Tracking issue for Removal of node.js dependency

[Martin-Zeithaml]

Create an Epic or use this issue to record what was done, what is in progress and what is missing related to Removal of Node.js dependency.

This whole task is little bit disorganized, spread across several people and squads and there are popping the questions like "Will it be this Friday done?" over and over.

[Martin-Zeithaml]

Config-converter: https://github.com/zowe/zowe-install-packaging/issues/3544 In progress: https://github.com/zowe/zowe-install-packaging/pull/3135

[1000TurquoisePogs]

replacing curl.js is tracked in https://github.com/zowe/zowe-install-packaging/issues/3569

[Martin-Zeithaml]

Update 2023/10/02

• fconv
  • More research to be done
• config-converter
  • Seems not to be used during installation
• jq
  • Possibly replaceable byfakejq (already part of zowe/bin/libs)
  • Or microjq, which is implemented in zowe-common-c
  • More research to be done
• curl
  • Joe has some C (or Java?) implementation, which needs to be tested
• zwe init
  • Needs to be merged

[Martin-Zeithaml]

Update 2023/10/27

• fconv
  • More research to be done
• config-converter
  • Seems not to be used during installation
• jq
  • Possibly replaceable byfakejq (already part of zowe/bin/libs)
  • Or microjq, which is implemented in zowe-common-c
  • Does not support arrays to be returned
  • More research to be done
• curl
  • Joe has some C (or Java?) implementation, which needs to be tested
• zwe init
  • Needs to be merged
• zwe install
  • Because of unrelated bug, proper testing is required

[Martin-Zeithaml]

Update 2024/01/08

Why Node.js removal?

• node.js is required for zowe installation
• Not every customer has node.js
  • Such customer will typically use only API ML
• There is a good reason why to remove node.js dependency for installation process

Components using node.js

fconv

• YAML/JSON converter
• zowe-install-packaging-tools/fcovs

  jq

• A simple jq implementation with node.js
• zowe-install-packaging-tools/njq

  curl

• A simplified version of Linux curl command
• zowe-install-packaging/bin/utils

Independent components

• Possible replacement with z/OS Open tools
  • jq - licence MIT?
  • yq - Apache-2.0 license
  • curl - Apache-2.0 license
• Pros:
  • Tools are ready for use as executable, no dependency
    • Writing own components is time consuming (first attempt 07/2021)
  • Also contains yq, which allows to get rid of fconv
• Cons:
  • Support not guaranteed directly by zowe guys
    • Similar to node packages (angular, webpack, ...)

Done or in progress

• config-converter
  • Seems not to be used during installation
• zwe init (10/2022)
  • Waiting for merge
• zwe install (10/2023)
  • Waiting for merge

[Martin-Zeithaml]

Update 2024/08/07

Note: this update includes #3718.

• curl.js
  • Mysterious usage in internal start prepare
  • ZOSMF_HOST and ZOSMF_PORT environment variables must be used
  • discovery | jobs-api | files-api enabled
  • Or components.gateway.apiml.security.auth.provider=zosmf
  • Currently not used by default, because the code logic is obsolete or something
• ncert
  • /bin/libs/certificate.sh
  • Seems to be used only for migrate for kubernetes
• fconv + njq
  • /bin/libs/json.sh
  • read_yaml (a lot of occurrences...)
• config-converter
  • update_zowe_yaml and delete_zowe_yaml
  • Mostly in /bin/libs/certificate.sh
• Priorities
  • High
  • certificates commands
  • Medium
  • zwe install
  • Low
  • zwe support

Note: It is expected to use zowe.useConfigmgr=true.

[JoeNemo]

Re curl.js, there is work that could be finished, but this is not the highest priority of the Node.js removal issues.

[1000TurquoisePogs]

You can use curl if it is found on PATH. There was an announcement that curl is now free of charge and supported by ibm on z/os I believe the intention was to either have it pre-installed in the next version of zos or to have it via a ptf to 3.1 or something, so over time the likelihood that curl exists will increase.

Or you could use java.

[armstro]

I don't see in this thread the info about curl support from IBM - info is here https://www.ibm.com/products/open-enterprise-foundation-zos Note is delivered via Shopz. If the community needs additional info let me know and I can track down someone inside IBM to explain.