Alpine Linux / Busybox binaries

[neilstuartcraig]

• Version: All
• Platform: Alpine Linux / Busybox
• Subsystem: ?

Hi

I'm working on an OSS project of my own which is a CI built in Node running build machines in Docker which can run Node builds (where Node is installed via NVM) and I am most of the way there on a monolith - now adding support for various Docker image types. Alpine Linux caught my attention as it's super small and fast, perfect for a CI.

The issue I have is that Alpine is busybox-based and thus requires binaries built using musl rather than GCC which most OS's require. After speaking with the NVM folks, they inform me that they download binaries directly from Node and thus the musl builds would need to ideally be provided by Node.

Alpine's apk has Node v4 available but for people who have use cases like mine, we really need all node versions.

So...Long story, sorry, I am asking whether it's possible to get Node builds via musl available (assuming they're not already, i couldn't find any) - i think these would help a lot of people as Alpine/busybox usage is expanding from what I see around the internets. I am more than happy to help in any way necessary of course.

Cheers
Neil

[bnoordhuis]

/cc @mhart - I know he has been working on Alpine packages.

Speaking for the project, it's not completely out of the question longer term but I don't think we'd commit to Alpine support in the short term.

[neilstuartcraig]

Thanks @bnoordhuis - totally understand that. I'll keep an eye out for Michael's input.

Cheers

[mhart]

@neilstuartcraig I maintain a set of Alpine Docker containers that have Node.js installed: https://github.com/mhart/alpine-node

Would love to see Node.js support Alpine officially – would certainly save the compile time on my end 😸 – but I've been supporting these for a while and will continue to do so as we use it in production

[Fishrock123]

Official alpine support would require (at minimum) dedicated hardware for our CI (donated, probably by a stakeholder company), both for testing, and for building releases.

Please see nodejs/build#75 for more info / conversation!

[neilstuartcraig]

Thanks very much @mhart - I'm checking out your repo right now!

@Fishrock123 - understood and fully makes sense 👍.