How do I write a shell script using node to run multiple javascript files one after the other?

Question

I want to write a .sh file to run multiple javascript files.

I know that I need the following lines:

#!/usr/bin/env node
chmod u+x ./a/file1.js ./a/file2.js

Is it correct to put two .js files one after the other? I need file1.js to execute first and then file2.js because some of the functions from file2.js need information outputted from file1.js.

I'm also a bit confused with the difference between #!/usr/bin/env node and #!/usr/bin/env bash. Will I still be able to run my .js files with bash?

Dan Nagle · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-13 07:16:31Z

1

#!/usr/bin/env node sets the environment to Node.js which is a JavaScript environment.

For example if you create a simple script test.js with the following content:

#!/usr/bin/env node

// now we're in JavaScript!
var d = new Date();

console.log('Current Time: ' + d);

Afterwards you make it executable:

$ chmod u+x test.js

Then you can execute it in the shell:

$ test.js
Current Time: Sun Nov 13 2016 07:14:15 GMT+0000 (GMT)

The file extension doesn't matter:

$ mv test.js test.sh
$ test.sh
Current Time: Sun Nov 13 2016 07:15:05 GMT+0000 (GMT)

If you don't want to change your JavaScript files so that they become shell scripts then you can run them from a shell script using Node.

tasks.sh:

#!/bin/sh
node ./a/file1.js
node ./a/file2.js

Afterwards make it executable and run it:

$ chmod u+x tasks.sh
$ tasks.sh

answered Nov 13, 2016 at 7:16

Dan Nagle

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3 Comments

pandasCat Over a year ago

I want to run the tasks.sh file with as little work as possible.

pandasCat Over a year ago

Sorry I submitted my response too early. Can I include chmod u+x in my tasks.sh file so that I do not include it in the command line? Also, can I make this: #!/usr/bin/env bash my first line of the .sh file and still run node?

Dan Nagle Over a year ago

The command chmod u+x gives the user (owner) executable permissions for the file. You only need to do this once. #!/usr/bin/env bash as the first line of the script file specifies that the script is to use the bash interpreter, you can still run node within the script.

Danh · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-13 10:07:27Z

1

How about:

#!/bin/sh
node ./a/file1.js
node ./a/file2.js

Because:

#!/usr/bin/env node causes the program node to be run passing this script as its first argument. #!/usr/bin/env bash causes bash to be run. Since the script is a bash script, you want the latter.

edited Nov 13, 2016 at 10:07

Danh

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answered Nov 13, 2016 at 6:17

Waxrat

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3 Comments

Waxrat Over a year ago

#!/usr/bin/env node causes the program node to be run passing this script as its first argument. #!/usr/bin/env bash causes bash to be run. Since the script is a bash script, you want the latter.

pandasCat Over a year ago

Thank you for the clarification. I think I will write out my script as: #!/usr/bin/env bash node ./a/file1.js node ./a/file2.js Do you know if chmod u+x should also be part of my shell script? What is the use of it?

Waxrat Over a year ago

chmod should not be part of the script. It's something you'd typically do just one time after creating the script. You don't need to chmod the *.js files, only the shell script.

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