edge-ts

Create strongly typed .NET bindings from Node.js.

In-process interop powered by the awesome edge.js.

Usage

1. Get the package

npm install --save edge-ts

2. Import it

import { sync, async, proxy } from 'edge-ts';

Types are bundled with the published package and will be automatically imported.

3. Create your bindings

interface InputArgs {
    life: string;
    universe: boolean;
    everything?: SomeOtherType;
}
 
const meaning = async<InputArgs, number>({
    assemblyFile: 'DeepThought.dll',
    typeName: 'FooBar.MyType',
    methodName: 'MyMethod' // This must be Func<object, Task<object>>
});

4. Call them as though they were Typscript functions

meaning({life: 'test', universe: true, everything: someOtherValue})
    .then(answer => console.log);
 
// some time passes
 
=> 42

API

Binding Targets

Bindings can be created to precompiled libraries (*.dll's) or source to be compiled at runtime by edge. Regardless of compile time, the targeted method must be of type Func<object, Task<object>>.

Source

C# source can be written in-line (as a string) as lambda expressions:

const test = async<string, string>(`
    async (input) => {
        return ".NET Welcomes " + input.ToString();
    }
`);

As full classes:

const test = async<string, string>(`
    using System.Data;
    using System.Threading.Tasks;
 
    public class Startup 
    {
        public async Task<object> Invoke(object input)
        {
            // ...
        }
    }
`);

Or referenced as an external file:

const test = async<string, string>({
    source: 'Foo.cs',
    typeName: 'MyType',             // optional, defaults to 'StartUp'
    methodName: 'MyMethod',         // optional, defaults to 'Invoke'
    references: ['MyOtherLib.dll'], // optional (any external assemblies required)
});

Precompiled

Precompiled targets take a similar form:

const test = async<string, string>({
    assemblyFile: 'MyAssembly.dll',
    typeName: 'MyType',             // optional, defaults to 'StartUp'
    methodName: 'MyMethod',         // optional, defaults to 'Invoke'
    references: ['MyOtherLib.dll'], // optional (any external assemblies required)
});

Or, if you're happy with the defaults, just the path to the assembly:

const test = async<string, string>('MyAssembly.dll');

---

async<I, O>(«binding target»)

Create an asynchronous function, bound to a CLR/.NET Core/Mono method.

The returned function accepts an input (of type I) and returns a Promise (of type O).

Alternatively a Node style callback may be passed as a second argument.

const myAsyncBinding = async<number, string>('FooBar.dll');
 
myAsyncBinding(123)
    .then(doSomething);
    .catch(e => console.log('Oh noes!!!'));
 
// or
 
myAsyncBinding(123, (err, result) => {
    if (err) {
        console.log('Oh noes!!!');
    } else {
        doSomething(result);
    }
});

sync<I, O>(«binding target»)

Creates a synchronous function, bound to a CLR/.NET Core/Mono method.

The returned function takes a single input argument (or type I) and returns an output of type O. If the linked method does not return a synchronous result, an Error will be raised.

const mySyncBinding = sync<number, string>('FooBar.dll');
 
doSomthing(mySyncBinding(123));

proxy<I, O>(«func»)

Functions may also be passed to the CLR to allow it to call back into Node. These must be of a specific form expected by edge. proxy(..) may be used to transform a function of type I => O into this form.

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For further information on marshaling data between the environments, refer to the edge.js guide