{"id":16331,"library":"database-js-ini","title":"Database-js INI File Driver","description":"database-js-ini is a JavaScript package that functions as a driver for the database-js unified database interface, enabling SQL-like querying of INI configuration files. It allows developers to establish a connection to an INI file using a database-js connection string (e.g., `database-js-ini:///path/to/file.ini`) and execute `SELECT` statements, treating INI sections as tables and properties as columns. The package is currently at version 1.0.1. Given its specific utility as a wrapper and the age of its latest significant update, it operates under a maintenance status, implying stability rather than active feature development. Its core differentiation is providing a consistent, Promise-based `database-js` API for interacting with the simple, structured data of INI files, abstracting file parsing and offering a familiar query paradigm for configuration management.","status":"maintenance","version":"1.0.1","language":"javascript","source_language":"en","source_url":"https://github.com/mlaanderson/database-js-ini","tags":["javascript","database-js","ini"],"install":[{"cmd":"npm install database-js-ini","lang":"bash","label":"npm"},{"cmd":"yarn add database-js-ini","lang":"bash","label":"yarn"},{"cmd":"pnpm add database-js-ini","lang":"bash","label":"pnpm"}],"dependencies":[{"reason":"This package is a driver for the database-js core interface, which it extends and relies upon for connection management and query execution.","package":"database-js","optional":false},{"reason":"Likely an internal dependency for parsing and serializing INI file content.","package":"ini","optional":false}],"imports":[{"note":"Users primarily interact with the `Connection` object from the `database-js` core package. `database-js-ini` registers itself as a driver implicitly upon installation, allowing `database-js` to use it when a connection string with the `database-js-ini:///` protocol is provided. The `database-js2` import seen in some examples is likely a legacy artifact or a specific fork; `database-js` is the standard and correct core package.","wrong":"const Connection = require('database-js2').Connection;","symbol":"Connection","correct":"import { Connection } from 'database-js';"}],"quickstart":{"code":"import { Connection } from 'database-js';\nimport * as fs from 'fs';\n\nconst iniContent = `\n[SERVER]\nport=8080\nhost=localhost\n\n[DATABASE]\ntype=sqlite\nfilepath=/tmp/data.db\n`;\n\nconst iniFilePath = './config.ini';\n\n// Create a temporary INI file for the example\nfs.writeFileSync(iniFilePath, iniContent, 'utf8');\n\n(async () => {\n    let connection: Connection | null = null;\n    try {\n        // Connect using the database-js-ini protocol and specify the INI file path\n        connection = new Connection(`database-js-ini:///${iniFilePath}`);\n        \n        // Query all properties from the [SERVER] section\n        let statement = await connection.prepareStatement(\"SELECT port, host FROM SERVER\");\n        let serverSettings = await statement.query();\n        console.log('Server Settings:', serverSettings);\n\n        // Query all properties from the [DATABASE] section\n        statement = await connection.prepareStatement(\"SELECT type, filepath FROM DATABASE\");\n        let databaseSettings = await statement.query();\n        console.log('Database Settings:', databaseSettings);\n\n    } catch (error) {\n        console.error('An error occurred during INI file access:', error);\n    } finally {\n        if (connection) {\n            await connection.close();\n        }\n        // Clean up the temporary INI file\n        if (fs.existsSync(iniFilePath)) {\n            fs.unlinkSync(iniFilePath);\n        }\n    }\n})();","lang":"typescript","description":"This quickstart demonstrates how to use `database-js-ini` to connect to and query data from a simple INI file. It creates a temporary `config.ini` file, establishes a `database-js` connection, executes `SELECT` queries against different INI sections, and logs the results before cleaning up."},"warnings":[{"fix":"Always import `Connection` from `database-js` unless you explicitly intend to use a variant named `database-js2` (which is not the official core package). Example: `import { Connection } from 'database-js';` or `const Connection = require('database-js').Connection;`.","message":"The `README` example provided with `database-js-ini` uses `require('database-js2').Connection;`. The standard core package for this ecosystem is `database-js`. Using `database-js2` might lead to unexpected behavior or an inability to resolve the module if `database-js` is what you have installed.","severity":"gotcha","affected_versions":">=1.0.0"},{"fix":"Exercise caution when referring to documentation within the package's `README`. Always cross-reference with the main `database-js` project documentation for accurate information on driver usage and capabilities.","message":"The 'About' section in the `database-js-ini` README contains a copy-paste error, referencing `database-js-mysql` instead of `database-js-ini`. This indicates potentially outdated or poorly maintained documentation.","severity":"gotcha","affected_versions":">=1.0.0"},{"fix":"Manage expectations for the complexity of queries. For more complex data manipulation or robust database features, consider a full-fledged database system and its corresponding `database-js` driver.","message":"This package provides a simplified SQL-like interface for INI files. It treats sections as tables and properties as columns. Advanced SQL features such as complex joins, subqueries, aggregate functions, or full data type support (beyond basic string interpretation) are not available. It is best suited for straightforward configuration data retrieval.","severity":"gotcha","affected_versions":">=1.0.0"},{"fix":"Carefully test its compatibility with your specific Node.js environment and consider potential security implications for long-term production use. Evaluate if a more actively maintained INI parser (e.g., `npm/ini`) directly integrated into your application might be a better choice for critical projects.","message":"The `database-js-ini` package version 1.0.1 appears to be quite old (e.g., GitHub activity on `package.json` suggests ~9 years ago). While this might imply stability, it also means it may not receive updates for modern JavaScript features, security patches, or compatibility with newer Node.js versions.","severity":"gotcha","affected_versions":">=1.0.0"}],"env_vars":null,"last_verified":"2026-04-22T00:00:00.000Z","next_check":"2026-07-21T00:00:00.000Z","problems":[{"fix":"Ensure `database-js-ini` is installed (`npm install database-js-ini`) and that `database-js` is able to discover and load it. In some environments, an explicit `require('database-js-ini');` (even without assigning to a variable) might be needed to trigger driver registration.","cause":"The `database-js-ini` driver was not properly loaded or registered with the `database-js` core. This can happen if the package is not installed or if there's an environment issue.","error":"Error: Protocol 'database-js-ini' not found in connection string."},{"fix":"Verify that you are importing `Connection` from the correct `database-js` package you have installed. Use `import { Connection } from 'database-js';` for ESM or `const { Connection } = require('database-js');` for CommonJS.","cause":"The `Connection` symbol was imported incorrectly or from the wrong package. The common mistake is trying to `require` from `database-js2` as seen in the package's old README, while having installed `database-js`.","error":"TypeError: Connection is not a constructor"},{"fix":"Ensure the INI file exists at the specified path and that your application has read permissions for it. Use an absolute path or verify the relative path from your execution context.","cause":"The INI file specified in the connection string (`database-js-ini:///path/to/your/test.ini`) does not exist or the path is incorrect relative to where your application is run.","error":"Error: ENOENT: no such file or directory, open '/path/to/your/test.ini'"}],"ecosystem":"npm"}