{"id":17590,"library":"encode","title":"Data Encoding/Decoding for Database Records","description":"This package offers low-level utilities for deterministically encoding and decoding JavaScript records into binary formats suitable for database storage, particularly within contexts like B-trees or LevelDB-style key-value stores. It provides an `Encoder` class that accepts a schema-like definition of fields, allowing developers to precisely control the binary representation of structured data. This deterministic encoding is crucial for correct sorting and indexing in ordered data structures. The library is currently at version 1.0.1 and has not received updates in approximately ten years, indicating it is no longer actively maintained. Its core functionality revolves around efficient, type-aware binary serialization and deserialization of objects to and from Node.js `Buffer` instances, a key differentiator for performance-critical database operations over more generic serialization methods like JSON. The `Encoder` also exposes a `compare` method for comparing encoded binary records directly.","status":"abandoned","version":"1.0.1","language":"javascript","source_language":"en","source_url":"ssh://git@github.com/bigeasy/encode","tags":["javascript","btree","leveldb","levelup","binary","mvcc","database","json","b-tree"],"install":[{"cmd":"npm install encode","lang":"bash","label":"npm"},{"cmd":"yarn add encode","lang":"bash","label":"yarn"},{"cmd":"pnpm add encode","lang":"bash","label":"pnpm"}],"dependencies":[],"imports":[{"note":"This package is CommonJS only; direct ESM `import` statements will fail. Use dynamic import for ESM compatibility or stick to `require()` in CJS environments.","wrong":"import { Encoder } from 'encode'","symbol":"Encoder","correct":"const Encoder = require('encode')"},{"note":"The `encode` method serializes a JavaScript object into a Node.js `Buffer` based on the defined schema.","symbol":"encodeInstance.encode","correct":"const encoded = encoder.encode(record)"},{"note":"The `decode` method deserializes a Node.js `Buffer` back into a JavaScript object according to the `Encoder`'s schema.","symbol":"encodeInstance.decode","correct":"const decoded = encoder.decode(buffer)"}],"quickstart":{"code":"const Encoder = require('encode');\nconst { v4: uuidv4 } = require('uuid'); // Peer dependency for UUID type\n\n// Define a schema for a user record\nconst userSchema = [\n  { name: 'id', type: 'uuid' },\n  { name: 'age', type: 'uint32' },\n  { name: 'name', type: 'string' },\n  { name: 'isActive', type: 'uint8', map: { true: 1, false: 0 } } // Map boolean to uint8\n];\n\nconst userEncoder = new Encoder(userSchema);\n\n// Example record to encode\nconst userId = uuidv4();\nconst userRecord = {\n  id: userId,\n  age: 30,\n  name: 'Alice Smith',\n  isActive: true\n};\n\nconsole.log('Original record:', userRecord);\n\n// Encode the record\nconst encodedBuffer = userEncoder.encode(userRecord);\nconsole.log('Encoded buffer (hex):', encodedBuffer.toString('hex'));\n\n// Decode the buffer back to a record\nconst decodedRecord = userEncoder.decode(encodedBuffer);\nconsole.log('Decoded record:', decodedRecord);\n\n// Demonstrate the comparator for two records\nconst userRecord2 = {\n  id: uuidv4(),\n  age: 25,\n  name: 'Bob Johnson',\n  isActive: false\n};\nconst encodedBuffer2 = userEncoder.encode(userRecord2);\n\n// The comparator helps sort records based on the defined schema\n// (Note: The comparison logic is field-by-field based on schema definition order)\nconst comparisonResult = userEncoder.compare(encodedBuffer, encodedBuffer2);\nconsole.log(`Comparison (user1 vs user2): ${comparisonResult}`);\n\n// Ensure decoded values match original (mapping back 'isActive' from 0/1 to boolean)\nconst originalIsActive = userRecord.isActive;\nconst decodedIsActive = decodedRecord.isActive === 1;\nconsole.log(`isActive matches: ${originalIsActive === decodedIsActive}`);","lang":"javascript","description":"Demonstrates defining an `Encoder` schema, encoding a JavaScript object into a binary `Buffer`, decoding it back, and using the built-in comparator."},"warnings":[{"fix":"Use `const Encoder = require('encode');` in CommonJS modules. For ESM projects, consider dynamic import (`import('encode').then(mod => const Encoder = mod)`) or transpilation if full ESM integration is required.","message":"The package is CommonJS only. Attempting to use `import` syntax (ESM) directly will result in a runtime error like 'require is not defined' in an ESM module context. There are no official ESM builds or compatibility layers provided.","severity":"breaking","affected_versions":">=1.0.0"},{"fix":"Evaluate carefully before adopting for new projects. For existing projects, consider migrating to actively maintained alternatives if long-term support or modern features are critical.","message":"This package has not been updated in approximately 10 years and is considered abandoned. While it may still function for its intended purpose, there will be no future updates, bug fixes, or security patches. Compatibility with newer Node.js versions or JavaScript features is not guaranteed.","severity":"gotcha","affected_versions":">=1.0.0"},{"fix":"Create a `declare module 'encode';` file (e.g., `types/encode.d.ts`) or provide more specific typings for the `Encoder` class and its methods manually if type safety is required.","message":"The library does not ship with TypeScript type definitions. Developers using TypeScript will need to create their own declaration files (`.d.ts`) or use a generic `declare module 'encode';` to avoid type errors.","severity":"gotcha","affected_versions":">=1.0.0"},{"fix":"Ensure that the input data strictly conforms to the `Encoder`'s schema during encoding, and that the same schema (or a compatible one) is used for decoding. Validate input data before encoding.","message":"The encoding is strictly based on the defined schema. Incorrect or mismatched data types in the input object compared to the schema, or attempting to decode a `Buffer` not created by the same schema, will lead to unexpected values, errors, or data corruption.","severity":"gotcha","affected_versions":">=1.0.0"}],"env_vars":null,"last_verified":"2026-04-23T00:00:00.000Z","next_check":"2026-07-22T00:00:00.000Z","problems":[{"fix":"Change the module to CommonJS (`.js` without `type: \"module\"`) or use a dynamic `import('encode')` call within an async function in your ESM code. Example: `const { Encoder } = await import('encode');`","cause":"Attempting to `require('encode')` in a JavaScript module configured as ES Module (e.g., `type: \"module\"` in package.json or using `.mjs` extension).","error":"ReferenceError: require is not defined"},{"fix":"The package exports the `Encoder` class as the module's default export. Use `const Encoder = require('encode');` for CommonJS environments.","cause":"Incorrectly importing the `Encoder` in a CommonJS module, such as attempting `const { Encoder } = require('encode');` when the module exports directly, or using an ESM `import` in a CJS file that hasn't been transpiled.","error":"TypeError: Encoder is not a constructor"}],"ecosystem":"npm","meta_description":null,"install_score":null,"install_tag":null,"quickstart_score":null,"quickstart_tag":null}