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2.5 KiB
Contributing a new API to N-API
N-API is the next-generation ABI-stable API for native modules. While improving the API surface is encouraged and welcomed, the following are a set of principles and guidelines to keep in mind while adding a new N-API API.
- A new API must adhere to N-API API shape and spirit.
- Must be a C API.
- Must not throw exceptions.
- Must return
napi_status
. - Should consume
napi_env
. - Must operate only on primitive data types, pointers to primitive datatypes or opaque handles.
- Must be a necessary API and not a nice to have. Convenience APIs belong in node-addon-api.
- Must not change the signature of an existing N-API API or break ABI compatibility with other versions of Node.js.
- New API should be agnostic towards the underlying JavaScript VM.
- New API PRs must have a corresponding documentation update.
- New API PRs must be tagged as n-api.
- There must be at least one test case showing how to use the API.
- There should be at least one test case per interesting use of the API.
- There should be a sample provided that operates in a realistic way (operating how a real addon would be written).
- A new API should be discussed at the N-API team meeting.
- A new API addition must be signed off by at least two members of the N-API team.
- A new API addition should be simultaneously implemented in at least one other VM implementation of Node.js.
- A new API must be considered experimental for at least one minor
version release of Node.js before it can be considered for promotion out
of experimental.
- Experimental APIs must be documented as such.
- Experimental APIs must require an explicit compile-time flag
(
#define
) to be set to opt-in. - Experimental APIs must be considered for backport.
- Experimental status exit criteria must involve at least the
following:
- A new PR must be opened in
nodejs/node
to remove experimental status. This PR must be tagged as n-api and semver-minor. - Exiting an API from experimental must be signed off by the team.
- If a backport is merited, an API must have a down-level implementation.
- The API should be used by a published real-world module. Use of the API by a real-world published module will contribute favorably to the decision to take an API out of experimental status.
- The API must be implemented in a Node.js implementation with an alternate VM.
- A new PR must be opened in