NodePacker

A powerful C# tool that packages Node.js applications into standalone executables. Convert your Node.js projects into self-contained .exe files that can run on any Windows machine without requiring Node.js to be installed.

Features

• Zero Dependencies: Creates completely self-contained executables
• Automatic Node.js Download: Fetches the latest LTS version automatically
• Smart Packaging: Excludes existing node_modules and installs fresh dependencies
• Cross-Platform Support: Works on Windows, Linux, and macOS
• Professional Architecture: Clean, maintainable code with proper separation of concerns
• Easy to Use: Simple command-line interface

Quick Start

Prerequisites

• .NET Framework 4.0 or higher
• Visual Studio or .NET SDK (for compilation)
• Internet connection (for downloading Node.js)

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/imtaqin/NODEPACKER.git
cd NODEPACKER

2. Build the project:

dotnet build

Usage

NodeJsPacker.exe <source-directory> <output-executable>

Example:

NodeJsPacker.exe "C:\MyNodeApp" "C:\Output\MyApp.exe"

This will:

1. Download the latest Node.js LTS version
2. Package your application with Node.js runtime
3. Create a standalone executable that runs your app

Project Structure

NodeJsPacker/
??? Program.cs                          # Entry point
??? Models/
?   ??? NodeJsRelease.cs               # Node.js release data model
??? Services/
?   ??? NodeJsPackerService.cs         # Main orchestration service
?   ??? NodeJsDownloader.cs            # Handles Node.js downloads
?   ??? ApplicationPackager.cs         # Packages the application
?   ??? ExecutableGenerator.cs         # Creates the final executable
?   ??? Interfaces/                    # Service interfaces
??? Utils/
?   ??? PlatformHelper.cs              # Platform detection utilities
?   ??? FileHelper.cs                  # File operations
?   ??? DirectoryHelper.cs             # Directory operations
?   ??? ProcessHelper.cs               # Process execution utilities
?   ??? CompilerHelper.cs              # C# compiler utilities
??? Templates/
    ??? LauncherCodeTemplate.cs        # Generated launcher code

How It Works

1. Download: Automatically downloads the latest Node.js LTS version
2. Package: Copies your application files (excluding node_modules)
3. Dependencies: Installs production dependencies using npm
4. Bundle: Creates a launcher application that extracts and runs your Node.js app
5. Compile: Generates a standalone executable with embedded resources

Requirements

Your Node.js Application

• Must have a package.json file (recommended)
• Should specify a main entry point in package.json
• If no main entry is specified, NodePacker will look for:
  • index.js
  • app.js
  • main.js
  • server.js

System Requirements

• Windows: .NET Framework 4.0+, Visual Studio or Build Tools
• Linux/macOS: Mono or .NET Core

Command Line Options

NodeJsPacker <source-directory> <output-executable>

• <source-directory>: Path to your Node.js application folder
• <output-executable>: Path where the executable will be created

Advanced Usage

Custom Entry Point

When running the generated executable, you can specify a custom entry point:

MyApp.exe server.js

Passing Arguments

You can pass arguments to your Node.js application:

MyApp.exe server.js --port 3000 --env production

Architecture

NodePacker follows clean architecture principles:

• Services: Core business logic with dependency injection ready
• Models: Data structures and DTOs
• Utils: Helper classes and utilities
• Templates: Code generation templates
• Interfaces: Contracts for better testability

Contributing

We welcome contributions! Here's how you can help:

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch (git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature)
3. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add amazing feature')
4. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/amazing-feature)
5. Open a Pull Request

Development Setup

1. Clone the repository
2. Open in Visual Studio or your preferred IDE
3. Restore NuGet packages
4. Build and run tests

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

Known Issues

• Large applications may take some time to package
• Antivirus software might flag the executable (false positive)
• Cross-compilation between different platforms not fully supported yet

Roadmap

• Support for custom Node.js versions
• GUI interface
• Docker support
• Plugin system for custom packaging logic
• Improved cross-platform compilation
• Size optimization features

Support

If you encounter any issues or have questions:

1. Check the Issues page
2. Create a new issue with detailed information
3. Join our discussions in the Discussions tab

Acknowledgments

• Node.js team for the amazing runtime
• Microsoft for .NET Framework
• All contributors who help improve this project

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Made with love by imtaqin

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