How to generate index.js as ESM?

[raphaelmenges]

I am working in a ESM environment and would like to have all dependencies as module, too. However, napi-rs generates a index.js that follows the commonJS style, even when I define "type": "module" in the package.json [1]. I was looking through the issues and discussions but could not find any indication how to achieve this.

[1] https://www.typescriptlang.org/docs/handbook/esm-node.html

[Brooooooklyn]

The generated commonjs file compatible with both commonjs & esm modules.

For example, these imports are both valid: import { someNativeFunction } from 'your-napi-rs-module' or const { someNativeFunction } = require('your-napi-rs-module')

[raphaelmenges]

Hello @Brooooooklyn! Indeed, I manage to import the module into an ESM environment. However, I am using Vite to bundle my application the and CommonJS plugin from Rollup fails to cope with the napi-rs module:

[commonjs--resolver] Unexpected character '�' (Note that you need plugins to import files that are not JavaScript)
file: /Users/<app>/node_modules/<napi-rs-module>/index.js:1:0

This would be no issue if napi-rs outputs the index.js in ESM style, i guess.

[Brooooooklyn]

Unexpected character '�' (Note that you need plugins to import files that are not JavaScript)

This is because your bundler is treating the .node file as a JavaScript file and trying to parse it.

[raphaelmenges]

Valid guess, I will investigate!

[raphaelmenges]

I have been trying to adapt the vite configuration such that the bundler does not attempt to parse the .node:

commonjsOptions: {
    exclude: ["*.node"],
},

However, the error persists. I assume this is rather an issue of rollup than napi-rs! 😕

[raphaelmenges]

I managed to make it work, adding ssr: true to my vite configuration, like done here: https://github.com/cawa-93/vite-electron-builder/blob/4a788e5bea335155d9b1df86591fdd40097df950/packages/main/vite.config.js#L22

I assume making vite treat the package like "server-side-rendering", native modules are better supported?