Available modules in node script

Question

why do I get different results when trying to find out more about the http module in node.js in the following to ways?

If I enter the node REPL and then print the content of the http module, i.e. if I run

me@mymachine:~> node
> console.log(http)

I get all the details of the http object:

{ IncomingMessage: 
    { [Function: IncomingMessage]
        super_:
          {
...

If I write a script file called, say, script.js containing the following single line
```
console.log(http);
```
and execute it by running
```
node script.js
```
I get
```
ReferenceError: http is not defined
```

I would have expected both cases to behave in the same way - either the http module is preloaded or not. Why is there a difference? What am I getting wrong here?

I thought I could 'fix' this by preloading module http by running (in version 2)

node -r http script.js

Shouldn't this preload module http and thus avoid the reference error?

Looking forward to your input!

The Node REPL is not just plain Node; it's a specific set of tools, and what you're observing is one of its features. — Pointy
– Pointy, Commented Feb 11, 2017 at 17:16

kbariotis · Accepted Answer · 2017-02-11 17:15:07Z

2

Repl has all the standard Node.js core modules required by default.

https://nodejs.org/api/repl.html#repl_accessing_core_node_js_modules

answered Feb 11, 2017 at 17:15

kbariotis

8021 gold badge13 silver badges25 bronze badges

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

2 Comments

user1993047 Over a year ago

Thanks - that explains it. Still, I am wondering why I can't preload the module using the -r parameter?

kbariotis Over a year ago

That's indeed interesting. I am not sure but I am suspecting that the -r parameter doesn't evaluate the global.fs = require('fs') as the REPL does. Someone else could shed some light here.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Available modules in node script

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related