How to call a Meteor method from the command line - meteor

Question

I have a Meteor app and want to call a server method from the command line, so that I can write a bash script to perform scheduled operations.
Is there any way to either call a method directly, or submit a form which will then trigger server-side code?
I've tried using curl to call a method, but either it's not possible or I'm missing something basic. This doesn't work:
curl "http://localhost:3000/Meteor.call('myMethod')"
nor does:
curl -s -d "http://localhost:3000/imports/api/test.js" > out.html
where test.js:
var test = function(){
console.log('hello');
}
I thought of using a form but I can't think how to create a submit event because the Meteor client uses template events that then call server methods.
I'll be very grateful for any help! This feels like it should be a simple thing but has me stumped.
Edit: I've also tried phantomjs and slimerjs as run through casperjs.
phantomjs is no longer maintained and generates an error:
TypeError: Attempting to change the setter of an unconfigurable property.
https://github.com/casperjs/casperjs/issues/1935
slimerjs errors with Firefox 60 and I can't figure out how to 'downgrade' back to the supported 59, and the option to disable automatic updates of Firefox no longer seems to exist. The error is:
c is undefined
https://github.com/laurentj/slimerjs/issues/694

Answer 1

You could make use of the node ddp package to call the Meteor method in an own js file that you created with a specific script. From there you can pipe all outs to wherever you want.
Let's assume the following Meteor method:
Meteor.methods({
'myMethod'() {
console.log("hello console")
return "hello result"
}
})
The upcoming steps will let you call this method from another shell, assuming your Meteor application is running.
1. Install ddp in your global npm directory
$ meteor npm install -g ddp
2. Create the script to call your method in your test directory
$ mkdir -p ddptest
$ cd ddptest
$ touch ddptest.js
Place the ddp script code into the file with the editor or command of your choice.
(The follwing code is freely taken from the package's readme. Feel free to configure to your needs.)
ddptest/ddptest.js
var DDPClient = require(process.env.DDP_PATH);
var ddpclient = new DDPClient({
// All properties optional, defaults shown
host : "localhost",
port : 3000,
ssl : false,
autoReconnect : true,
autoReconnectTimer : 500,
maintainCollections : true,
ddpVersion : '1', // ['1', 'pre2', 'pre1'] available
// uses the SockJs protocol to create the connection
// this still uses websockets, but allows to get the benefits
// from projects like meteorhacks:cluster
// (for load balancing and service discovery)
// do not use `path` option when you are using useSockJs
useSockJs: true,
// Use a full url instead of a set of `host`, `port` and `ssl`
// do not set `useSockJs` option if `url` is used
url: 'wss://example.com/websocket'
});
ddpclient.connect(function(error, wasReconnect) {
// If autoReconnect is true, this callback will be invoked each time
// a server connection is re-established
if (error) {
console.log('DDP connection error!');
console.error(error)
return;
}
if (wasReconnect) {
console.log('Reestablishment of a connection.');
}
console.log('connected!');
setTimeout(function () {
/*
* Call a Meteor Method
*/
ddpclient.call(
'myMethod', // namyMethodme of Meteor Method being called
['foo', 'bar'], // parameters to send to Meteor Method
function (err, result) { // callback which returns the method call results
console.log('called function, result: ' + result);
ddpclient.close();
},
function () { // callback which fires when server has finished
console.log('updated'); // sending any updated documents as a result of
console.log(ddpclient.collections.posts); // calling this method
}
);
}, 3000);
});
The code assumes that your app runs on localhost:3000, note that there is no conncection close on errors or undesired behavior.
As you can see at the top, the file imports your globally installed ddp package. Now in order to get it's path without using additional tools, just pass an environment variable (process.env.DDP_PATH) and let your shell handle the path resolving.
In order to get the installation path you can use npm root with the global flag.
Finally call your script via:
$ DDP_PATH=$(meteor npm root -g)/ddp meteor node ddptest.js
Which will give you the following output:
connected!
updated
undefined
called function, result: hello result
And logs hello console to the open session that is running your meteor app.
Edit: A note on using this in production
If you want to use this script in production you have to use the shell commands without the meteor command but using your installation of node and npm.
If you get in trouble with paths use process.execPath to find your node binary and npm root -g to find your global npm modules.

Answer 2

You can check out this documentation: Command Line | meteor shell.
While your meteor app is running, you can execute meteor shell to start an interactive console. In the console, you can do Meteor.call(...).
So if you want to write a script with using meteor shell, you might need to pipe the script file for meteor shell. Like,
$ meteor shell < script_file
See also the answer of "How can I pipe a command into the meteor shell?"