encoded file data - Add
metadata
property to store additional information. (#3)
v0.4 (May 2018)
- Add
headers
option forfromRemote()
method
v0.2 (Apr 2018)
Initial version.
See Also
- File API - W3C Working Draft, 26 October 2017
- MIME Sniffing - Living Standard — Last Updated 20 April 2018
- Using files from web applications
- Web technology for developers > Web APIs > File
- Web technology for developers > Web APIs > Blob
- Web technology for developers > Web APIs > FileReader
- A simple HTTP Request & Response Service.
- Hurl.it — Make HTTP Requests
Thanks
This module is inspired by https://github.com/gulpjs/vinyl and https://github.com/DefinitelyTyped/DefinitelyTyped/pull/12368 when I need a virtual File module for my Chatie project.
Author
Huan LI (李卓桓), Microsoft AI MVP, zixia@zixia.net
Copyright & License
- Docs released under Creative Commons
- Code released under the Apache-2.0 License
- Code & Docs © 2018 Huan LI <zixia@zixia.net>