Ability to skip download (get) phase and use preloaded builds from cache directly without any online requests and checks.

[osgmax]

I'm currenlty working on a project that builds and runs in isolated environment.
By isolated - I mean, we have our own local registry (for packages etc.) and everything keeps from online.

As I see nw-builder creates cache folder and uploads and stores prebuild nwjs binaries (gzipped / zipped) here.
Also it has options to use cache data.
But when I try to build app (use CLI command) even with using cache option - it makes some external online requests (checks or download manifest, shasum etc..) and keep waiitig forever (in isolated environment)
...
It will be good to have option to skip all online requests (checks, downloads), just directly use preloaded (and unpacked) version of nwjs.
..
My flow is:

1. Download specific version of nwjs builds and keep them in local registry.
2. In ci/cd pipeline take these binaries and put them in cache folder (unzip if needed)
3. Then run build nwjs app from CLI command (with specific parameters)
   ..

[ayushmanchhabra]

nw-builder/src/get/index.js

Line 39 in 4c68cdf

/* Download server is the cached directory. */

You can set the download server to a local directory.

[osgmax]

Thanks for attention,

I tried, almost all works well.

One thing to improve would be great:
Аlthough I store meta files like cache/shasum/0.106.1.txt for specific version and cahe/manifest.json locally,
when i run build, it tries to download manifest file every time, (even if it exists locally).

It`s located in getReleaseInfo function somewhere here

I think that these changes should work

if (fileExists(manifestPath)) {
      const data = await getManifest(manifestUrl);
      if (data.length) {
        await fs.promises.writeFile(manifestPath, data);
      }
    }`

but it`s not a general case, cause usually we want to get fresh manifest file

I also tried CLI option to manually locate manifest file in cache dir like
--manifestUrl=file://cache/manifest.json
But it always goes through http request in getManifest function and waits forever..

So I need an option that may be like:
if manifestUrl schema is file --manifestUrl=file://cache/manifest.json (cache/manifest.json should be somehow relative to project root folder)
then it checks if file exists and if exists - just use it . If not exists - throw error.

if manifestUrl option is not defined in CLI (or options) or defined as http URL - then use curent flow (download / place / check) .

If you can implement these changes (or may be you have another ideas hot to implement it) - this would definitely help me to finally solve a problem.

[ayushmanchhabra]

Forgot to update here. Trying the file-based approach in #1494

[ayushmanchhabra]

@osgmax Released v4.17.0. Please update and try it out. All you have to do is set manifestUrl=file:///path/to/manifest.json

[ayushmanchhabra]

@osgmax Tried on my end, works for me. Let me know if you face any other issues.

[osgmax]

@ayushmanchhabra
just went back from holidays
I tested last changes and finally it works as expected.
Thank you for support and fast feedback!