Skip to main content

NodeConnector

Import :​

const NodeConnector = brackets.getModule("NodeConnector")

NodeConnector​

Node Connector Communication Module

This module simplifies communication between Node.js and Phoenix (phcode). A NodeConnector acts as an intermediary, allowing you to execute functions in Node.js from Phoenix and vice versa. You can use the execPeer method to call functions on the other side and handle communication seamlessly. Use triggerPeer to trigger events on the other side.

Setting Up a NodeConnector​

To establish communication between two modules, such as x.js in Phoenix and y.js in Node.js, follow these steps:

Create NodeConnector in Phoenix (x.js)​

Example

const NodeConnector = require('NodeConnector');
const XY_NODE_CONNECTOR_ID = 'ext_x_y'; // Use a unique ID
let nodeConnector = NodeConnector.createNodeConnector(XY_NODE_CONNECTOR_ID, exports);

exports.modifyImage = async function(imageName, imageArrayBuffer) {
  // Perform image operations with the imageArrayBuffer
  // To return an ArrayBuffer, return an object with a `buffer` key.
  return {
    operationDone: 'colored, cropped',
    buffer: imageArrayBuffer,
  };
};

Create NodeConnector in Node.js (y.js)​

Example

const XY_NODE_CONNECTOR_ID = 'ext_x_y'; // Use the same unique ID
let nodeConnector = global.createNodeConnector(XY_NODE_CONNECTOR_ID, exports);

exports.getPWDRelative = async function(subPath) {
  return process.cwd + '/' + subPath;
};

With these steps, a NodeConnector is set up, enabling two-way communication.

Executing Functions​

To call a Node.js function from Phoenix, use the execPeer method. Example

// In `x.js` (Phoenix)
const fullPath = await nodeConnector.execPeer('getPWDRelative', 'sub/path.html');

To execute a Phoenix function from Node.js and transfer binary data, pass an optional ArrayBuffer. Example

// In `y.js` (Node.js)
const { operationDone, buffer } = await nodeConnector.execPeer('modifyImage', {name:'theHills.png'}, imageAsArrayBuffer);

Event Handling​

The NodeConnector object implements all the APIs supported by utils/EventDispatcher. You can trigger and listen to events between Node.js and Phoenix using the triggerPeer and (on, one or off) methods. Example

// In `y.js` (Node.js)
nodeConnector.on('phoenixProjectOpened', (_event, projectPath) => {
  console.log(projectPath);
});

nodeConnector.one('phoenixProjectOpened', (_event, projectPath) => {
  console.log(projectPath + "will be received only once");
});

To raise an event from Phoenix to Node.js: Example

// In `x.js` (Phoenix)
nodeConnector.triggerPeer('phoenixProjectOpened', '/x/project/folder');

To Switch off events Example

nodeConnector.off('phoenixProjectOpened'); // will switch off all event handlers of that name.

By Default, all events handlers with the eventName is removed when you call nodeConnector.off(eventName) fn. To selectively switch off event handlers, please see reference for utils/EventDispatcher module.

Handling ArrayBuffer Data in Function Execution​

When executing functions that send or receive binary data, ensure that the functions are asynchronous and accept an optional ArrayBuffer as a parameter. To return binary data, use an object with a buffer key.

Example of calling a function in Node.js with binary data transfer: Example

// In `y.js` (Node.js)
const { operationDone, buffer } = await nodeConnector.execPeer('modifyImage', {name:'name.png'}, imageArrayBuffer);

Handling ArrayBuffer Data in Event Handling​

Use the triggerPeer method to send binary data in events. Include the ArrayBuffer as an optional parameter.

Example of sending binary data in an event from Phoenix to Node.js: Example

// In `x.js` (Phoenix)
const imageArrayBuffer = getSomeImageArrayBuffer(); // Get the ArrayBuffer
nodeConnector.triggerPeer('imageEdited', 'name.png', imageArrayBuffer);

Caveats​

  • Be cautious when sending large binary data, as it may affect performance and memory usage. Transferring large data is fully supported, but be mindful of performance.
  • Functions called with execPeer and triggerPeer must be asynchronous and accept a single argument. An optional second argument can be used to transfer large binary data as an ArrayBuffer.

For more event handling operations and details, refer to the documentation for the utils/EventDispatcher module.

NodeConnector.createNodeConnector(nodeConnectorID, moduleExports) ⇒ Object​

Creates a new node connector with the specified ID and module exports.

Returns a NodeConnector Object (which is an EventDispatcher with additional execPeer and triggerPeer methods. peer here means, if you are executing execPeer in Phoenix, it will execute the named function in node side, and vice versa. You can right away start using execPeer, triggerPeer(to send/receive events) APIs without waiting to check if the other side nodeConnector is created.

Note: If the NodeConnector has not been created on the other end, requests made with execPeer or triggerPeer will be temporarily queued for up to 10 seconds to allow time for the connector to be created. If the connector is not created within this timeout period, all queued execPeer requests will be rejected, and all queued events will be dropped. It is recommended to call the createNodeConnector API on both ends within a timeframe of less than 10 seconds(ideally same time) for seamless communication.

  • execPeer: A function that executes a peer function with specified parameters.
  • triggerPeer: A function that triggers an event to be sent to a peer.
  • Also contains all the APIs supported by utils/EventDispatcher module.

Kind: inner method of NodeConnector
Returns: Object - - A NodeConnector Object. Also contains all the APIs supported by utils/EventDispatcher module.
Throws:

  • Error - If a node connector with the same ID already exists/invalid args passed.
ParamTypeDescription
nodeConnectorIDstringThe unique identifier for the new node connector.
moduleExportsObjectThe exports of the module that contains the functions to be executed on the other side.

NodeConnector.isNodeAvailable() ⇒ boolean​

Checks if Node.js Engine is available. (returns true even if the node instance is terminated)

Kind: inner method of NodeConnector
Returns: boolean - Returns true if Node.js Engine is available.

NodeConnector.isNodeReady() ⇒ boolean​

Node is available and is ready to exec requests

Kind: inner method of NodeConnector

NodeConnector.terminateNode() ⇒ Promise​

Terminate the PhNodeEngine node if it is available. Else does nothing.

Kind: inner method of NodeConnector
Returns: Promise - promise that resolves when node process is terminated and exits.

NodeConnector.setInspectEnabled(enabled)​

Sets weather to enable node inspector in next boot.

Kind: inner method of NodeConnector

ParamTypeDescription
enabledbooleantrue to enable, else false.

NodeConnector.isInspectEnabled() ⇒ boolean​

Returns whether node inspector is enabled. If node is not present, always returns false.

Kind: inner method of NodeConnector
Returns: boolean - True if inspect mode is enabled, false otherwise.

NodeConnector.getInspectPort() ⇒ number​

Retrieves the node inspector port for the Phoenix Node.js engine.

Kind: inner method of NodeConnector
Returns: number - The inspection port number.