Introduction to solid-file-client

solid-file-client is a powerful JavaScript library for managing files stored in Solid Pods. This library allows developers to interact with files, directories, and data seamlessly using various APIs. This guide will introduce some of the most useful APIs provided by solid-file-client and demonstrate their usage through practical code snippets. By the end of this guide, you’ll also find an example app built using these APIs.

Getting Started

First, install the solid-file-client package via npm or yarn:

  npm install solid-file-client

  yarn add solid-file-client

API Examples

1. Fetching File Content

You can fetch the content of a file stored in a Solid Pod using the fetch function:

  const SolidFileClient = require('solid-file-client');
  const fc = new SolidFileClient();

  async function fetchFileContent(url) {
    try {
      const content = await fc.readFile(url);
      console.log(content);
    } catch (error) {
      console.error(error);
    }
  }

  fetchFileContent('https://example.solidcommunity.net/public/file.txt');

2. Writing to a File

Writing content to a file is straightforward with the writeFile function:

  async function writeFileContent(url, content) {
    try {
      await fc.writeFile(url, content);
      console.log('File written successfully');
    } catch (error) {
      console.error(error);
    }
  }

  writeFileContent('https://example.solidcommunity.net/public/file.txt', 'Hello, Solid!');

3. Deleting a File

To delete a file, simply use the deleteFile function:

  async function deleteFile(url) {
    try {
      await fc.deleteFile(url);
      console.log('File deleted successfully');
    } catch (error) {
      console.error(error);
    }
  }

  deleteFile('https://example.solidcommunity.net/public/file.txt');

4. Copying a File

Copying a file requires the copyFile function:

  async function copyFile(sourceUrl, destinationUrl) {
    try {
      await fc.copyFile(sourceUrl, destinationUrl);
      console.log('File copied successfully');
    } catch (error) {
      console.error(error);
    }
  }

  copyFile('https://example.solidcommunity.net/public/file.txt', 'https://example.solidcommunity.net/public/copy-file.txt');

5. Moving or Renaming a File

Use the moveFile function to move or rename a file:

  async function moveFile(sourceUrl, destinationUrl) {
    try {
      await fc.moveFile(sourceUrl, destinationUrl);
      console.log('File moved successfully');
    } catch (error) {
      console.error(error);
    }
  }

  moveFile('https://example.solidcommunity.net/public/file.txt', 'https://example.solidcommunity.net/public/renamed-file.txt');

6. Creating a Directory

Create directories using the createFolder function:

  async function createDirectory(url) {
    try {
      await fc.createFolder(url);
      console.log('Directory created successfully');
    } catch (error) {
      console.error(error);
    }
  }

  createDirectory('https://example.solidcommunity.net/public/new-folder/');

7. Deleting a Directory

To delete a directory, use the deleteFolder function:

  async function deleteDirectory(url) {
    try {
      await fc.deleteFolder(url);
      console.log('Directory deleted successfully');
    } catch (error) {
      console.error(error);
    }
  }

  deleteDirectory('https://example.solidcommunity.net/public/new-folder/');

Example App: Solid File Manager

This example app showcases how to integrate various solid-file-client functions to build a simple file manager:

  const SolidFileClient = require('solid-file-client');
  const auth = require('solid-auth-cli');
  const fc = new SolidFileClient(auth);

  async function manageFiles() {
    await auth.login();

    // Fetch a file
    const content = await fc.readFile('https://example.solidcommunity.net/public/file.txt');
    console.log(content);

    // Write to a file
    await fc.writeFile('https://example.solidcommunity.net/public/file.txt', 'Updated content');

    // Create a new directory
    await fc.createFolder('https://example.solidcommunity.net/public/new-folder/');

    // Move a file
    await fc.moveFile('https://example.solidcommunity.net/public/file.txt', 'https://example.solidcommunity.net/public/new-folder/file.txt');
  }

  manageFiles().catch(console.error);

This example demonstrates logging into a Solid Pod, fetching file content, updating the file content, creating a new directory, and moving the file to this new directory.

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