nodejs-golang

Module for running Golang scripts using wasm in Node.js child processes

How It Works

1. During module installation npm i nodejs-golang Go programming language will be downloaded and installed

2. In the root of the projects will be created default go_modules directory

3. In go_modules directory will be created main.go file. Example:

   package main
   
   import (
       "fmt"
   )
   
   func main() {
       fmt.Print("Hello, go 1.16.2")
   }

4. Default main.wasm file will be compiled (also can be found in go_modules directory)

5. You need to put you code into main.go file

6. To rewrite main.wasm with actual info run:

   node ./node_modules/nodejs-golang/build.js

   Recommendation: add watcher on main.go file to rewrite main.wasm on every "save" event

   Also you can run build command in code:

   const { build } = require('nodejs-golang');
   ...
   await build();
   

7. To make result of main.go execution available for Node.js - finish you code with fmt.Print(MY_RESULT) to write it to stdout

8. To get result of main.wasm execution - use run function

   const { run } = require('nodejs-golang');
   ...
   const MY_RESULT = await run();
   

Multiple Golang scripts

Since nodejs-golang version 0.0.4 there is possibility to create, build and run multiple golang scripts in one project

GO_MODULE_NAME is the Node.js environment variable for initialization and building needed script in go_modules directory

1. Module initialization:

   GO_MODULE_NAME=my_go_module node ./node_modules/nodejs-golang/init.js

   Also you can run init command in code:

   const { init } = require('nodejs-golang');
   ...
   await init('my_go_module');
   

2. Directory go_modules/my_go_module will be created

3. In go_modules/my_go_module directory will be created main.go file. Example:

   package main
   
   import (
       "fmt"
   )
   
   func main() {
       fmt.Print("Hello, go 1.16.2")
   }

4. Default main.wasm file will be compiled (also can be found in go_modules/my_go_module directory)

5. You need to put you code into main.go file

6. To rewrite main.wasm with actual info run:

   GO_MODULE_NAME=my_go_module node ./node_modules/nodejs-golang/build.js

   Recommendation: add watcher on main.go files to rewrite main.wasm on every "save" event

   Also you can run build command in code:

   const { build } = require('nodejs-golang');
   ...
   await build('my_go_module');
   

7. To make result of main.go execution available for Node.js - finish you code with fmt.Print(MY_RESULT) to write it to stdout

8. To get result of main.wasm execution - use run function

   const { run } = require('nodejs-golang');
   ...
   const MY_RESULT = await run('my_go_module');
   

Use Golang functions in Node.js

Since nodejs-golang version 0.0.5 there is possibility to use Golang functions in Node.js

Recommendation: because go functions will be set as global better to use specific naming. Example: go_MY_FUNCTION_NAME

1. In main.go file create a function like this (there are some requirements):

   package main
   
   import (
       "syscall/js"
   )
   
   func myFunction(...) interface{} {
       ...
       return js.ValueOf(MY_VALUE)
   }
   
   func main() {
       c := make(chan struct{}, 0)
       js.Global().Set("go_MY_FUNCTION_NAME", js.FuncOf(myFunction))
       <-c
   }
   

   Requirements:

   a) there must be an import of "syscall/js"

   b) "myFunction" must be set to "global" js object with some name (better to keep some naming convention). For example: go_MY_FUNCTION_NAME

   c) use make function to initialize channel

2. "instantiate" method should be run with the name of your module as a parameter while application start (or just before you need to use Golang function)

   const { instantiate } = require('nodejs-golang');
   ...
   await instantiate('my_go_module');
   

3. You can use methods from Golang anywhere in your application

   const MY_VALUE = go_MY_FUNCTION_NAME();
   

Support

Linux only, Node.js 14+, Go 1.16.2