How can i use a NodeJS npm package in my Android app with Jetpack Compose?

Question

• I'm making an app for school that's for speedcubers. And since speedcubers want their solves to be legit solves a lot of websites use an npm package from the most popular solving website called cstimer_module.

• This is a package that contains 1 big compressed js file and require's a NodeJs environment to work.

• This package has functions that can give you official scrambles for almost every cube.

• I have tried a lot, but nothing seems to work.

• Is there anyone who has already done this before or knows how to do it?

Answer 1

You can't natively include an NPM package in a Compose app - Node packages are written in JavaScript while Compose apps are compiled to Java bytecode after being written in Kotlin. I'd suggest either searching for a Java package that does something similar or implementing the functionality you need yourself.

If you're dead-set on using that module specifically, I'd suggest one of these options:

• Use a different app framework that allows you to import npm modules - Have you considered React Native?

• Host an API using a node-based framework like nestjs and use it to expose the module's functionality to your app (I'd personally recommend this option if you're set on writing a native Compose app)

• Host a separate node-based web app and embed it in your app using a WebView (Not really a great option since you can't communicate with the embedded site)