Using fs.createWriteStream across multiple processes

Is there a way to efficiently manage multiple Node.js processes writing to the same file using fs.createWriteStream without overwriting data? By default, when fs.createWriteStream is called, it clears out the file. I aim to clear the file once and only append data with subsequent writers.

Should I combine fs.createWriteStream with fs.appendFile? Or is there a method to open a stream for each process, rather than just the first one?

Answer №1

Is it better to use fs.createWriteStream followed by fs.appendFile?

You have the option to use either method.

When using fs.createWriteStream, make sure to change the flag as shown below:

fs.createWriteStream('your_file',{
  flags: 'a+', // default is 'w' (just 'a' might suffice here, but I'm unsure)
})

This will create the file if it doesn't exist or open it with write access if it does, positioning the pointer at the end (append mode).

The usage of fs.appendFile should be straightforward and serves a similar purpose.

An issue arises when multiple processes attempt to access the same file. Only one process can hold write access to a file at any given time. Therefore, you may need to implement a mechanism to wait for the file to be available if another process has taken write access. Utilizing a library designed for this purpose is recommended.

For instance, consider using this library: https://www.npmjs.com/package/lockup
or perhaps this one: https://github.com/Perennials/mutex-node
Furthermore, a variety of other libraries can be found here: https://www.npmjs.com/browse/keyword/lock
or here: https://www.npmjs.com/browse/keyword/mutex

I have not personally tested these libraries, but the suggested one and others from the list should meet your requirements effectively.

Answer №2

Managing the writing of a single file by multiple processes while ensuring data integrity is a complex task that can be handled through the use of file locking.

Alternatively, there are two simpler strategies:

  1. Each process writes to a temporary file, which are then merged at the end.
  2. Send the data to a dedicated, central process for writing. It's worth noting that interprocess communication can come with performance costs.

Similar questions

If you have not found the answer to your question or you are interested in this topic, then look at other similar questions below or use the search

Acquiring an icon of a program using its handle

I am looking for a way to extract a program's icon from its handle, which I acquired using User32.dll with EnumWindow/FindWindow. While I am aware of ExtractAssociatedIcon, it seems to work from a file instead of a handle. My question is how can I con ...

Managing Promise rejections within Express middleware

Is there a way to catch unhandled Promises Rejections using middleware in order to access the Request and Response objects of the request? I've written some code, but it seems that the middleware or process.on function is not being triggered when an u ...

node.js + typescript How can we access instances from methods?

Following a server rebuild, the compiler creates an instance in the included API controller as shown below: NewController.ts import express = require("express"); import INew = require("../interface/INew"); import New ...

"I'm running into an issue with Heroku, Facebook, and NodeJS - it seems like the module 'OAuth' is

Having recently ventured into the world of NodeJS, I find myself facing what seems like a simple issue. Despite my best efforts, I have been unable to resolve it with my current understanding. To test some functionalities in a development environment on m ...

Setting up Node on a Ubuntu system

Currently, I am in the process of installing Node.js to run my Angular2 program. However, I encountered an error during the installation: npm WARN npm npm does not support Node.js v0.10.25 npm WARN npm You should probably upgrade to a newer version of nod ...

Using Node Express to fill out forms with AJAX

Is it possible to update a specific section of a webpage using AJAX without having to refresh the entire page? If so, how can this be achieved correctly? //Get Book router.get('/form/:id', (req, res) => { Book.findOne({ _id: req.params ...

Issues with Logging Beyond app.js in an Express Application

I am currently developing a Node.js Express application and encountering a problem with logging outside of the app.js file. Here is my current setup: Within my app.js file, I can successfully generate logs as intended. For instance, in my /login route, I ...

Transfer a downloaded file from a secured pathway to the web browser

I have a setup with a react frontend and a nodejs/express backend. The backend has a protected route for serving files (downloads) like so: GET /api/file/:id When the frontend initiates a file download, it makes a request to this endpoint using the follo ...

The attempt to perform an ExchangeBind operation was unsuccessful with a 404 (NOT-FOUND) error message indicating "NOT_FOUND - unable to locate exchange 'dead.letters-q.1'"

In a previous question, I mentioned that I am attempting to integrate the wascally npm package with Meteor. However, I am encountering what appears to be a setup or configuration error related to my exchanges. W20150925-14:22:34.692(-4)? (STDERR) W201509 ...

One scenario where the KnexJS Raw Method fails to function

During my work on a project with KnexJS, I have been utilizing the .raw() method successfully. However, I recently encountered an issue where this method was not being properly integrated into the SQL query, resulting in a syntax error at end of input. &a ...

Encountering a failure during the Docker build process due to an unsupported operating system, along with a non-zero return code from the command '/bin/sh -c npm install'

I'm having trouble building an image for a client app (nextjs app) as the build keeps failing. Here is the docker file I am using: FROM node:12.18.3 WORKDIR /app ENV PATH /app/node_modules/.bin:$PATH COPY package.json /app/ COPY package-lock.json /ap ...

Node Express Caching: What are the best strategies for managing view access?

When using Express, you can take advantage of its built-in cache mechanism by setting up with app.enable('view cache'). However, the challenge lies in distinguishing between views that should be cached and views that should always be served fresh ...

What could be causing Laravel Sail NPM to display the error message 'unsupported version of Node.js'?

In the midst of a Laravel 8 project using Docker, I find myself knee-deep in SCSS design. However, a hurdle arises when attempting to compile my SCSS files. NPM insists that my Node version is outdated at 12.x, even though within my container I am actually ...

Top approach for Constructing Angular Front-End Forms with User Input

Greetings to all who happen upon this message, thank you for taking the time to potentially offer assistance! In my past experiences working with Wordpress (PHP), I utilized a plugin called Advanced Custom Fields from advancedcustomfields.com. This plugin ...

How can I retrieve the data passed in a post request using Azure Functions and JavaScript?

I have a JavaScript Azure function that takes a context and request as parameters: function(context, req) It's easy to retrieve data from a GET request using the req object. For example, if I pass name=test in the URL, I can retrieve it in my code l ...

Having trouble with socket.io functionality after deploying my application on Heroku platform

I encountered an issue with my app when deploying it to Heroku after working fine locally with socket.io. The problem lies in the socket setup on the client side, which is configured for localhost:5000. Unfortunately, I am unsure of how to resolve this. B ...

Important: Express 4 and Passport Issue with Session Creation

So far, I have managed to successfully log users in using Facebook. However, once I retrieve the information from Facebook, it seems to get lost. I'm not sure if I should be responsible for creating the session or if there is something crucial that I ...

Troubleshooting an issue in node.js when reading a utf8 encoded file on a Windows system

I am struggling to load a UTF8 json file from disk using node.js (0.10.29) on my Windows 8.1 machine. Below is the code snippet that I am trying to execute: var http = require('http'); var utils = require('util'); var path = require(&a ...

There was a hiccup encountered while trying to follow the steps for creating a

Despite others' attempts to solve the errors quickly, the search continues and the symptoms persist. > <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection" class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="046c6168686b29766165677044342a352a34">[email protected]< ...

Generating a safe POST connection with express.js

Is there a simple method to generate a link for submitting a POST request using Express.js or a plugin? This approach can also be employed to enhance security for important actions like user deletion, including CSRF protection. In some PHP frameworks lik ...