Pure JavaScript and Asynchronous Firebird client for Node.js

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Changelog for version v0.2.x

• added auto-reconnect
• added sequentially selects
• events for connection (attach, detach, row, result, transaction, commit, rollback, error, etc.)
• performance improvements
• supports inserting/updating buffers and streams
• reading blobs (sequentially)
• pooling
• database.detach() waits for last command
• better unit-test

---

• Firebird documentation
• Firebird limits and data types

Installation

npm install node-firebird

Usage

var Firebird = require('node-firebird');

Methods

• Firebird.escape(value) -> return {String} - prevent for SQL Injections
• Firebird.attach(options, function(err, db)) attach a database
• Firebird.create(options, function(err, db)) create a database
• Firebird.attachOrCreate(options, function(err, db)) attach or create database
• Firebird.pool(max, options) -> return {Object} create a connection pooling

Connection types

Connection options

var options = {};

options.host = '127.0.0.1';
options.port = 3050;
options.database = 'database.fdb';
options.user = 'SYSDBA';
options.password = 'masterkey';
options.lowercase_keys = false; // set to true to lowercase keys
options.role = null; // default
options.pageSize = 4096; // default when creating database
options.retryConnectionInterval = 1000; // reconnect interval in case of connection drop
options.blobAsText = false; // set to true to get blob as text, only affects blob subtype 1
options.encoding = 'UTF8'; // default encoding for connection is UTF-8

Classic

Firebird.attach(options, function (err, db) {
  if (err) throw err;

  // db = DATABASE
  db.query('SELECT * FROM TABLE', function (err, result) {
    // IMPORTANT: close the connection
    db.detach();
  });
});

Pooling

// 5 = the number is count of opened sockets
var pool = Firebird.pool(5, options);

// Get a free pool
pool.get(function (err, db) {
  if (err) throw err;

  // db = DATABASE
  db.query('SELECT * FROM TABLE', function (err, result) {
    // IMPORTANT: release the pool connection
    db.detach();
  });
});

// Destroy pool
pool.destroy();

Database object (db)

Database Methods

• db.query(query, [params], function(err, result)) - classic query, returns Array of Object
• db.execute(query, [params], function(err, result)) - classic query, returns Array of Array
• db.sequentially(query, [params], function(row, index), function(err)) - sequentially query
• db.detach(function(err)) detach a database
• db.transaction(isolation, function(err, transaction)) create transaction

Transaction methods

• transaction.query(query, [params], function(err, result)) - classic query, returns Array of Object
• transaction.execute(query, [params], function(err, result)) - classic query, returns Array of Array
• transaction.commit(function(err)) commit current transaction
• transaction.rollback(function(err)) rollback current transaction

Examples

Parametrized Queries

Parameters

Firebird.attach(options, function (err, db) {
  if (err) throw err;

  // db = DATABASE
  db.query(
    'INSERT INTO USERS (ID, ALIAS, CREATED) VALUES(?, ?, ?) RETURNING ID',
    [1, "Pe'ter", new Date()],
    function (err, result) {
      console.log(result[0].id);
      db.query(
        'SELECT * FROM USERS WHERE Alias=?',
        ['Peter'],
        function (err, result) {
          console.log(result);
          db.detach();
        }
      );
    }
  );
});

BLOB (stream)

Firebird.attach(options, function (err, db) {
  if (err) throw err;

  // db = DATABASE
  // INSERT STREAM as BLOB
  db.query(
    'INSERT INTO USERS (ID, ALIAS, FILE) VALUES(?, ?, ?)',
    [1, 'Peter', fs.createReadStream('/users/image.jpg')],
    function (err, result) {
      // IMPORTANT: close the connection
      db.detach();
    }
  );
});

BLOB (buffer)

Firebird.attach(options, function (err, db) {
  if (err) throw err;

  // db = DATABASE
  // INSERT BUFFER as BLOB
  db.query(
    'INSERT INTO USERS (ID, ALIAS, FILE) VALUES(?, ?, ?)',
    [1, 'Peter', fs.readFileSync('/users/image.jpg')],
    function (err, result) {
      // IMPORTANT: close the connection
      db.detach();
    }
  );
});

Reading Blobs (Asynchronous)

Firebird.attach(options, function (err, db) {
  if (err) throw err;

  // db = DATABASE
  db.query('SELECT ID, ALIAS, USERPICTURE FROM USER', function (err, rows) {
    if (err) throw err;

    // first row
    rows[0].userpicture(function (err, name, e) {
      if (err) throw err;

      // +v0.2.4
      // e.pipe(writeStream/Response);

      // e === EventEmitter
      e.on('data', function (chunk) {
        // reading data
      });

      e.on('end', function () {
        // end reading
        // IMPORTANT: close the connection
        db.detach();
      });
    });
  });
});

Reading Multiples Blobs (Asynchronous)

Firebird.attach(options, (err, db) => {
  if (err) throw err;

  db.transaction(Firebird.ISOLATION_READ_COMMITTED, (err, transaction) => {
    if (err) {
      throw err;
    }

    transaction.query('SELECT FIRST 10 * FROM JOB', (err, result) => {
      if (err) {
        transaction.rollback();
        return;
      }

      const arrBlob = [];
      for (const item of result) {
        const fields = Object.keys(item);
        for (const key of fields) {
          if (typeof item[key] === 'function') {
            item[key] = new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
              // the same transaction is used (better performance)
              // this is optional
              item[key](transaction, (error, name, event, row) => {
                if (error) {
                  return reject(error);
                }

                // reading data
                let value = '';
                event.on('data', (chunk) => {
                  value += chunk.toString('binary');
                });
                event.on('end', () => {
                  resolve({ value, column: name, row });
                });
              });
            });
            arrBlob.push(item[key]);
          }
        }
      }

      Promise.all(arrBlob)
        .then((blobs) => {
          for (const blob of blobs) {
            result[blob.row][blob.column] = blob.value;
          }

          transaction.commit((err) => {
            if (err) {
              transaction.rollback();
              return;
            }

            db.detach();
            console.log(result);
          });
        })
        .catch((err) => {
          transaction.rollback();
        });
    });
  });
});

Streaming a big data

Firebird.attach(options, function (err, db) {
  if (err) throw err;

  // db = DATABASE
  db.sequentially(
    'SELECT * FROM BIGTABLE',
    function (row, index) {
      // EXAMPLE
      stream.write(JSON.stringify(row));
    },
    function (err) {
      // END
      // IMPORTANT: close the connection
      db.detach();
    }
  );
});

Transactions

Transaction types:

• Firebird.ISOLATION_READ_UNCOMMITTED
• Firebird.ISOLATION_READ_COMMITTED
• Firebird.ISOLATION_REPEATABLE_READ
• Firebird.ISOLATION_SERIALIZABLE
• Firebird.ISOLATION_READ_COMMITTED_READ_ONLY

Firebird.attach(options, function (err, db) {
  if (err) throw err;

  // db = DATABASE
  db.transaction(
    Firebird.ISOLATION_READ_COMMITTED,
    function (err, transaction) {
      transaction.query(
        'INSERT INTO users VALUE(?,?)',
        [1, 'Janko'],
        function (err, result) {
          if (err) {
            transaction.rollback();
            return;
          }

          transaction.commit(function (err) {
            if (err) transaction.rollback();
            else db.detach();
          });
        }
      );
    }
  );
});

Events

Firebird.attach(options, function (err, db) {
  if (err) throw err;

  db.on('row', function (row, index, isObject) {
    // index === Number
    // isObject === is row object or array?
  });

  db.on('result', function (result) {
    // result === Array
  });

  db.on('attach', function () {});

  db.on('detach', function (isPoolConnection) {
    // isPoolConnection == Boolean
  });

  db.on('reconnect', function () {});

  db.on('error', function (err) {});

  db.on('transaction', function (isolation) {
    // isolation === Number
  });

  db.on('commit', function () {});

  db.on('rollback', function () {});

  db.detach();
});

Escaping Query values

var sql1 = 'SELECT * FROM TBL_USER WHERE ID>' + Firebird.escape(1);
var sql2 = 'SELECT * FROM TBL_USER WHERE NAME=' + Firebird.escape("Pe'er");
var sql3 =
  'SELECT * FROM TBL_USER WHERE CREATED<=' + Firebird.escape(new Date());
var sql4 = 'SELECT * FROM TBL_USER WHERE NEWSLETTER=' + Firebird.escape(true);

// or db.escape()

console.log(sql1);
console.log(sql2);
console.log(sql3);
console.log(sql4);

Using GDS codes

var { GDSCode } = require('node-firebird/lib/gdscodes');
/*...*/
db.query(
  'insert into my_table(id, name) values (?, ?)',
  [1, 'John Doe'],
  function (err) {
    if (err.gdscode == GDSCode.UNIQUE_KEY_VIOLATION) {
      console.log('constraint name:' + err.gdsparams[0]);
      console.log('table name:' + err.gdsparams[0]);
      /*...*/
    }
    /*...*/
  }
);

Service Manager functions

• backup
• restore
• fixproperties
• serverinfo
• database validation
• commit transaction
• rollback transaction
• recover transaction
• database stats
• users infos
• user actions (add modify remove)
• get firebird file log
• tracing

// each row : fctname : [params], typeofreturn
var fbsvc = {
    "backup" : { [ "options"], "stream" },
    "nbackup" : { [ "options"], "stream" },
    "restore" : { [ "options"], "stream" },
    "nrestore" : { [ "options"], "stream" },
    "setDialect": { [ "database","dialect"], "stream" },
    "setSweepinterval": { [ "database","sweepinterval"], "stream" },
    "setCachebuffer" : { [ "database","nbpagebuffers"], "stream" },
    "BringOnline" : { [ "database"], "stream" },
    "Shutdown" : { [ "database","shutdown","shutdowndelay","shutdownmode"], "stream" },
    "setShadow" : { [ "database","activateshadow"], "stream" },
    "setForcewrite" : { [ "database","forcewrite"], "stream" },
    "setReservespace" : { [ "database","reservespace"], "stream" },
    "setReadonlyMode" : { [ "database"], "stream" },
    "setReadwriteMode" : { [ "database"], "stream" },
    "validate" : { [ "options"], "stream" },
    "commit" : { [ "database", "transactid"], "stream" },
    "rollback" : { [ "database", "transactid"], "stream" },
    "recover" : { [ "database", "transactid"], "stream" },
    "getStats" : { [ "options"], "stream" },
    "getLog" : { [ "options"], "stream" },
    "getUsers" : { [ "username"], "object" },
    "addUser" : { [ "username", "password", "options"], "stream" },
    "editUser" : { [ "username", "options"], "stream" },
    "removeUser" : { [ "username","rolename"], "stream" },
    "getFbserverInfos" : { [ "options", "options"], "object" },
    "startTrace" : { [ "options"], "stream" },
    "suspendTrace" : { [ "options"], "stream" },
    "resumeTrace" : { [ "options"], "stream" },
    "stopTrace" : { [ "options"], "stream" },
    "getTraceList" : { [ "options"], "stream" },
    "hasActionRunning" : { [ "options"], "object"}
}

Backup Service example

const options = {...}; // Classic configuration with manager = true
Firebird.attach(options, function(err, svc) {
    if (err)
        return;
    svc.backup(
        {
            database:'/DB/MYDB.FDB',
            files: [
                    {
                     filename:'/DB/MYDB.FBK',
                     sizefile:'0'
                    }
                   ]
        },
        function(err, data) {
            data.on('data', line => console.log(line));
            data.on('end', () => svc.detach());
        }
    );
});

Restore Service example

const config = {...}; // Classic configuration with manager = true
const RESTORE_OPTS = {
    database: 'database.fdb',
    files: ['backup.fbk']
};

Firebird.attach(config, (err, srv) => {
    srv.restore(RESTORE_OPTS, (err, data) => {
        data.on('data', () => {});
        data.on('end', () =>{
            srv.detach();})
        });
    });

getLog and getFbserverInfos Service examples with use of stream and object return

fb.attach(_connection, function (err, svc) {
  if (err) return;
  // all function that return a stream take two optional parameter
  // optread => byline or buffer  byline use isc_info_svc_line and buffer use isc_info_svc_to_eof
  // buffersize => is the buffer for service manager it can't exceed 8ko (i'm not sure)

  svc.getLog({ optread: 'buffer', buffersize: 2048 }, function (err, data) {
    // data is a readablestream that contain the firebird.log file
    console.log(err);
    data.on('data', function (data) {
      console.log(data.toString());
    });
    data.on('end', function () {
      console.log('finish');
    });
  });

  // an other exemple to use function that return object
  svc.getFbserverInfos(
    {
      dbinfo: true,
      fbconfig: true,
      svcversion: true,
      fbversion: true,
      fbimplementation: true,
      fbcapatibilities: true,
      pathsecuritydb: true,
      fbenv: true,
      fbenvlock: true,
      fbenvmsg: true,
    },
    {},
    function (err, data) {
      console.log(err);
      console.log(data);
    }
  );
});

Charset for database connection is always UTF-8

Node Firebird uses UTF-8 as the default charset. If you want a different one, such as Latin1, you will need to go into the library and modify the default_encoding in the index.js file

const default_encoding = 'latin1';

This is why you should use Firebird 2.5 server at least.

Firebird 3.0 Support

Firebird new wire protocol is not supported yet so for Firebird 3.0 you need to add the following in firebird.conf according to Firebird 3 release notes https://firebirdsql.org/file/documentation/release_notes/html/en/3_0/rnfb30-security-new-authentication.html

AuthServer = Srp, Legacy_Auth
WireCrypt = Disabled
UserManager = Legacy_UserManager

Firebird 4 wire protocol is not supported yet so for Firebird 4.0 you need to add the following in firebird.conf according to Firebird release notes https://firebirdsql.org/file/documentation/release_notes/html/en/4_0/rlsnotes40.html#rnfb40-config-srp256

AuthServer = Srp256, Srp, Legacy_Auth
WireCrypt = Disabled
UserManager = Legacy_UserManager

Please read also Authorization with Firebird 2.5 client library from Firebird 4 migration guide https://ib-aid.com/download/docs/fb4migrationguide.html#_authorization_with_firebird_2_5_client_library_fbclient_dll

Contributors

• Henri Gourvest, https://github.com/hgourvest
• Popa Marius Adrian, https://github.com/mariuz
• Peter Širka, https://github.com/petersirka