Develop Reference

Waiting for asynchronous functions called inside for loop to finish in Javascript

I'm developing a web application where text messages are to be sent to several users once the form is submitted. I've created a for loop that loops through all numbers and sends the messages using async waterfall. But the problem is since the function calls inside the for loop are asynchronous, the for loop finishes and the res.end() is called. Therefore the, all the res.write(); functions inside the doesn't since the response is already closed. How can I wait till all the callbacks from the functions inside the for loop are executed to end the response.
res.write("Delivery note issued successfully")
res.write("Sending text messages....")
let api = '000000000000'
for(let i = 0; i < textMessageNumbers.length; i++) {
res.write("Sending to " + textMessageNumbers[i])
async.series([
function(callback) {
request('https://api_link?destination=' + textMessageNumbers[i] + '&q=' + api + '&message=' + textMessage, { json: true }, callback)
}
], function(err, data) {
if(err) {
res.write("Error occurred while sending text message to " + textMessageNumbers[i])
}
if(data[0].body == 0) {
res.write("Text message sent successfully to <b>" + textMessageNumbers[i] + "</b>")
} else {
res.write("Couldn't send message to <b>" + textMessageNumbers[i] + "</b>")
}
})
}
res.write("Delivery Note Successfull")
res.end()

write() does not write sequentialy?

I have found that write() method of stream.Writable class does not write data sequentially. When I an sending am attachment to the server in chunks, this code assembles data chunks in wrong order if no delay occurs. If I put a debug message like console.log() in the middle of the loop (like to dump the data to watch what is being written, actually), this bug disappears. So, what is the race condition in this code ? Looks like I am enforcing a sequential assembling of the file, so I do not understand what is wrong.
My code:
function join_chunks(company_id,attachment_id,num_chunks) {
var stream;
var file;
var output_filename=ATTACHMENTS_PATH + '/comp' + company_id + '/' + attachment_id + '.data';
var input_filename;
var chunk_data;
var chunk_count=0;
stream=fs.createWriteStream(output_filename,{flags:'w+',mode: 0666});
console.log('joining files:');
for(var i=0;i<num_chunks;i++) {
input_filename=ATTACHMENTS_PATH + '/comp' + company_id + '/' + attachment_id + '-' + (i+1) + '.chunk';
console.log(input_filename);
fs.readFile(input_filename , (err, chunk_data) => {
if (err) throw err;
stream.write(chunk_data,function() {
chunk_count++;
if (chunk_count==num_chunks) {
console.log('join finished. closing stream');
stream.end();
}
});
});
}
}
The console:
joining files:
/home/attachments/comp-2084830518/67-1.chunk
/home/attachments/comp-2084830518/67-2.chunk
/home/attachments/comp-2084830518/67-3.chunk
/home/attachments/comp-2084830518/67-4.chunk
join finished. closing stream
Node version: v6.9.2

stream.write is an asynchronous operation. This means that multiple calls to it may be serviced out of order.
If you want your writes to happen in order, use stream.writeSync, or use the callback argument to stream.write to sequence your writes.

Array returning Undefined because of asynchrony

I am accessing the API Trello, but I came across the following problem:
Trello access the information, getting the id of each existing row, the code is as follows:
var x;
var numberCardsByList = [];
trello.get("/1/boards/[idBoard]/lists/all", function(err, data) {
if (err) throw err;
console.log("Number of list: " + data.length);
for(var i=0; i<data.length; i++){
x = data[i];
findNumberCards(x);
}
});
As you can see, after getting the size, I walk all these queues with is, within the loop, attach each row in a variable x and call a function that aims to get the number of cards that queue. The code for the number of cards is as follows:
function findNumberCards(x){
trello.get("/1/lists/"+x.id+"/cards", function(err, dados){
if(err) throw err;
console.log("Name List: " + x.name + " have " + dados.length + " cards");
numberCardsByList[x.name] = dados.length;
});
}
Until then all right, but when I try to access the vector numberCardsByList after the end of the search in Trello, it returns undefined:
var x;
var numberCardsByList = [];
trello.get("/1/boards/[idBoard]/lists/all", function(err, data) {
if (err) throw err;
console.log("Quantidade de Filas: " + data.length);
for(var i=0; i<data.length; i++){
x = data[i];
findNumberCards(x);
}
});
console.log(numberCardsByList);
I am aware that it is because of asynchrony, however, can not solve.

The problem you're facing has been solved many times before. If you want to know more, search for the keyword "Promise". If you're familiar with jQuery, try and look up: $.whenAll, $.ajax().done, $.ajax().always, etc.
If you want to come up with a light weight solution yourself, here's a pointer:
By the time you get to your console.log(numberCardsByList), your requests triggered by findNumberCards haven't yet completed, making the Array empty. You'll need to make sure you know when all findNumberCards requests have completed and then log them. Alternatively, you could log them every time one of them completes.
There are roughly two approaches:
Keep track of your open requests and call a function when a request is handled.
Observe your numberCardsByList object and call a function whenever items are added (you won't know if they were added async or synchronously)
I'd suggest going with the first approach. Check out this example code and the comments:
var numberCardsByList = {};
// This array will store the url for every open request
var openRequests = [];
var removeRequest = function(url) {
var index = openRequests.indexOf(url);
if (index === -1) return;
// Remove url from array
openRequests = openRequests
.slice(0, index)
.concat(openRequests
.slice(index + 1));
};
// This will be called whenever one request completes
var onComplete = function(url) {
removeRequest(url);
// When all have completed, we can call our callback
if (openRequests.length === 0) {
onAllComplete();
}
});
// This will be called when there are no open requests left
var onAllComplete = function(data) {
console.log(numberCardsByList);
}
trello.get("/1/boards/[idBoard]/lists/all", function(err, data) {
if (err) throw err;
console.log("Number of list: " + data.length);
for (var i = 0; i < data.length; i++) {
x = data[i];
findNumberCards(x);
}
});
function findNumberCards(x) {
var url = "/1/lists/" + x.id + "/cards";
// Before we make the request, we register it:
openRequests.push(url);
trello.get(url, function(err, dados) {
numberCardsByList[x.name] = dados.length;
// When it is completed, we call onComplete
onComplete(url);
});
};
Note that this onAllComplete isn't 100% safe: it might be called multiple times if a request finishes before the next one is started.
Concluding:
If you can, I'd use a library to handle promises. If you want to try and build something yourself, you could try and keep track of the requests and execute a callback when they've all completed.

Keep in mind my above code most likely wont work for you as i dont know whats going on in your code so this is an example / explanation how to deal with your problem.
Since you are unfamiliar with async operation i will assume you dont have a prior knowledge of promises and therefore give you a less optimal solution - however promises are alot better and you should defintely learn them.
You need to execute sequence procedures inside the result of the async code.
First you'll create a function for the second operation for example:
function numberCardsByList (param1,param2){.....}
You will then change fineNumberCards to also accept a callback:
function findNumberCards(x, callback){
trello.get("/1/lists/"+x.id+"/cards", function(err, dados){
if(err) throw err;
console.log("Name List: " + x.name + " have " + dados.length + " cards");
numberCardsByList[x.name] = dados.length;
});
// pass in any params you need.
callback();
}
And then you will pass the newly created function numberCardsByList to findNumberCards or wherever you want it.
trello.get("/1/boards/[idBoard]/lists/all", function(err, data) {
if (err) throw err;
console.log("Number of list: " + data.length);
for(var i=0; i<data.length; i++){
x = data[i];
// and here we are calling findNumberCards and passing in the callback..
findNumberCards(x, numberCardsByList);
}
});
That is generally how you will deal with async operation, you will pass a callback for the next operation to be executed.
update
here is an example of how this is done with another scenario just to demonstrate the point farther.
we start by getting user
service.getUser(userName, function(err,user){
if(user) {
// we get user picture passing getPictureSize as callback
getUserPicture(user.picture, getPictureSize)
}
})
we get the pictureURL
function getUserPicture(picName, cb){
service.getPictureURL(picName, function(err, pictureURL){
if(pictureURL) {
// we then call the callback - the next async operation we want.
cb(pictureURL);
}
});
}
we get picture size - which is the last operation
function getPictureSize(pictureURL){
service.getPictureSize(pictureURL, function(err, pictureSize){
$('.picName').attr('src', picName);
$('.picName').width(pictureSize.width);
$('.picName').height(pictureSize.height);
});
}
I hope that clarify things a little.

Node & MySQL - connection.query inside connection.query - Object property not accessible

I got a pretty awkward problem.
I create a pool, connect to the database, create a connection and query, get the results, do a bunch of stuff, then I have to create another connection and query, but actually it has to be dynamically so I loop over my Array teacherHours containing the data.
Then more Code is happening, and I have to create an extra loop, because certain elements of my teacherHours Array have to try multiple times to get the correct response from the upcoming query.
So another loop follows, which is supposed to loop as long as availableHours > 0. Now, here is where it all goes left.
A buch of code happens inside the second loop, I prepare my second query, call connection.query() and inside of the callback function I prepare my third query (after doing some other stuff) and this is actually where Node kicks me out.
It gives me TypeError: Cannot read property 'tid' of undefined. tid needs to be accessed for my third query, so I try to access it just like I did before but Node doesn't allow it.
I know that the queries return useful data (rows) so it can't be a problem of querying but receiving no data. Actually I console.log("the rowRIDS"+rowRIDS); the result of the second query and I see that it returns 2 rows and just after that it gives me the error.
What is also strange to me, all the console.logs inside my my two loops are being logged, and my console.log of the second query (containing the 2 rows) are being logged after the loops ran through, since the queries are nested shouldn't the returned 2 rows and the error appear within the first iteration of the loop, since the code should access the second query at that point.
BTW, I've tried to set a hardcoded number instead of the tid just to get the next property datum to be an error. I kind of got a feeling as if the variable teacherHours is out of scope, but it is supposed to be a global variable.
To get a better feeling of what I'm talking about I copied the code and uncommented all the javascript code, where I populate and calculate stuff. Any help would be really great, its been almost 7 hours of try & error without any luck. Thank You!
pool.getConnection(function(err, connection){
if (err) throw err;
connection.query('SELECT * FROM teachers_teaching_tbl WHERE fwdid = 1 ', function(err, rows, fields) {
if (err) {
console.error('error querying: ' + err.stack);
return;
}
rowArray=rows;
console.log(rowArray);
//
// HERE HAPPENS
// A LOOOOT OF STUFF
//
// AND teacherHours IS BEING POPULATED
//
// THEN COMES A FOR LOOP
for(var i=0; i<teacherHours.length;i++){
//
// MORE STUFF
//
//AND ANOTHER LOOP
while(availableHours>0){//do{ ORIGINALLY I TRIED WITH A DO WHILE LOOP
//
// AGAIN A BUNCH OF STUFF
//
// NOW I'M PREPARING MY NEXT QUERY
//
var myQueryGetFreeRoom=" SELECT rms.rid FROM rooms_tbl as rms WHERE NOT EXISTS ( ";
myQueryGetFreeRoom+=" SELECT NULL FROM classes_tbl as cls ";
myQueryGetFreeRoom+=" WHERE ( (cls.bis > '"+bisMinus1+"' AND cls.bis <= '"+realBis+"' ) OR ( cls.von > '"+bisMinus1+"' AND cls.von < '"+realBis+"' ) ) AND (cls.datum = '"+teacherHours[i].datum.getFullYear()+"-"+(teacherHours[i].datum.getMonth()+1)+"-"+teacherHours[i].datum.getDate()+"') AND (cls.rid=rms.rid) ) ";
//
//
connection.query(myQueryGetFreeRoom, function(err, rowRIDS, fields) {
if (err) {
console.error('error querying: ' + err.stack);
return;
}
roomIDs=rowRIDS;
console.log("the rowRIDS"+rowRIDS);
//
// MORE STUFF
// HAPPENING
//
if(roomIDs.length>0){
//
// PREPARING QUERY NO.3 - WHICH IS WHERE MY ERROR POINTS - TO THE USE OF tid PROPERTY
//
var myQueryBookClass = " INSERT INTO classes_tbl ( rid , tid , belegtAnz, datum, von , bis ) ";
myQueryBookClass+=" VALUES ( "+Math.floor(Math.random() * roomIDs.length)+", "+teacherHours[i].tid+" , 0, '"+teacherHours[i].datum.getFullYear()+"-"+(teacherHours[i].datum.getMonth()+1)+"-"+teacherHours[i].datum.getDate()+"' , '"+bisMinus1+"' , '"+realBis+"' ) ";
console.log("myQueryBookClass: "+myQueryBookClass);
availableHours = 0;
//
// HERE WAS SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW QUERY 3 - myQueryBookClass
//
// BUT SINCE I DONT EVEN GET INSIDE HERE IT IS IN COMMENTS
//
/*connection.query(myQueryBookClass, function(err, insertRows, fields){
if(err){
console.error('error querying: '+err.stack);
return;
}
console.log("Inserted Rows: "+ insertRows);
}); */
} else {
availableHours= availableHours - 1;
//
// STUFF HAPPENING
//
}
});
availableHours= availableHours - 1;
}//while(availableHours>0);
//
}
connection.release(function(err){
if (err){
console.error('error disconnecting: ' + err.stack);
return;
}
});
});
});

I think you are coming from a non-async language like Python, Java, etc. which is why Node, i.e. JavaScript, seems to screw things up for you, but actually it isn't.
The problem you have in your code is that you execute async functions like query synchronously all at the same time in the same while loop. You need to use a module like async which helps to run and collect results asynchronously.
Here is the updated code.
var async = require('async'),
connection;
async.waterfall([
function (cb) {
pool.getConnection(cb);
},
function (conn, cb) {
connection = conn;
connection.query('SELECT * FROM teachers_teaching_tbl WHERE fwdid = 1', cb);
},
function (rows, fields, cb) {
rowArray = rows;
console.log(rowArray);
// HERE HAPPENS
// A LOOOOT OF STUFF
//
// AND teacherHours IS BEING POPULATED
//
// THEN COMES A FOR LOOP
async.eachSeries(teacherHours, function (teacherHour, done) {
// MORE STUFF
//
//AND ANOTHER LOOP
async.whilst(function () {
return availableHours > 0;
}, function (cb) {
// AGAIN A BUNCH OF STUFF
//
// NOW I'M PREPARING MY NEXT QUERY
//
var myQueryGetFreeRoom =
"SELECT rms.rid FROM rooms_tbl AS rms WHERE NOT EXISTS ("
+ "SELECT NULL FROM classes_tbl AS cls"
+ " WHERE ("
+ "(cls.bis > '" + bisMinus1 + "' AND cls.bis <= '" + realBis + "')"
+ " OR (cls.von > '" + bisMinus1 + "' AND cls.von < '" + realBis + "')"
+ ") AND ("
+ "cls.datum = '" + teacherHour.datum.getFullYear() + "-" + (teacherHour.datum.getMonth() + 1) + "-" + teacherHour.datum.getDate() + "'"
+ ") AND cls.rid = rms.rid";
async.waterfall([
function (cb) {
connection.query(myQueryGetFreeRoom, cb);
},
function(rowRIDS, fields, cb) {
roomIDs = rowRIDS;
console.log("the rowRIDS" + rowRIDS);
//
// MORE STUFF
// HAPPENING
//
if (roomIDs.length > 0) {
//
// PREPARING QUERY NO.3 - WHICH IS WHERE MY ERROR POINTS - TO THE USE OF tid PROPERTY
//
var myQueryBookClass = "INSERT INTO classes_tbl (rid, tid, belegtAnz, datum, von, bis) VALUES ("
+ Math.floor(Math.random() * roomIDs.length)
+ ", " + teacherHour.tid
+ ", 0, '" + teacherHour.datum.getFullYear() + "-" + (teacherHour.datum.getMonth() + 1) + "-" + teacherHour.datum.getDate() + "', '" + bisMinus1 + "', '" + realBis + "')";
console.log("myQueryBookClass: " + myQueryBookClass);
availableHours = 0;
//
// HERE WAS SUPPOSED TO FOLLOW QUERY 3 - myQueryBookClass
//
// BUT SINCE I DONT EVEN GET INSIDE HERE IT IS IN COMMENTS
//
connection.query(myQueryBookClass, function (err, insertRows, fields) {
if (err) {
console.error('error querying: '+err.stack);
return;
}
console.log("Inserted Rows: "+ insertRows);
// Here do whatever you need to do, then call the callback;
cb();
});
} else {
--availableHours;
//
// STUFF HAPPENING
//
cb();
}
}
], function (err) {
if (!err) {
// Notice that you are decrementing the `availableHours` twice here and above.
// Make sure this is what you want.
--availableHours;
}
cb(err);
});
}, done);
}, function (err) {
connection.release(function (err) {
if (err) {
console.error('error disconnecting: ' + err.stack);
return;
}
});
});
}
], function (err) {
conn && pool.release(conn);
err && throw err;
});
Next time please format your code properly for better readability which will help yourself to get answers faster, and split your question text into paragraphs for the same purpose.
Explanation
There are four nested async flows:
async.waterfall
-> async.eachSeries
-> async.whilst
-> async.waterfall
Basically, the async.waterfall library allows you to execute a list of functions in series.
Every next function will be executed only after the previous function has returned the response.
To indicate that a function is completed and the results are available, it has to call the callback, in our case it is cb (you can call it whatever you like, eg. callback). The rule is to call it, otherwise, the next function will never be executed because the previous one doesn't seem to have finished its work.
Once the previous function has completed, it calls the provided cb with the following signature:
cb(err, connection);
If there was an error while requesting for a connection, the entire async.waterfall will interrupt and the final callback function will be executed.
If there was no error, the connection will be provided as a second argument. async module passes all arguments of the previous function to the next function as the first, second, etc. arguments which is why the second function receives the conn as the first argument.
Every next function will receive the callback cb as the last argument, which you must eventually call when the job is done.
Thus, in the first async.waterfall flow:
It requests a new database connection.
Once the connection is available, the next function is executed which sends a query to the database.
Waits for the query results, then once the results are available, it is ready to run the next function which iterates over each row.
async.eachSeries allows to iterate over a gives array of values sequentially.
In the second async.eachSeries flow:
It iterates over each element in the teacherHours array sequentially.
Once each element is processed (however you want), you must call the done callback. Again, you could have called this as cb like in the previous async.waterfall or callback. done is just for clarity that the process is done.
Then we have the async.whilst which provides the same logic as the normal while () {} statement but handles the loop asynchronously.
In this third async.whilst flow:
Calls the first function. Its return value indicates whether it has to continue the loop, i.e. call the second asynchronous function.
If the return value is truthful (availableHours > 0), then the second function is called.
When the async function is done, it must call the provided callback cb to indicate that it is over. Then async module will call the first function to check if it has to continue the loop.
In this asynchronous function inside async.whilst we have another async.waterfall because you need to send queries to the database for each teacherHour.
In this last fourth async.watercall flow:
It sends the SELECT query to the database.
Waits for the response. Once the rowRIDS are available, it calls the second function in the waterfall.
If there are rowRIDS (roomIDs.length > 0), it sends the INSERT query to the database.
Once done, it calls the callback cb.
If there were no rowRIDs, it calls the callback cb, too, to indicate that the job is done.
It is a great thing that JavaScript is asynchronous. It might be difficult at the beginning when you convert from other synchronous languages, but once you get the idea, it will be hard to thing synchronously. It becomes so intuitive that you will start thinking why other languages don't work asynchronous.
I hope I could explain the above code thoroughly. Enjoy JavaScript! It's awesome!

Node.js Variable scope

I have a http server setup which basically needs to look up stuff in the database.
Here is the code snippet :
var sys = require('sys');
var Client = require('mysql').Client;
var client = new Client();
client.host = '_';
client.user = '_';
client.password = '_';
client.database = '_';
var http = require('http');
http.createServer(function(req, res) {
req.on('end', function() {
client.connect(function(error, results) {
if (error) {
console.log('Connection Error:');
return;
}
ClientConnectionReady(client);
});
ClientConnectionReady = function(client) {
var final = '';
client.query('select * from table', function selectCb(error, result, fields) {
if (error) {
console.log('ERROR');
client.end();
return;
}
final += "{" + JSON.stringify(result);
});
client.query("SELECT COUNT(*) from table", function selectCb(error, result, fields) {
if (error) {
console.log('ERROR');
client.end();
return;
}
final += "," + JSON.stringify(result) + "}";
});
res.writeHead(200, {
'Content-Type': 'text/plain'
});
res.write(final);
res.end();
client.end();
};
});
}).listen(8007, "127.0.0.1");
  
If I print the values of the variable 'final' at the places where I assign them, I see valid values, but at the lines when I do 'res.write(final)', final is still blank.
How do I make this work and why is this failing?? Thanks for the help, I am new to node.js

The Node.js environment is asynchronous. Those statements that modify "final" are inside callbacks that are executed only when the database operations finish. The code immediately after the initiation of the database operations, where you write the result, are executed long before those callbacks run.
You've almost stumbled upon the answer to the problem already: you must not write the result until the operations are finished, which you know will be the case inside the callbacks. If you must wait for both to finish (seems like you do), then you can do something like keep a counter in the outer scope. Each callback can increment the counter, and call the same result-writer function only when the counter indicates that both callbacks are complete. (I have the idea that the Node runtime has a fancier way of doing that sort of thing, but I'm not that familiar with it. In a simple case like this, keeping something like a counter is easy enough to do.)
Also, an unrelated note: that "ClientConnectionReady" variable should probably either be written as a function definition:
function ClientConnectionReady(client) {
// ...
}
or else it should be declared with var. (I'm a little surprised in fact that it's not throwing an error, but again I'm not that familiar with Node.js.)

By the looks of it, you are trying to write final before it is ever assigned a value.
I'm assuming that client.query is asynchronous. Given that, the callback function is most likely being called after the res.writeHead and res.write lines. What you need to do is put other calls and the client.write* lines within the first callback.
This should give you an idea (didn't check if it compiles)
ClientConnectionReady = function(client)
{
var final = '';
//Get the rows
client.query('select * from table',
function selectCb(error, result, fields)
{
if (error)
{
console.log('ERROR');
client.end();
return;
}
final+="{"+JSON.stringify(result);
//Get the count query
client.query("SELECT COUNT(*) from table",
function selectCb(error, result, fields)
{
if (error)
{
console.log('ERROR');
client.end();
return;
}
final+=","+JSON.stringify(result)+"}";
//Return the final results to the client now
res.writeHead(200, {'Content-Type': 'text/plain'});
res.write(final);
res.end();
client.end();
});
});
};
What this does is first gets the rows. In that callback, it then gets the count. Finally, when that works, it sends the data to the client within the count callback.