node-deb

Debian packaging for Node.js projects written 100% in bash.

Simple.

Installation

npm install node-deb

or

git clone ${url} && cd node-deb && npm run node-deb && sudo dpkg -i $(find . -maxdepth 1 -type f -name '*.deb' | tail -n 1)

Usage

A simple project can be packaged with the following command.

node-deb -- index.js lib/

This command will add all of the above files and directories to a Debian package as well as generate the scripts necessary to install, uninstall, start, and stop your application. On installation, via dpkg -i $your_package_name, dedicated Unix users and groups will be created and your distribution's default init system will start and monitor the process.

You do not need to add anything to your package.json as it uses sane defaults. However, if you don't like these, there are two options for overrides: command line options, or the JSON object node_deb at the top level of your package.json. A full explanation of the different options can be found by running node-deb --help.

By default, if any of the following files exist, the will be included in the Debian package: package.json, npm-shrinkwrap.json, and node_modules/.

For example, here are some sample node_deb overrides. The full list can be found by running node-deb --list-json-overrides.

{
  "name": "some-app",
  ...
  "node_deb": {
    "init": "systemd",
    "version": "1.2.3-beta",
    "start_command": "/usr/bin/node foo.js"
  }
}

Command line options always override values found in the node_deb object, and values found in the node_deb object always override the values found in the rest of package.json.

Examples

Ex. 1

package.json:

{
  "name": "some-app",
  "version": "1.2.3",
  "scripts": {
    "start": "/usr/bin/node app.js arg1 arg2 arg3"
  }
}

cmd: node-deb -- app.js lib/

You will get:

• A Debian package named some-app_1.2.3_all.deb
  • Containing the files app.js & package.json and the directory lib
  • Installed via
    • apt-get install some-app
    • apt-get install some-app=1.2.3

On install, you will get.

• An executable named some-app
  • That starts the app with the command /usr/bin/node app.js arg1 arg2 arg3
• An upstart init script installed to /etc/init/some-app.conf
• A systemd unit file installed to /etc/systemd/system/some-app.service
• A Unix user some-app
• A Unix group some-app

Ex. 2

package.json:

{
  "name": "some-other-app",
  "version": "5.0.2",
  "scripts": {
    "start": "node --harmony index.js"
  }
}

cmd: node-deb -u foo -g bar -v 20150826 -- index.js lib/

You will get:

• A Debian package named some-other-app_20150826_all.deb
  • Containing the files index.js, package.json, & npm-shrinkwrap.json and the directories lib & node_modules
  • Installed via
    • apt-get install some-other-app
    • apt-get install some-other-app=20150826

On install, you will get.

• An executable named some-other-app
  • That starts the app with the command node --harmony index.js
• An upstart init script installed to /etc/init/some-other-app.conf
• A systemd unit file installed to /etc/systemd/system/some-other-app.service
• A Unix user foo
• A Unix group bar

Ex. 3

package.son:

{
  "name": "a-third-app",
  "version": "0.10.1",
  "scripts": {
    "start": "/usr/bin/env node app.js"
  }
  ...
  "node_deb": {
    "init": "none",
    "dependencies": "apparmor, tor",
    "user": "tor-ro",
    "group": "www-data",
    "templates": {
      "postinst": "my-teplates/my-postinst-template.txt"
    }
  }
}

cmd: node-deb -- app.js lib/

You will get:

• A Debian package named a-third-app_0.10.1_all.deb
  • Containing the files index.js, package.json, & npm-shrinkwrap.json and the directories lib & node_modules
  • With additional dependencies on apparmor and tor
  • Installed via
    • apt-get install a-third-app
    • apt-get install a-third-app=0.10.1
  • With the postinst script rendered from the template my-postinst-template.txt

On install, you will get.

• An executable named a-third-app
  • That starts the app with the command /usr/bin/env node app.js
• No upstart or systemd scripts
• A Unix user tor-ro
• A Unix group www-data

Note: Removal via apt-get purge will attempt to remove the user and group defined in the Debian package. This can have serious consequences if the user or group is shared by other applications!

&c.

node-deb can Debian-package itself. Just run npm run node-deb.

More complete examples can be found by looking at test.sh and the corresponding projects in the test directory.

Requirements

• dpkg
• fakeroot
• jq

These are all available through apt and brew.

Contributing

Please make all pull requests to the develop branch.