execa vs shelljs vs shx vs child_process
Node.js Process Management Libraries Comparison
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What's Node.js Process Management Libraries?

Node.js provides various libraries for managing child processes and executing shell commands, each with its unique features and use cases. These libraries facilitate the execution of external commands, scripts, and processes, enabling developers to leverage system-level functionalities directly from their Node.js applications. Understanding the differences between these libraries can help developers choose the right tool for their specific needs, whether it's for simple command execution, enhanced usability, or cross-platform compatibility.

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execa86,875,4047,031324 kB123 months agoMIT
shelljs7,836,51314,316212 kB101-BSD-3-Clause
shx836,5431,75138.6 kB20-MIT
child_process819,628159-49 years agoISC
Feature Comparison: execa vs shelljs vs shx vs child_process

Ease of Use

  • execa:

    Execa provides a clean and intuitive API, making it easy to execute commands with minimal setup. It supports promises, which simplifies asynchronous code management.

  • shelljs:

    Shelljs offers a straightforward syntax that mimics traditional shell commands, making it easy for users familiar with shell scripting to transition to Node.js.

  • shx:

    Shx is designed to be simple and user-friendly, allowing developers to run shell commands in their scripts with minimal effort, making it accessible for quick tasks.

  • child_process:

    The 'child_process' module is a core Node.js module that requires more boilerplate code to set up and manage processes, making it less user-friendly for simple tasks.

Cross-Platform Compatibility

  • execa:

    Execa is built with cross-platform compatibility in mind, allowing developers to write commands that work seamlessly on both Unix-like and Windows systems.

  • shelljs:

    Shelljs is inherently cross-platform and provides a consistent API for shell commands, abstracting away the differences between operating systems.

  • shx:

    Shx is also designed for cross-platform use, allowing developers to write scripts that work on any operating system without modification.

  • child_process:

    While 'child_process' is cross-platform, the commands executed may vary between operating systems, requiring careful handling of command differences.

Error Handling

  • execa:

    Execa simplifies error handling by returning promises that reject on command failure, providing a cleaner and more manageable approach to error management.

  • shelljs:

    Shelljs provides basic error handling, but it may not be as robust as Execa, requiring additional checks for complex scripts.

  • shx:

    Shx inherits error handling from the shell commands it wraps, which can lead to less predictable behavior and requires careful management.

  • child_process:

    Error handling in 'child_process' requires manual checks and can be verbose, as developers need to handle various error scenarios explicitly.

Performance

  • execa:

    Execa is optimized for performance and provides features like timeout settings, ensuring that commands do not hang indefinitely and resources are managed effectively.

  • shelljs:

    Shelljs may introduce some overhead due to its abstraction over shell commands, but it is generally efficient for scripting tasks.

  • shx:

    Shx is lightweight and efficient for running shell commands, but performance may vary based on the underlying command execution.

  • child_process:

    'child_process' offers high performance and low overhead for executing commands, making it suitable for resource-intensive tasks.

Community and Support

  • execa:

    Execa has a growing community and active maintenance, with good documentation and examples available for users.

  • shelljs:

    Shelljs is widely used and has a solid community, providing ample resources and examples for developers transitioning to Node.js scripting.

  • shx:

    Shx is less popular than the other libraries, which may result in limited community support and resources compared to more established options.

  • child_process:

    Being a core Node.js module, 'child_process' has extensive documentation and community support, making it reliable for developers.

How to Choose: execa vs shelljs vs shx vs child_process
  • execa:

    Choose 'execa' for a modern, user-friendly alternative to 'child_process' that simplifies command execution with promise support and better error handling. It is ideal for developers looking for a more convenient API and additional features like timeout and input/output handling.

  • shelljs:

    Choose 'shelljs' if you want a shell scripting experience in Node.js with a familiar syntax. It provides a comprehensive set of shell commands that are easy to use and work across platforms, making it suitable for scripting tasks without needing to rely on external shell environments.

  • shx:

    Choose 'shx' if you prefer a lightweight, shell command utility that allows you to run shell commands directly in Node.js scripts. It is particularly useful for developers who want to write cross-platform scripts that leverage Unix-like command-line tools without worrying about compatibility issues.

  • child_process:

    Choose 'child_process' if you need a built-in solution that provides low-level control over child processes and is suitable for executing commands with a high degree of customization. It is best for advanced users who require detailed management of process execution and communication.

Similar Npm Packages to execa

execa is a popular Node.js library that simplifies the process of executing shell commands and spawning child processes. It provides a promise-based API, making it easy to work with asynchronous operations while handling standard input, output, and error streams effectively. Execa is particularly useful for developers looking to run shell commands in a more manageable and reliable way compared to the built-in child_process module. However, there are several alternatives available that can also help with executing shell commands and managing child processes. Here are a few notable options:

  • child_process is a core Node.js module that allows you to spawn child processes and execute shell commands. While it is powerful and flexible, its API can be somewhat cumbersome, especially when dealing with asynchronous operations. Developers often find themselves writing additional boilerplate code to handle callbacks and manage streams, which can lead to less readable code. If you need a straightforward solution without adding external dependencies, the child_process module is a solid choice, but it may require more effort to use effectively.

  • cross-env is a utility that allows you to set environment variables across different operating systems in a consistent manner. While it is not a direct alternative to execa for executing commands, it is often used in conjunction with command execution libraries to ensure that environment variables are set correctly, especially when running scripts in a cross-platform environment. If your primary concern is managing environment variables while executing commands, cross-env is an excellent companion tool.

  • node-cmd is a simple Node.js library that provides a straightforward way to execute shell commands. It offers a clean API for running commands and handling their output, making it easier to work with than the native child_process module. However, it lacks some of the advanced features and flexibility that execa provides, such as promise support and better error handling. If you need a lightweight solution for executing commands without the additional features of execa, node-cmd may be suitable.

  • shelljs is a portable Unix shell commands for Node.js. It provides a comprehensive set of shell command implementations that work across different platforms. Shelljs allows you to write shell scripts in JavaScript, making it easy to execute commands and manage file operations. While it offers a rich set of features, it may be overkill if you only need to execute a few simple commands. If you are looking for a more extensive shell scripting solution, shelljs is a great option.

  • spawn-sync is a library that provides synchronous execution of shell commands. It is useful when you need to run commands in a blocking manner, ensuring that the command completes before moving on to the next line of code. However, synchronous execution can lead to performance issues in larger applications, as it blocks the event loop. If you require synchronous command execution and are aware of the potential downsides, spawn-sync can be a viable alternative.

To see how execa compares with these alternatives, check out the comparison: Comparing child_process vs cross-env vs execa vs node-cmd vs shelljs vs spawn-sync.

Similar Npm Packages to shelljs

shelljs is a popular Node.js library that provides a portable way to execute shell commands in JavaScript. It allows developers to run shell commands directly from their Node.js scripts, making it easier to automate tasks, manage files, and perform system operations without needing to switch to the command line. Shelljs offers a simple and intuitive API that mimics Unix shell commands, making it accessible for those familiar with shell scripting.

While shelljs is a powerful tool for executing shell commands, there are several alternatives that also provide similar functionality. Here are a few noteworthy options:

  • child_process is a built-in Node.js module that allows you to spawn child processes in your application. It provides a more low-level API for executing shell commands and scripts. While it requires more boilerplate code compared to shelljs, it offers greater flexibility and control over the execution of child processes. If you need to handle complex scenarios or require specific configurations for your child processes, using child_process might be the right choice.

  • cross-env is a utility that allows you to set environment variables across different operating systems in a consistent manner. While it doesn't directly execute shell commands, it is often used in conjunction with other tools to ensure that environment variables are set correctly regardless of the platform. If your primary concern is managing environment variables for your scripts, cross-env is a lightweight and effective solution.

  • execa is a modern alternative to the built-in child_process module, providing a more user-friendly API for executing shell commands. It supports promises and async/await syntax, making it easier to work with asynchronous operations. Execa also includes features like improved error handling and the ability to handle streams, making it a great choice for developers looking for a more elegant solution than child_process.

  • node-cmd is another library that simplifies executing shell commands in Node.js applications. It provides a straightforward API for running commands and handling their output. While it may not have as many features as shelljs or execa, it is easy to use and can be a good option for simpler use cases.

  • shell-quote is a utility for parsing and quoting shell command strings. It is not a direct alternative for executing commands but can be useful when you need to build command strings safely. If you are working with dynamic command generation and want to ensure that your commands are properly quoted and parsed, shell-quote can be a valuable addition to your toolkit.

To explore how shelljs compares with these alternatives, check out the comparison: Comparing child_process vs cross-env vs execa vs node-cmd vs shell-quote vs shelljs.

Similar Npm Packages to shx

shx is a command-line utility that brings Unix shell commands to Node.js, allowing developers to execute shell commands directly within their JavaScript code. It provides a simple and consistent API for running shell commands in a cross-platform manner, making it easier to integrate shell operations into Node.js applications. While shx is a powerful tool for executing shell commands, there are several alternatives that serve similar purposes. Here are a few of them:

  • child_process is a built-in Node.js module that allows you to spawn child processes in your application. It provides a way to execute shell commands, scripts, or any executable file from within your Node.js code. While it offers great flexibility and control over the execution of commands, using child_process can be more complex and verbose compared to higher-level abstractions like shx. If you need fine-grained control over process management and are comfortable with Node.js's native APIs, child_process is a solid choice.
  • execa is a promise-based wrapper around the child_process module, designed to simplify the process of executing shell commands. It provides a more user-friendly API, supports promises and async/await syntax, and includes features like improved error handling and better output management. If you want the power of child_process but with a more modern and streamlined API, execa is an excellent alternative to consider.
  • shelljs is another library that provides Unix shell commands in Node.js. It allows you to write shell scripts in JavaScript, making it easy to perform file system operations, execute commands, and manage processes. shelljs is particularly useful for developers who prefer a more script-like approach to their Node.js applications. If you want to leverage familiar shell commands while maintaining the flexibility of JavaScript, shelljs is a great option.

For a detailed comparison of these packages, check out the link: Comparing child_process vs execa vs shelljs vs shx.

README for execa
execa logo

Coverage Status

Process execution for humans



Execa runs commands in your script, application or library. Unlike shells, it is optimized for programmatic usage. Built on top of the child_process core module.

One of the maintainers @ehmicky is looking for a remote full-time position. Specialized in Node.js back-ends and CLIs, he led Netlify Build, Plugins and Configuration for 2.5 years. Feel free to contact him on his website or on LinkedIn!

Features

Install

npm install execa

Documentation

Execution:

Input/output:

Advanced usage:

Examples

Execution

Simple syntax

import {execa} from 'execa';

const {stdout} = await execa`npm run build`;
// Print command's output
console.log(stdout);

Script

import {$} from 'execa';

const {stdout: name} = await $`cat package.json`.pipe`grep name`;
console.log(name);

const branch = await $`git branch --show-current`;
await $`dep deploy --branch=${branch}`;

await Promise.all([
	$`sleep 1`,
	$`sleep 2`,
	$`sleep 3`,
]);

const directoryName = 'foo bar';
await $`mkdir /tmp/${directoryName}`;

Local binaries

$ npm install -D eslint

await execa({preferLocal: true})`eslint`;

Pipe multiple subprocesses

const {stdout, pipedFrom} = await execa`npm run build`
	.pipe`sort`
	.pipe`head -n 2`;

// Output of `npm run build | sort | head -n 2`
console.log(stdout);
// Output of `npm run build | sort`
console.log(pipedFrom[0].stdout);
// Output of `npm run build`
console.log(pipedFrom[0].pipedFrom[0].stdout);

Input/output

Interleaved output

const {all} = await execa({all: true})`npm run build`;
// stdout + stderr, interleaved
console.log(all);

Programmatic + terminal output

const {stdout} = await execa({stdout: ['pipe', 'inherit']})`npm run build`;
// stdout is also printed to the terminal
console.log(stdout);

Simple input

const getInputString = () => { /* ... */ };
const {stdout} = await execa({input: getInputString()})`sort`;
console.log(stdout);

File input

// Similar to: npm run build < input.txt
await execa({stdin: {file: 'input.txt'}})`npm run build`;

File output

// Similar to: npm run build > output.txt
await execa({stdout: {file: 'output.txt'}})`npm run build`;

Split into text lines

const {stdout} = await execa({lines: true})`npm run build`;
// Print first 10 lines
console.log(stdout.slice(0, 10).join('\n'));

Streaming

Iterate over text lines

for await (const line of execa`npm run build`) {
	if (line.includes('WARN')) {
		console.warn(line);
	}
}

Transform/filter output

let count = 0;

// Filter out secret lines, then prepend the line number
const transform = function * (line) {
	if (!line.includes('secret')) {
		yield `[${count++}] ${line}`;
	}
};

await execa({stdout: transform})`npm run build`;

Web streams

const response = await fetch('https://example.com');
await execa({stdin: response.body})`sort`;

Convert to Duplex stream

import {execa} from 'execa';
import {pipeline} from 'node:stream/promises';
import {createReadStream, createWriteStream} from 'node:fs';

await pipeline(
	createReadStream('./input.txt'),
	execa`node ./transform.js`.duplex(),
	createWriteStream('./output.txt'),
);

IPC

Exchange messages

// parent.js
import {execaNode} from 'execa';

const subprocess = execaNode`child.js`;
await subprocess.sendMessage('Hello from parent');
const message = await subprocess.getOneMessage();
console.log(message); // 'Hello from child'

// child.js
import {getOneMessage, sendMessage} from 'execa';

const message = await getOneMessage(); // 'Hello from parent'
const newMessage = message.replace('parent', 'child'); // 'Hello from child'
await sendMessage(newMessage);

Any input type

// main.js
import {execaNode} from 'execa';

const ipcInput = [
	{task: 'lint', ignore: /test\.js/},
	{task: 'copy', files: new Set(['main.js', 'index.js']),
}];
await execaNode({ipcInput})`build.js`;

// build.js
import {getOneMessage} from 'execa';

const ipcInput = await getOneMessage();

Any output type

// main.js
import {execaNode} from 'execa';

const {ipcOutput} = await execaNode`build.js`;
console.log(ipcOutput[0]); // {kind: 'start', timestamp: date}
console.log(ipcOutput[1]); // {kind: 'stop', timestamp: date}

// build.js
import {sendMessage} from 'execa';

const runBuild = () => { /* ... */ };

await sendMessage({kind: 'start', timestamp: new Date()});
await runBuild();
await sendMessage({kind: 'stop', timestamp: new Date()});

Graceful termination

// main.js
import {execaNode} from 'execa';

const controller = new AbortController();
setTimeout(() => {
	controller.abort();
}, 5000);

await execaNode({
	cancelSignal: controller.signal,
	gracefulCancel: true,
})`build.js`;

// build.js
import {getCancelSignal} from 'execa';

const cancelSignal = await getCancelSignal();
const url = 'https://example.com/build/info';
const response = await fetch(url, {signal: cancelSignal});

Debugging

Detailed error

import {execa, ExecaError} from 'execa';

try {
	await execa`unknown command`;
} catch (error) {
	if (error instanceof ExecaError) {
		console.log(error);
	}
	/*
	ExecaError: Command failed with ENOENT: unknown command
	spawn unknown ENOENT
			at ...
			at ... {
		shortMessage: 'Command failed with ENOENT: unknown command\nspawn unknown ENOENT',
		originalMessage: 'spawn unknown ENOENT',
		command: 'unknown command',
		escapedCommand: 'unknown command',
		cwd: '/path/to/cwd',
		durationMs: 28.217566,
		failed: true,
		timedOut: false,
		isCanceled: false,
		isTerminated: false,
		isMaxBuffer: false,
		code: 'ENOENT',
		stdout: '',
		stderr: '',
		stdio: [undefined, '', ''],
		pipedFrom: []
		[cause]: Error: spawn unknown ENOENT
				at ...
				at ... {
			errno: -2,
			code: 'ENOENT',
			syscall: 'spawn unknown',
			path: 'unknown',
			spawnargs: [ 'command' ]
		}
	}
	*/
}

Verbose mode

await execa`npm run build`;
await execa`npm run test`;
execa verbose output

Custom logging

import {execa as execa_} from 'execa';
import {createLogger, transports} from 'winston';

// Log to a file using Winston
const transport = new transports.File({filename: 'logs.txt'});
const logger = createLogger({transports: [transport]});
const LOG_LEVELS = {
	command: 'info',
	output: 'verbose',
	ipc: 'verbose',
	error: 'error',
	duration: 'info',
};

const execa = execa_({
	verbose(verboseLine, {message, ...verboseObject}) {
		const level = LOG_LEVELS[verboseObject.type];
		logger[level](message, verboseObject);
	},
});

await execa`npm run build`;
await execa`npm run test`;

Related

Maintainers

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