Mini Project 1: Node.js CLI File Management Tool

Introduction

This mini project focuses on building a Node.js CLI (Command Line Interface) tool for managing files on a local filesystem. By leveraging Node.js Core Libraries, such as the 'fs' module, and JavaScript asynchronous programming, the tool will enable users to interact with files programmatically. This project emphasizes a foundational understanding of Node.js and asynchronous operations.

Motivation

File management tasks, such as reading, writing, and deleting files, are commonly required in various software solutions, including log processing and data handling. Developing a CLI tool helps students understand file system operations and asynchronous programming techniques, fostering hands-on experience with Node.js.

Functionality of Project

The CLI tool will support the following operations: 1. Read the contents of a file and display them. 2. Write content to a new file or overwrite an existing file. 3. Append content to an existing file. 4. Delete a specified file from the filesystem. 5. List all files in a specified directory. The tool ensures non-blocking operations through asynchronous functions.

Technical Explanation and Code Implementation

The tool is implemented as a Node.js script that interacts with the file system using the 'fs.promises' API. This ensures asynchronous execution without blocking the main thread. Below is a detailed explanation and code for the tool's functionalities.

1. File Reading

The 'readFile' method reads the content of a file. It accepts the file path and encoding as parameters and returns a promise that resolves to the file content.

// Some code
const fs = require('fs').promises;

async function readFile(fileName) {
    try {
        const content = await fs.readFile(fileName, 'utf8');
        console.log('File Content:', content);
    } catch (err) {
        console.error('Error reading file:', err.message);
    }
}
readFile('example.txt');

2. Writing to a File

The 'writeFile' method creates or overwrites a file with specified content. It is commonly used for logging or saving application data.

// Some code
async function writeFile(fileName, content) {
    try {
        await fs.writeFile(fileName, content);
        console.log('File written successfully.');
    } catch (err) {
        console.error('Error writing file:', err.message);
    }
}
writeFile('output.txt', 'Hello, World!');

Result and Conclusion

The project demonstrates a practical application of Node.js Core Libraries to handle real-world file operations. By building this tool, students gain valuable insights into asynchronous programming and file system interactions, which are essential for back-end development.