Creating an EXE file from Typescript

[jsut64]

Below is the procedure I used. If anyone knows a smoother flow please comment. Special thanks to the Jef for sharing your hard work!

Convert Typescript project to Windows EXE:
OVERVIEW:

• OPTIONAL: Create Virtual Machine Win8.1 (or higher) so the newest nodejs v22 will install. Nodejs v16 cannot compile zap2xml.ts
• Compile .ts project to .js using node.js --> index.js // typescript --> javascript
• Bundle the project dependencies into a single js file using "webpack" --> bundle.js
• Convert bundle.js to exe using "pkg"
• no changes are needed to "tsconfig.json" or "package.json". "pkg" works fine with no additional entries.

DETAILED PROCEDURE:
(1) Download node.js // javascript/typescript compiler
https://nodejs.org/en/download // get latest Node.js 'msi' installer here (prefer lts edition)

(2) OPTIONAL: Clone a Win8.1 or higher VM // needed to install nodejs

(3) Run the nodejs installer and follow the prompts (accept defaults)
I did NOT check the box to install other tools

(4) Download Latest zap2it from here:
https://github.com/jef/zap2xml

(5) Compile Typescript to Javascript:

• Open cmd shell:
  c:> cd zap2xml top level folder
  c:> npm install // runs fast with no problems
  c:> npm run build

RESULT: index.js // this is a javascript file. Its placed in "dist" folder

(6) Bundle javascript and dependencies into .js using webpack:

c:> npm install webpack webpack-cli typescript ts-loader --save-dev // installs fast with no issues

• Configure webpack.config.cjs to bundle your project.
  https://stackoverflow.com/questions/78233280/how-do-i-convert-a-typescript-nodejs-project-into-a-single-executable-exe
  // webpack.config.cjs
  const path = require('path');

module.exports = {
mode: 'production',
entry: './index.js', // Entry point of application
target: 'node',
module: {
rules: [
{
test: /.ts$/,
use: 'ts-loader',
exclude: /node_modules/,
},
],
},
resolve: {
extensions: ['.ts', '.js'],
},
output: {
filename: 'bundle.js',
path: path.resolve(__dirname, 'dist'),
}
};

c:> npx webpack // create bundled js output

./dist/bundle.js // a small 6K file.

(5) Install "pkg"
c:> npm install -g pkg // runs fast. no issues

(6) convert to exe using "pkg"

• Move "bundle.js" to top level (with index.js)
  c:> pkg -t node18-win-x64 bundle.js
  Result:
  [email protected]

Output: ./bundle.exe // <<-- worked. About 36MB

RUN ON WINDOWS 7: This will run fine on windows 7 but you need to set an environ var first:
c:>set NODE_SKIP_PLATFORM_CHECK=1
c:>run the exe