Child processes allow Node.js to run external commands and parallelize work. Here's how to use them effectively.
Overview of Methods
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Using exec
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Using execFile
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Using spawn
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Using fork
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Process Pool
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Streaming Large Data
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Error Handling
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IPC Communication
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Cluster Module Integration
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Best Practices
Method Selection:
✓ exec: Simple commands, need shell features
✓ execFile: Known executables, security matters
✓ spawn: Large output, streaming needed
✓ fork: Node.js scripts with IPC
Security:
✓ Prefer execFile over exec
✓ Validate user input
✓ Use shell: false when possible
✓ Set appropriate cwd and env
Performance:
✓ Use process pools for heavy work
✓ Stream large data instead of buffering
✓ Limit concurrent processes
✓ Handle cleanup properly
Error Handling:
✓ Listen to 'error' events
✓ Check exit codes and signals
✓ Handle timeouts
✓ Log stderr appropriately
Conclusion
Child processes enable Node.js to run external commands and parallelize CPU-intensive work. Use exec for simple shell commands, spawn for streaming, and fork for Node.js worker processes with IPC. Implement process pools for heavy workloads and always handle errors appropriately.