NODEJS Version

[luni-moon]

The current NODEJS version is outdated by a few major versions (12.19.0), with the current version being 17.3.1, and the Active LTS being at 16.13.2

This is causing a message to appear for me in panel, (node:11915) ExperimentalWarning: The ES module loader is experimental., which is prohibiting my programme from running. Thanks!

[bummoblizard]

This isn't as straight forward as it seems. Porting NodeJS and its underlying JavaScript engine to iOS is challenging and currently we rely on https://github.com/JaneaSystems/nodejs-mobile which is no longer actively maintained. Codesandbox's Play.js uses a modified version of it but it's still at 12.19.0.

I've seen newer versions of NodeJS ported to jailbroken iOS devices but I'm not sure if it's feasible for normal devices.

[luni-moon]

This isn't as straight forward as it seems. Porting NodeJS and its underlying JavaScript engine to iOS is challenging and currently we rely on JaneaSystems/nodejs-mobile which is no longer actively maintained. Codesandbox's Play.js uses a modified version of it but it's still at 12.19.0.

I've seen newer versions of NodeJS ported to jailbroken iOS devices but I'm not sure if it's feasible for normal devices.

I totally understand that. As a former Swift developer, I understand these constraints. If you don't mind, I can look for alternatives that do not require Jailbreaking. On a side-note, what does iOS 15 use for Javascript in the Safari Browser? I am sure we could find something that works in there, or at least some pointers.

[bummoblizard]

I think it's called JavaScriptCore. Here's a repo that ported v8.11.1 using it https://github.com/mceSystems/node-jsc.

I actually have done some research on it. The engine desktop node uses (V8) can actually be compiled for iOS with their JITless mode. See nodejs/node#26758.

[luni-moon]

I think it's called JavaScriptCore. Here's a repo that ported v8.11.1 using it mceSystems/node-jsc.

I actually have done some research on it. The engine desktop node uses (V8) can actually be compiled for iOS with their JITless mode. See nodejs/node#26758.

That is good news, I wonder if that can be somewhat applied (like how we cannot install certain modules with the current in-app version), with at least the Active LTS (16.13.2), or at least V16.

[wattsie]

How’s this going?
Wondering if this would help?
https://v8.dev/docs/cross-compile-ios

[bummoblizard]

Thanks to a pull request at https://github.com/nodejs-mobile/nodejs-mobile/, the included node version is now LTS (16.13.2).

[luni-moon]

Thanks to a pull request at https://github.com/nodejs-mobile/nodejs-mobile/, the included node version is now LTS (16.13.2).

I just recently learned that the V8 engine has a command line flag for devices that don’t allow executable memory access, or need special security features - and iOS/iPadOS are one of them. The flag is:

node --jitless <file>

It is very important that the flag goes before the file name, otherwise it won’t use it.