Meteor-files: Get file contents on server

[davidworkman9]

Is there any way to get the file contents on the server? I have a bunch of text files that I would like to do parsing on. I know I could go to where their stored and open them via the FS module, but if I decide to change where the file is stored I'd rather not have to update that.

[dr-dimitru]

Hello @davidworkman9 ,

I know I could go to where their stored and open them via the FS module

This is the right way.

if I decide to change where the file is stored I'd rather not have to update that

No idea how you can move a file without updating info at its references.

[dr-dimitru]

Hello @davidworkman9 ,

Have you solved this one?

[davidworkman9]

Hi @dr-dimitru. I did. My use case is that in development, everything is stored locally, in production it's stored on S3. I already have the logic for whether to use S3 or a local directory in the meteor files collection definition and didn't want to duplicate that elsewhere when all I want is a buffer of the file on the server. So what I've done is I use request to the link generated from FileCollection.prototype.link to grab the file.

It's working, but I feel it's not the most optimal approach.

[dr-dimitru]

Hi @davidworkman9 ,

Why are you using request? Using s3.getObject method might be more optimal approach. wdyt?

[davidworkman9]

I'm using request so that that code is the same in development & production, and if I ever move away from S3 for whatever reason it's seamless.

[dr-dimitru]

Can't argue on this. Your answer looks solid. Shall we close this one?

[davidworkman9]

Sounds good, closed.