How to Integrate your Node.js application into a single executable?

Introduction

We all know that Node.js is the ideal choice for app development. After all, Node.js applications are efficient and robust.

However, as every good thing comes with a challenge, so does this. The problem with Node.js is that it requires a runtime environment on the target machine. And this is the most significant deployment barrier. If you do not have administrator privileges or are running on a limited-resource machine, you might face this problem.

Executable files, commonly known as exe files, are crucial in different operating systems, especially Windows. They allow software to run without needing a runtime environment. If you face problems while running or testing your Node.js project or js project in different versions and operating systems, where do you have to install all npm packages every time?

YES! Then the pkg npm package helps you to create a single executable file (.exe file) to run your Node.js project efficiently at any time, anywhere.

You can use this command-line interface to package your Node.js project into an executable that can be launched on devices that don’t have Node installed.

Moreover, you can directly approach the Trusted Node.js Development Partner. But before that, read this blog!

Prerequisites To Integrate Your Node.Js Application Into A Single Executable

One needs to keep some prerequisites in mind when working with it. These are as follows:

• JavaScript coding skills are a must to know.
• Make sure Node.js is installed on your system.
• Check out whether your system has an IDE or not.
• You also need to Check out the stable internet connection availability.
• Check out whether the packages are sufficient to accomplish the goal.
• The primary development skill required.
• A configuration file such as ‘sea-config.json’ for generating single executable preparation blobs.

Usage of Pkg npm:

There are some uses of the Npm package; follow; follow the Guide to npm for use:

• Create a commercial version of your software without the source code.
• Without installing the updated Node.js version, you can test your app.
• Make a source-free demo/evaluation/trial version of your app.
• Create executables for additional platforms in a matter of seconds (cross-compilation)
• Create a self-extracting archive or installation of some sort.
• You don’t need to install Node.js or npm to launch the packed application.
• And also, You don’t need to download hundreds of files to deploy your application using npm install. It should be deployed as a single file.
• To make it even more portable, include your assets inside the executable.

Steps To Integrate Your Node.Js Application Into A Single Executable

See these steps and understand how to Create And Deploy NPM.

The goal of these steps is to create a final executable that can be run on any target machine. This process is particularly useful for a Node.js project, as it allows you to package the application into a single executable file that can be run without needing Node installed or installing npm packages every time the project is executed.

Step: 1

Open your nodeJs project.

Step: 2

Install the pkg npm package globally using the below command.

npm install -g pkg

Step: 3

During the packaging process, pkg parses your sources, detects required calls, traverses your project’s dependencies, and includes them in the executable. In most cases, no manual configuration is required. However, your code may require(variable) calls (also known as a non-literal argument to need) or use non-javascript files (for example, views, CSS, images, etc.).

Configure app.js file

• app.set(‘views’, path.join(__dirname, ‘views’));
• Give path to Env
  • require(“dotenv”).config({ path: path.join(__dirname, ‘../.env’) });

Step: 4

pkg does not handle such cases. As a result, you must manually specify the files – scripts and assets – in your package.json.

"pkg": {
        "assets": [
        "views/**/*",
        "public/**/*",
        ".env"
        ]
      }

Step: 6

Execute the pkg build for multiple platforms. The executable will be created in the dist directory.

Targets

pkg can create executables for multiple target machines at the same time. The –targets option allows you to specify a comma-separated list of targets. A canonical target is made up of three elements separated by dashes, such as node6-macOS-x64 or node4-Linux-armv6:

• nodeRange node${n} or latest
• platform FreeBSD, Linux, alpine, macOS, windows
• arch x64, x86, armv6, armv7

You are free to leave out any component (and specify just node6 for example). The elements that are missing will be taken from the current platform or system-wide Node.js installation (its version and arch).

Create your executable file with the below command:

pkg. –targets node14-win

Output:

You can see the .exe file in your project folder:

Step: 7

Run your .exe file to start your project.

Debug:

To obtain a log of the packaging process, use –debug with pkg. Check the log if you are having trouble with a specific file (it doesn’t appear to be an executable).

In conclusion:

In conclusion, this was all about integrating your node.js application into a single executable. People need to pay attention to all the steps that are important to follow.

If you find yourself stuck at any point, we can help you. Our developers at Bigscal Make sure that your task will be done successfully. So, if anything troubles you, you can connect with us directly!

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