Link Executable to .bin

Helps creating a symbolic link to a (binary) executable in .bin during a package postinstall phase.

Works well with grab-github-release, if you want to download a binary executable from a GitHub release.

Synopsis

A script to install to .bin by an entry in bin in package.json:

#!/usr/bin/env node

import { runAndReplaceLink, reportError } from 'link-bin-executable'

try {
  await runAndReplaceLink({ name: 'myexecutable' })
} catch (err) {
  reportError(err)
}

A script to install to .bin by an entry in scripts.postinstall in package.json:

import { installLink, reportError } from 'link-bin-executable'

try {
  await installLink({ name: 'myexecutable' })
} catch (err) {
  reportError(err)
}

Installation

This package is usually installed as a local dependency:

$ npm i link-bin-executable

Make sure, that you use Node.js version 18 or newer.

API

interface InstallLinkOptions {
  // primary name of the symbolic link to create and default executable name
  name?: string
  // names of the symbolic links to create; if not specified, `name` will be
  // created, otherwise only the specified names will be created
  linkNames?: string[]
  // package directory where the postinstall script runs
  packageDirectory: string
  // path to the executable to create the link to; if not specified, the file
  // named by `name` will be looked up in the package directory
  executable?: string
  // log debug messages on the standard output instead of being enabled
  // by the DEBUG environment variable and log on the standard error
  verbose?: boolean
}

// creates a symbolic link in the `.bin` directory to the executable available
// usually in the package directory
 *
// @param options see properties of `GrabOptions` for more information
export function installLink(options: InstallLinkOptions): Promise<void>

interface RunAndReplaceLinkOptions {
  // primary name of the symbolic link to replace and default executable name
  name?: string
  // names of the symbolic links to replace; if not specified, `name` will be
  // replaced, otherwise only the specified names will be replaced
  linkNames?: string[]
  // bin directory where the javascript stub runs
  scriptDirectory: string
  // path to the executable to create the link to; if not specified, the file
  // named by `name` will be looked up in the package directory
  executable?: string
  // log debug messages on the standard output instead of being enabled
  // by the DEBUG environment variable and log on the standard error
  verbose?: boolean
}

// replaces the just executed symbolic link to a javascript stub in the `.bin`
// directory by a link to the executable available usually in the package
// directory and delegates the process to the executable with the same arguments
 *
// @param options see properties of `GrabOptions` for more information
export function runAndReplaceLink(options: RunAndReplaceLinkOptions): Promise<void>

// prints the error message on the console and sets the process exit code
// if `runAndReplaceLink` failed; supposed to be called from a catch block
 *
// @param err error thrown from `runAndReplaceLink`
export function reportError(err: Error)

Contributing

In lieu of a formal styleguide, take care to maintain the existing coding style. Add unit tests for any new or changed functionality. Lint and test your code using Grunt.

License

Copyright (c) 2023-2024 Ferdinand Prantl

Licensed under the MIT license.