Programmatic SEA blob generation API
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- Dominant language
- JavaScript
- Stars
- 122k
- Forks
- 37.3k
- Avg merge
- 4d 2h
- Merged PRs (30d)
- 283
Description
Currently, CLI commands and many files are involved in generating a SEA using Javascript.
For example:
import { execSync } from 'node:child_process';
import { copyFileSync, readFileSync, writeFileSync } from 'node:fs';
import { inject } from 'postject';
const blobPath = 'path/to/sea.blob',
configPath = 'path/to/sea.json',
outputPath = 'path/to/executable';
writeFileSync(
configPath,
JSON.stringify({
main: 'path/to/main.js',
output: blobPath,
disableExperimentalSEAWarning: true,
})
);
execSync('node --experimental-sea-config ' + configPath, { stdio: 'inherit' });
copyFileSync(process.execPath, outputPath);
await inject(outputPath, 'NODE_SEA_BLOB', readFileSync(blobPath), {
machoSegmentName: 'NODE_SEA',
sentinelFuse: 'NODE_SEA_FUSE_fce680ab2cc467b6e072b8b5df1996b2',
});
It would be nice if Node.js provided a Javascript API for generating SEA blobs. This would eliminate extra file creation and streamline the SEA creation process. I propose adding a function to the node:sea module/API (Typescript used for clarity):
/**
* Configuration options for generating a SEA blob
* @see https://nodejs.org/api/single-executable-applications.html#generating-single-executable-preparation-blobs
*/
interface BlobConfiguration {
main: string;
disableExperimentalSEAWarning?: boolean;
useSnapshot?: boolean;
useCodeCache?: boolean;
assets?: Record<string, string>;
}
/**
* Generates a SEA blob to be injected into an executable
* @param config configuration options for the blob
* @returns The blob contents in a buffer
*/
function generateBlob(config: BlobConfiguration): Buffer;
This new function in the SEA API would allow for more streamlined and readable code:
import { copyFileSync } from 'node:fs';
import { generateBlob } from 'node:sea';
import { inject } from 'postject';
const outputPath = 'path/to/executable';
const blob = generateBlob({
main: 'path/to/main.js',
disableExperimentalSEAWarning: true,
});
copyFileSync(process.execPath, outputPath);
await inject(outputPath, 'NODE_SEA_BLOB', blob, {
machoSegmentName: 'NODE_SEA',
sentinelFuse: 'NODE_SEA_FUSE_fce680ab2cc467b6e072b8b5df1996b2',
});
Which could even be inlined:
import { copyFileSync } from 'node:fs';
import { generateBlob } from 'node:sea';
import { inject } from 'postject';
const outputPath = 'path/to/executable';
copyFileSync(process.execPath, outputPath);
await inject(
outputPath,
'NODE_SEA_BLOB',
generateBlob({
main: 'path/to/main.js',
disableExperimentalSEAWarning: true,
}),
{
machoSegmentName: 'NODE_SEA',
sentinelFuse: 'NODE_SEA_FUSE_fce680ab2cc467b6e072b8b5df1996b2',
}
);
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start with the existing node:sea API and the --experimental-sea-config generation flow described in the issue, then trace how the CLI produces SEA blobs. Done means a JavaScript API can generate equivalent blob contents from the proposed configuration without creating temporary configuration and blob files.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- javascript, node.js
- Domain
- api, tooling
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 5/5
- Estimated time
- Over a week
- Activity status
- Active
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 48/100