Get the node.js install path from code

Question

Get the node.js install path from code

I'm trying to write a debugging framework for node.js and am having a hard time figuring out how to get the full path to a core module file like fs.js.

I've heard it's in the /lib folder of the node installation, but I'd need to get this from the code in a consistent way for a variety of install situations (including windows).

I've tried taking a look at the process and process.env values for something like a node install path but can't see anything that immediately pops out at me.

node.js

Answer 1

To find where the installed node executable is located you can look at the process.execPath which gives the absolute path to Node executable.

To find where a certain module is located you can use require.resolve(module);

However I think the global modules are not directly accessible from the filesystem as other regular modules since they seem to be cached somewhere within the executable.

Answer 2

1- create a file in the project root call it settings.js

2- inside this file add this code

module.exports = {
    POST_MAX_SIZE : 40 , //MB
    UPLOAD_MAX_FILE_SIZE: 40, //MB
    PROJECT_DIR : __dirname
};

3- and any time you want your project directory just use

var settings = require("../settings.js");
settings.PROJECT_DIR;

in this way you will have all project directories relative to this file ;)