Sharing config between node app and client side javascript

Question

I need to have some config object both in the node app and in the browser. Here is the path and the content of the config:

path: [app]/public/js/config.js
content:

var config = {
    "foo": "bar",
    "num": 42,
    "list": ["a","b","f"]
};
var isBrowser=new Function("try {return this===window;}catch(e){ return false;}");
if(!isBrowser) {
    module.exports = config;
}

In my html I just add a script element and it works fine:

<script src="/js/config.js"></script>

In node app however I do not seem to have imported the object and I get an empty object:

var config = require('./public/js/config.js');
console.log('config:', config); // gives config: {}

What am I doing wrong?

you need module.exports = in the config.js for require to work? — Anthony Kong
– Anthony Kong, Commented Nov 14, 2017 at 9:36
Why not using a standard UMD instead of the above function trick? — ghybs
– ghybs, Commented Nov 14, 2017 at 9:36
@AnthonyKong, I do have module.exports = in the config.js. — Majid Fouladpour
– Majid Fouladpour, Commented Nov 14, 2017 at 9:38
@ghybs, I'll test that to see if it takes care of the issue. Thanks. — Majid Fouladpour
– Majid Fouladpour, Commented Nov 14, 2017 at 9:39

ghybs · Accepted Answer · 2017-11-14 09:40:28Z

3

Your isBrowser variable is assigned a function, but it is never executed.

Therefore it does not perform any environment detection.

answered Nov 14, 2017 at 9:40

ghybs

54k6 gold badges90 silver badges117 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

Majid Fouladpour Over a year ago

Thanks! That part was borrowed (read copied) from this answer but I missed the function call part. Changing if(!isBrowser) { to if(!isBrowser()) { resolved the issue.

Anthony Kong · Accepted Answer · 2017-11-14 09:44:45Z

1

The code should have been

if(!isBrowser()) {
    module.exports = config;
}

isBrowser is a function here. Since in your version !isBrowser always return false so module.exports = config is never executed.

answered Nov 14, 2017 at 9:44

Anthony Kong

41.4k52 gold badges192 silver badges325 bronze badges

Comments

Saurabh Agrawal · Accepted Answer · 2017-11-14 09:51:54Z

1

Replace if block

if(!isBrowser) {
    module.exports = config;
}

to

if(!isBrowser()) {//this isBrowser() function
    module.exports = config;
}

edited Nov 14, 2017 at 9:51

answered Nov 14, 2017 at 9:45

Saurabh Agrawal

7,7553 gold badges31 silver badges52 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Sharing config between node app and client side javascript

3 Answers 3

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related