Extract JS object from another file into variable

Question

I have a file object.js which contains a javascript object:

{
    key: value,
    anotherKey: { a: b }
}

Inside another file, say reader.js, I would like to read from object.js and put that javascript object into a variable which would act as a normal js object

const fs = require("fs");

let content = fs.readFileSync("object.js");
console.log(content); // looks good

let object = { ...content };
console.log(object); // bad and wrong...

// expected: { key: value, anotherKey: { a: b } }

Any ideas how to parse the js object from object.js and put it into a valid object variable?

JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(content)) didn't help.

Why would you call JSON.stringify() first? content is just a string at this point, so all you need is to call JSON.parse(). — MTCoster
– MTCoster, Commented Feb 13, 2019 at 17:50
@MTCoster, the point was that the object.js file is NOT valid JSON and it shouldn't be - it's a JavaScript object, hence it's not parsable with JSON.parse or JSON.stringify or a combination of both. I just tried to provide more information about what I tried to help others help me faster:) — Kipras Melnikovas
– Kipras Melnikovas, Commented Feb 13, 2019 at 19:23

cross19xx · Accepted Answer · 2019-02-13 18:12:52Z

4

If the file is a JS file, you could consider them as a module and export them

answered Feb 13, 2019 at 18:12

cross19xx

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1 Comment

Kipras Melnikovas Over a year ago

Thanks! I solved it by adding module.exports = { ... } at the beginning of the object.js file and then using let object = eval(content) in reader.js, which works perfectly (eval is safe in my case since it's a startup script)!

Tsvetan Ganev · Accepted Answer · 2019-02-13 17:51:40Z

0

fs.readFileSync will return the content of the file as a string. You should parse that string into a JavaScript object using JSON.parse(content). However, your file doesn't seem to be valid JSON - you must wrap your keys with " and any string values with " as well.

answered Feb 13, 2019 at 17:51

Tsvetan Ganev

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1 Comment

Kipras Melnikovas Over a year ago

Thanks, the point was that the object.js file is not JSON, but a JavaScript object:)

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