fs.readFileSync is not a function Meteor, React

Question

I'm getting a 'fs.readFileSync is not a function' in Chrome debugger after trying to call readFileSync();

I call it...

const fs = require('fs');

call the function...

let content = fs.readFileSync('/path/to/my/file.stuff');

And attempt to display content..

console.log(content);

I get nothing. When I do...

console.log(fs);

I appear to get a generic javascript object... I'm completely stuck.

Meteor version: 1.5.1 npm version: 3.10.10 node version: v6.10.1

Answer 1

Thanks for all the answers!

I have confirmed that you cannot use fs on the client side.

Instead, I made another local simple express node api and the react web app just makes a request back to the node api to get that data.

Also, you have to do this...

https://enable-cors.org/server_expressjs.html

EDIT:

Wrote this a long time ago. 3 years back when I was just starting my web development learning. Just want to update and say that there is a serious fundamental difference between what the user sees and what the server sees. Allowing the front-end (Meteor, React, Angular, etc.) to read files would be a super serious security issue. Anyone could make a website that when a user goes to it, it would just read your local computers files. Not good...

While this is super obvious to me now, it wasn't obvious 3 years ago. So for all you newbies out there, it's okay :) No question is a dumb question.

Answer 2

I'm getting a 'fs.readFileSync is not a function' in Chrome debugger after trying to call readFileSync();

fs will not work in the browser. This is by design as to protect your filesystem from potential security threats.

Using low level Node packages in a browser environment

If you need access to this in a browser environment, consider making use of Electron which allows you to make use of OS level NodeJS packages in a running instance of Chromium.