Executing nodejs script file in PHP using exec()

Question

In my Application, I want to execute a Node.JS file from PHP which in turn makes an HTTP request to another PHP file.

In short this is the Process that I am doing.

PHP file--->calls--> Nodejs file--->processes data -->and makes http request to-->PHP File

When I run the nodejs file via terminal, it successfully makes the http request to another PHP file and I get what I want.

But, when I try to run the nodejs file through PHP, the nodejs files is not able to find some modules.

My code in PHP:

$nodeJsPath = '/var/www/html/projectfolder/js/nodefunc.js';

$ret = exec("node ".$nodeJsPath.' 2>&1', $out, $err);

This is the error that I am getting:

Array
(
    [0] => module.js:457
    [1] =>     throw err;
    [2] =>     ^
    [3] => 
    [4] => Error: Cannot find module 'some_module'
    [5] =>     at Function.Module._resolveFilename (module.js:455:15)
    [6] =>     at Function.Module._load (module.js:403:25)
    [7] =>     at Module.require (module.js:483:17)
    [8] =>     at require (internal/module.js:20:19)
    [9] =>     at Object.<anonymous> (/var/www/html/projectfolder/js/nodefunc.js:5:9)
    [10] =>     at Module._compile (module.js:556:32)
    [11] =>     at Object.Module._extensions..js (module.js:565:10)
    [12] =>     at Module.load (module.js:473:32)
    [13] =>     at tryModuleLoad (module.js:432:12)
    [14] =>     at Function.Module._load (module.js:424:3)
)

May I know why the downvote and whats wrong with this question? — Abhinav
– Abhinav, Commented Sep 15, 2016 at 9:00

danronmoon · Accepted Answer · 2022-08-25 12:23:49Z

11

I got it finally. It's just ignoring the NODE_PATH variable for reasons unknown :(

In the Nodejs File I had to give the absolute path of the module like this:

var request = require("/usr/lib/node_modules/request");

edited Aug 25, 2022 at 12:23

danronmoon

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answered Sep 15, 2016 at 12:29

Abhinav

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1 Comment

nssmart Over a year ago

guess it's worth mentioning the solution was proposed by @krampstudio :)

Rahim Khoja · Accepted Answer · 2020-03-21 03:52:54Z

9

Your goal is to execute a node command after changing directory. Thus, you will need to run multiple sequential commands via the PHP exec() function.

Commands:

cd /var/www/html/projectfolder/js
node nodefunc.js 2>&1

This is possible by adding && or ; in between the commands.

$ret = exec("cd /var/www/html/projectfolder/js; node nodefunc.js 2>&1", $out, $err);

edited Mar 21, 2020 at 3:52

Rahim Khoja

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answered Sep 15, 2016 at 8:01

Haresh Vidja

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Comments

krampstudio · Accepted Answer · 2016-09-15 07:54:08Z

6

check whether the modules are installed (npm install)
run the execin the node application current working directory:

exec("cd ". dirname($nodeJsPath). " && node nodefunc.js 2>&1", $out, $err);

answered Sep 15, 2016 at 7:54

krampstudio

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7 Comments

Abhinav Over a year ago

hi..it may sound a bit naive but i am not well versed with nodejs, where should I exactly execute npm install because I can see those installed modules folder in this path /usr/lib/node_modules

Abhinav Over a year ago

I am still getting the same error even after changing the directory in the exec command

krampstudio Over a year ago

you need to run npm install into the folder that contains your node project (the project with your package.json file)

Abhinav Over a year ago

Mine actually is not a node project, its a codeigniter project comepletely in PHP, with with just one js file which has nodejs code since I can achieve one particular functionality only by using nodejs

krampstudio Over a year ago

I think the issue is because your dependencies are installed globally instead of locally, because I don't think php's exec knows the environment variable NODE_PATH

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