Support using with ESM in browser

[coderbyheart]

Currently there are no examples for using the project in the browser, so I created a minimal example that creates a connection in a web application bundled using Vite.js, which uses ES modules.

This does not work, for example because the library depends on globals.

This can be addressed by defining it (see this bug report):

<script>
  // @see https://github.com/aws/aws-sdk-js/issues/3673#issuecomment-855205181
  var global = global || window;
</script>

However then mqtt-packet/constants.js is loaded, which depends on the Node.js API. ESM and browser friendly alternative exists: https://www.npmjs.com/package/u8-mqtt-packet

I understand this is a bigger task, so I wanted people to have an issue to upvote.

[jmklix]

Thanks for bringing this to our attention. We want to add support for ESM, but I don't have a date for when that will get added. Please continue to upvote if this is something that you want.

[matiasfha]

Maybe, monkey patch the dependency by using an alias inside webpack/vite configuration?

[bretambrose]

Would it be accurate to say this is an issue with mqtt-js and not the SDK? What is under SDK/CRT control that can help address this?

[matiasfha]

The SDK can replace the dependency on non ESM packages like the mqtt one

[bretambrose]

That is a very significant ask =/

That being said, we're not super happy with the state of mqtt-js at the moment. Haven't seen a reasonable alternative yet. Preliminary discussions about implementing a pure-JS client ourselves but that's a lot of time for uncertain payoff.

[coderbyheart]

In the mean-time we have gotten proper Websocket API support on API Gateway which provides a better alternative for our use-case. So if you need real-time updates from your IoT devices, I encourage you to look into that instead.

[jmklix]

As @bretambrose said, for ESM to work with this sdk it would need to work with mqtt-js. The changes need to be made in that repo. Because of this I'm going to close this feature request.

[github-actions]

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[linglingsyu]

@jmklix mqtt.js seems to have been updated, see mqttjs/MQTT.js#1269
any modifications would be greatly appreciated , thanks