Cross Compile Nodejs for OpenWrt

How to cross compile Nodejs for OpenWRT

In this guide, we will explain how to compile Nodejs for any cpu-architecture supported.

We will use the OpenWRT Toolchain/RPI Toolchain. Before continuing, I recommend reading this useful guide where that tool is introduced.

• Prerequisites
• Cross-compiling
• Configuration file
• Testing

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## Prerequisites

Option 1: You should have downloaded and compiled the OpenWRT Toolchain according to your cpu-architecture.

Option 2: You should have downloaded the RPI Toolchain (only raspberry pi architectures)

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## Cross-compiling

Firstly, We need to download node source files.

git clone https://github.com/nodejs/node

A folder named "node" will be created.

cd node

Now, we need to define some global variables. This is the most important step.

Option 1: OpenWRT Toolchain:

export AR=/route/to/openwrt/folder/staging_dir/toolchain-name-of-your-architecture-something/bin/your-architecture-ar
export CC=/route/to/openwrt/folder/staging_dir/toolchain-name-of-your-architecture-something/bin/your-architecture-gcc
export CXX=/route/to/openwrt/folder/staging_dir/toolchain-name-of-your-architecture-something/bin/your-architecture-g++
export LINK=/route/to/openwrt/folder/staging_dir/toolchain-name-of-your-architecture-something/bin/your-architecture-g++
export STAGING_DIR=/route/to/openwrt/folder/staging_dir
export LIBPATH=/route/to/openwrt/folder/staging_dir/toolchain-name-of-your-architecture-something/lib
export LDFLAGS='-Wl,-rpath-link '${LIBPATH}

Option 2: RPI Toolchain

export AR=tools/arm-bcm2708/gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnuebihf-raspbian/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf-ar
export CC =tools/arm-bcm2708/gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnuebihf-raspbian/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf-gcc
export CXX =tools/arm-bcm2708/gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnuebihf-raspbian/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++
export LINK =tools/arm-bcm2708/gcc-linaro-arm-linux-gnuebihf-raspbian/bin/arm-linux-gnueabihf-g++

### Configuration file

Option 1: OpenWRT Toolchain:

./configure --without-snapshot --without-npm 

Option 2: RPI Toolchain

./configure --without-snapshot --without-npm --dest-cpu=YOUR_ARCHITECTURE --dest-os=YOUR_OPERATIVE_SYSTEM --fully-static

• Compile

make

• If all went fine, you will get your compiled version of nodejs in node/out/Release/node

## Testing

Copy node file to your OpenWRT device and execute

./node
console.log("Hello Netbeast Wolrd")

You will see "Hello Netbeast World" on the terminal.

You have cross compiled NodeJS successfully.