Unable to build a working snap for my nodejs application

snapcraft
1

I am new to snapcraft and I am trying to build a snap for my application but I have been running into issues. My application works with a postgres database, redis, hoops communicator for 3D assets and npm node_modules. I am able to build the snap but it does not work as expected. The goal is to be able to start my application with the node command ( node dist/workspaces/server/main ) but I get it error after installing and trying to run the snap. The error says “tslib module not found”. I ran unsquashfs against the snap and I can see the tslib module present in the node-modules folder. I want to release this app to the snapstore. I must be doing something wrong. I need help and clarification on some things.

  • First, how can I package it to run effectively?
  • Also, how can I build it to work with postgres and redis already running on my linux server? The reason for this question is that I have a .env file where I declare env variables for my nodejs app.
  • Also, how can i build the snap to only install node_modules at installation time for the snap?

my snapcraft.yaml and .env files are available below. Thank you

name: my-app
base: core18
version: '0.1'
summary: node selfhosted web creator application
description: |
  my-app is used to build interactive digital work instructions and manuals.
  This is the web creator application for my-app.

grade: devel
confinement: devmode

parts:
  my-app:
source: .
plugin: nodejs
nodejs-version: '16.13.0'
nodejs-package-manager: yarn
nodejs-yarn-version: 'v1.22.19'
stage-packages:
  - redis
  - postgresql
  - libgl1
  - libglu1-mesa
  - libglvnd0
  - libglx0
  - libx11-6
  - libxau6
  - libxcb1
  - libxdamage1
  - libxdmcp6
  - libxext6
  - nodejs
  - libxfixes3

  hoops-converter:
plugin: nil
source: hoops_converter/
build-attributes: [keep-execstack]
override-build: |
  apt install xvfb libsdl1.2-dev -y
  export HOOPS_INSTALL_DIR=/usr/src
stage-packages:
  - libgl1
  - libglu1-mesa
  - libglvnd0
  - libglx0
  - libx11-6
  - libxau6
  - libxcb1
  - libxdamage1
  - libxdmcp6
  - libxext6
  - libxfixes3

apps:
  my-app:
command: bin/node
plugs: [network-bind, home, network]

and here is my .env file

PORT=4000

# credentials for sending emails through SMTP

SMTP_ACCESS_USER=

SMTP_ACCESS_PWD=

SMTP_ACCESS_HOST=

SMTP_ACCESS_PORT=587

REDIS_HOST=

REDIS_PORT=6379

REDIS_PASSWORD=

# Envision frontend URL (to configure idp realm correctly, and all the links sent in emails)

ENVISION_FRONTEND_URL=http://localhost:4200

# typeorm to connect to database ------

TYPEORM_DATABASE=envision

TYPEORM_HOST=

TYPEORM_USERNAME=

TYPEORM_PASSWORD=

TYPEORM_PORT=5432

# self host license keys

LICENSE_KEY=

# optional. Needed if SSL needs to be supported on app server side

PRIVATE_SSL_CERTIFICATE=

PUBLIC_SSL_CERTIFICATE=
2

To successfully package your application as a Snap:

  • Include all dependencies in snapcraft.yaml, including SMTP Relay Server if necessary.

  • Set up PostgreSQL, Redis, and SMTP environment variables in the.env file.

  • Use stage-packages in snapcraft.yaml to install node_modules during the Snap installation.

  • Thoroughly test before releasing to the Snap Store.