How to reference node fs API with electron in typescript?

Question

I've created an electron app based on this link (but using recent modules).

I want to create a simple desktop app, I need to open some local files. I know that there is the node fs API for this, but I'm have problems with referencing it correctly.

Here is what I tried:

Based on this queston in Stackoverflow, I tried to import and use fs like this:
```
///<reference path="../typings/node/node.d.ts"/>
import fs = require('fs');
fs.readFileSync('foo.txt','utf8');
```
As a result, I got a Module not found: Error: Cannot resolve module 'fs' when I called npm run build
Then I added the following lines to webpack.config.js (I read it somewhere):
```
node: {
  fs: "empty"
},
```
then npm run build command was OK, but I see the following error at runtime in electron's developer tool: TypeError: fs.readFileSync is not a function

I'm new to this topic, and I would appreciate if someone could help me how to reference node's fs API correctly.

Vadim Macagon · Accepted Answer · 2016-09-10T10:17:06.370

3

You need to set target: 'electron-renderer' in your Webpack config, if you still have issues after that take a look at https://github.com/chentsulin/electron-react-boilerplate

edited Sep 10 '16 at 10:17

answered Sep 10 '16 at 03:39

Vadim Macagon

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Thanks a lot! Setting `target: 'electron-renderer'` in Webpack config solved my problem! – Tamas Sep 10 '16 at 06:52
Please provide all necessary information in your answer instead of just linking to it. – Alex Sep 10 '16 at 08:48
Wonder how does this solution apply to angular 8 + electron – Nick Wills Nov 01 '19 at 11:32

How to reference node fs API with electron in typescript?

1 Answers1