Why worker threads aren't working when creating an class instance from other file?

Question

I have this typescript file:

import { Worker, WorkerOptions, isMainThread, parentPort } from "worker_threads";
import path from "path";

export class SimpleWorker {
    private worker: any;

    constructor() {
        if (isMainThread) {
            console.log('Resolved Path:', path.join(__filename));

            const resolvedPath = path.join(__filename)

            this.worker = this.worker = new Worker(resolvedPath, {
                execArgv: /\.ts$/.test(resolvedPath) ? ["--require", "ts-node/register"] : undefined,
            });

            this.worker.on('message', (message: any) => {
                console.log(message);
            });

            this.worker.on('error', (error: any) => {
                console.log('Error from worker:', error);
            });

            this.worker.on('exit', (code: any) => {
                console.log('Worker has exited:', code);
            });

        } else {
            parentPort.postMessage('Hello from worker thread');
        }
    }
}

const simpleWorker = new SimpleWorker();

When executing the file using: npx ts-node examples/simple_worker.ts It will print:

Resolved Path: /home/user1/code/playground/examples/simple_worker.ts
Hello from worker thread
Worker has exited: 0

Now, when I remove the line const simpleWorker = new SimpleWorker(); from simple_worker.ts file.

And create another file called "test_worker.ts"

import { SimpleWorker } from './simple_worker';

const main = new SimpleWorker();

When executing this file using: npx ts-node examples/test_worker.ts It will print:

Resolved Path: /home/user1/code/playground/examples/simple_worker.ts
Worker has exited: 0

The threading didn't work.. why?

Uh, if you remove that line, then of course the else { parentPort.postMessage('Hello from worker thread'); } in the new SimpleWorker constructor won't be executed? — Bergi
– Bergi, Commented Feb 8, 2024 at 9:55

BadPiggie · Accepted Answer · 2024-02-08 09:56:30Z

0

Because in the first approach, The simple_worker.ts creates an instance. So when you register the worker using simple_worker.ts, the following things happen.

Creates Instance -> constructor runs -> Goes to else part -> posts message

But in the second approach, You have removed the const simpleWorker = new SimpleWorker();part. So when you register the worker using simple_worker.ts, No instance will be created, constructor won't run.

How to fix?

It depends on your usage and requirements, But the simplest way is to pass the file (which init the instance ) as an argument.

export class SimpleWorker {
    private worker: any;

    constructor( filepath: string ) {
        if (isMainThread) {
            console.log('Resolved Path:', path.join(filepath));

            const resolvedPath = path.join(filepath)
            // rest of your code

        } else {
            parentPort.postMessage('Hello from worker thread');
        }
    }
}

then,

import { SimpleWorker } from './simple_worker';

// Passing this file as arg, coz here only we creates the instance
const main = new SimpleWorker(__filename);

answered Feb 8, 2024 at 9:56

BadPiggie

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2 Comments

rook Over a year ago

I am confused, in the second approach, I AM creating an instance from SimpleWorker using new SimpleWorker(); how come constructor will not run? I can see the Resolved Path gets printed from constructor !

BadPiggie Over a year ago

In your second approach, the resolved file is, Resolved Path: /home/user1/code/playground/examples/simple_worker.ts But you create an instance in test_worker.ts only. Since simple_worker.ts has just the class. it won't actually create anything

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