Node.js in Practice: Using Robust FS

Preface

The fs module is the most common module in Node.js,

but using fs often comes with various unexpected pitfalls.

High-Performance FS

One issue is not using high-performance fs,

which causes lag in Electron applications.

The fs module has 3 ways to use it:

Callback Approach

1. Writing leads to callback hell

2. Embodies Node.js event-driven, non-blocking IO

3. Best performance

Promise Approach

1. Writing requires async / await

2. Also embodies event-driven, non-blocking IO

3. Performance is very close to callback, with slight overhead

Sync Approach

1. Simplest to write, no async / await needed

2. Blocking usage

3. Very poor performance, use with caution

Therefore, high-performance FS recommends using the promise approach.

See: https://blog.insistime.com/nodejs-fs

mkdir

The mkdir method is used to create directories. Code:

const { mkdir } = require("node:fs/promises");

async function test() {
  const dir = "./1/2";
  const res = await mkdir(dir);
  console.log(res);
}
test();

But this will throw an error, as shown below,

because directory 1 does not exist, so directory 2 cannot be created.

Solution: Add the recursive property

The recursive property can recursively create non-existent directories.

const { mkdir } = require("node:fs/promises");

async function test() {
  const dir = "./1/2";
  const res = await mkdir(dir, { recursive: true });
  console.log(res);
}
test();

copyFile

The copyFile method is used to copy files. Code:

const { copyFile } = require("node:fs/promises");

async function test() {
  await copyFile("mkdir.js", "./3/4/mkdir.js");
}
test();

This will also throw an error, as shown below,

because directories 3 and 4 do not exist.

Solution: Create the target directory before copying

// path
const path = require("node:path");

// fs
const { mkdir, copyFile } = require("node:fs/promises");

async function test() {
  const src = "mkdir.js";
  const dest = "./3/4/mkdir.js";

  await mkdir(path.dirname(dest), { recursive: true });
  await copyFile("mkdir.js", "./3/4/mkdir.js");
}
test();

cp

The cp method is used to copy directories. Code:

const { cp } = require("node:fs/promises");

async function test() {
  const src = "./3/4";
  const dest = "./33/44";
  await cp(src, dest);
}
test();

This also throws an error, as shown below,

because src is a directory.

Solution: Use the recursive property

Similar to mkdir, just use the recursive property.

const { cp } = require("node:fs/promises");

async function test() {
  const src = "./3/4";
  const dest = "./33/44";
  await cp(src, dest, { recursive: true });
}
test();

rm

The rm method is used to delete files or directories. Code:

const { rm } = require("node:fs/promises");

async function test() {
  const src = "/not/exists/";
  await rm(src);
}
test();

Using it directly will throw an error, as shown below:

Solution: Check if the path exists before deleting

const { access, rm } = require("node:fs/promises");

async function test() {
  const src = "/not/exists/";
  if (!(await isExists(src))) {
    console.log(`${src} not exists`);
    return;
  }

  await rm(src);
}
test();

async function isExists(path) {
  try {
    await access(path);
    return true;
  } catch (error) {
    return false;
  }
}

If the target to delete is a directory, it will still fail.

Solution: Use the recursive property

const { access, rm } = require("node:fs/promises");

async function test() {
  const src = "./33/44";
  if (!(await isExists(src))) {
    console.log(`${src} not exists`);
    return;
  }

  await rm(src, { recursive: true });
}
test();

async function isExists(path) {
  try {
    await access(path);
    return true;
  } catch (error) {
    return false;
  }
}

rename

The rename method is used to rename paths. Code:

const { rename } = require("node:fs/promises");

async function test() {
  const src = "./3/4";
  const dest = "./333/333";
  await rename(src, dest);
}
test();

This also throws an error, as shown below:

Solution: Check if src exists and create dest’s parent directory

const { access, mkdir, rename } = require("node:fs/promises");

async function test() {
  const src = "./3";
  const dest = "./333/333";

  if (!(await isExists(src))) {
    console.log(`${src} not exists`);
    return;
  }

  await mkdir(dest, { recursive: true });
  await rename(src, dest);
}
test();

async function isExists(path) {
  try {
    await access(path);
    return true;
  } catch (error) {
    return false;
  }
}

fs-extra

To summarize, there are several categories of issues:

1. Operations require recursion

For example, mkdir for /3/4/5

2. Operations require checking if the path exists

For example, rm on /not/exists

3. Operations require checking if it’s a file or directory

In practice, there are far more exceptions than these.

Here is a recommended npm package: https://www.npmjs.com/package/fs-extra

Simply put, it is a superset of fs.

It supports fs methods,

and also wraps some commonly used methods,

including the robustness improvements mentioned above.

Common fs-extra methods: