Read a file using HTTP in Node.JS

Question

In my dev-environment I prefer to read data from a file instead from the actual API because of performance reason.

I tried to do this like this:

var path = process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production' ? '/pathToExternalApi...' : process.env.pwd + '/assets/mockdata.json';

http.get(path, function (resFromApi, err) {

  var body = '';

  resFromApi.on('data', function (chunk) {
    //console.log(chunk);
    body += chunk;
  });

  resFromApi.on('end', function () {
    //console.log(resFromApi.statusCode + ' path:' + path);
    if (resFromApi.statusCode === 200) {
      cb(JSON.parse(body));
    } else {
      cb(null, 'Statuscode: ' + resFromApi.statusCode);
    }
  });
})

I get 404 when I try to run against file. I've checked that the path is correct.

Cant I use http.get() when to fetch data from file? How do I do this instead?

See Read a file in Node.js.

Michał Perłakowski
– Michał Perłakowski

2016-01-16 15:24:07 +00:00
Commented Jan 16, 2016 at 15:24 — Michał Perłakowski
– Michał Perłakowski, Commented Jan 16, 2016 at 15:24

Gaël Barbin · Accepted Answer · 2016-01-16 19:44:42Z

No, you can not directly use http.get(file_path). You could have a static web server for serving files via http, but that seems to be a nonsense.

I would proceed like that:

if(process.env.NODE_ENV === 'production'){

    http.get("/pathToExternalApi", function (resFromApi, err) {

        var body = '';

        resFromApi.on('data', function (chunk) {
          //console.log(chunk);
          body += chunk;
        });

        resFromApi.on('end', function () {
          //console.log(resFromApi.statusCode + ' path:' + path);
          if(resFromApi.statusCode === 200){
            cb(JSON.parse(body));
          }else{
            cb(null, 'Statuscode: ' + resFromApi.statusCode);
          }
        });
    })

}else{
    fs.readFile(process.env.pwd + '/assets/mockdata.json',function(err,data){
        if(err)
            cb(null, 'Statuscode: ' + err.msg);
        else
            cb(JSON.parse(data));

    })
}

Michał Perłakowski · Accepted Answer · 2016-01-16 15:22:45Z

1

You can't use http module to read a local file. Use fs module instead, for example:

var fs = require("fs");
var file = fs.readFileSync("/assets/mockdata.json");
var mockdata = JSON.parse(file);

If your file is a JSON file, then you can use require() to read that file and parse as JSON:

var mockdata = require("/assets/mockdata.json");

answered Jan 16, 2016 at 15:22

Michał Perłakowski

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Comments

lucian.nicolaescu · Accepted Answer · 2016-01-16 15:23:13Z

0

The file needs to be accessible on the server (as URL). The path should be a web relative path or a full http path. Also, try to add the .json mime-type or rename the file the yourfile.js instead of .json.

And yes, if it's nodejs you can use the file system like the previous comment.

answered Jan 16, 2016 at 15:23

lucian.nicolaescu

6473 silver badges9 bronze badges

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