Show HN: Cross-runtime printer library for TS/JS

2 hours ago 1

Cross-runtime printer library for Node.js, Deno, and Bun with native performance and comprehensive printing capabilities.

🔄 Cross-runtime compatibility - Node.js, Deno, and Bun support
🖨️ Cross-platform printing - Windows, macOS, and Linux
🦀 Native performance - Rust backend with Node-API bindings
🔒 Safe testing - Simulation mode prevents accidental printing
📊 Real-time monitoring - Printer state changes and job tracking
🔧 Flexible options - Simple, CUPS, and raw printing configuration
⚡ Async control - Choose immediate return or wait for completion

macOS: x64, arm64
Windows: x64, arm64
Linux (glibc only): x64, arm64

npm install @printers/printers

Note

This package exposes a Node-API addon for running the Rust backend natively. To use Node-API addons in Deno, you must enable nodeModulesDir in your deno.json configuration file and pass the --allow-ffi flag when running your program. To learn more, see the Node and npm compatibility and Security and permissions documentation.

Add to deno.json:

{ "nodeModulesDir": "auto" }

deno add npm:@printers/printers

Run with required permissions:

deno run --allow-ffi --allow-env your-script.ts

bun add @printers/printers

📚 Complete Documentation - Comprehensive guides and examples

Cross-Runtime Support - Node.js, Deno, and Bun compatibility
Printing Options - Simple, CUPS, and raw printing configuration
Job Tracking - Monitor and manage print jobs
Printer State Monitoring - Real-time printer state change events

import { getAllPrinters, getPrinterByName } from "@printers/printers"; // List all available printers const printers = getAllPrinters(); console.log( "Available printers:", printers.map(p => p.name) ); // Print a document const printer = getPrinterByName("My Printer"); if (printer) { const jobId = await printer.printFile("document.pdf", { simple: { copies: 2, duplex: true, quality: "high", }, }); console.log("Print job submitted:", jobId); }

getAllPrinters(): Printer[]

Returns an array of all available system printers.

getPrinterByName(name: string): Printer | null

Find a printer by its exact name.

getAllPrinterNames(): string[]

Returns an array of printer names.

printerExists(name: string): boolean

Check if a printer exists on the system.

name: string - Printer display name
state?: PrinterState - Current printer state ("idle", "printing", "paused", "offline", "unknown")
isDefault?: boolean - Whether this is the default printer
location?: string - Physical location description
driverName?: string - Printer driver name
stateReasons?: string[] - Array of state reason strings

printFile(filePath: string, options?: PrintJobOptions): Promise<number> - Print a file and return job ID
printBytes(data: Uint8Array, options?: PrintJobOptions): Promise<number> - Print raw bytes and return job ID
getActiveJobs(): PrinterJob[] - Get currently active/pending jobs
getJobHistory(limit?: number): PrinterJob[] - Get completed job history
getJob(jobId: number): PrinterJob | null - Get specific job details
cleanupOldJobs(maxAgeSeconds: number): number - Remove old jobs

subscribeToPrinterStateChanges(callback): Promise<PrinterStateSubscription>

Subscribe to real-time printer state change events.

const subscription = await subscribeToPrinterStateChanges(event => { console.log(`${event.eventType}: ${event.printerName}`); }); // Later: unsubscribe await subscription.unsubscribe();

getPrinterStateSnapshots(): Map<string, PrinterStateSnapshot>

Get current state of all printers.

startPrinterStateMonitoring(config?): Promise<void>

Start printer state monitoring with optional configuration.

interface PrintJobOptions { jobName?: string; // Job name for identification waitForCompletion?: boolean; // Wait for completion (default: true) simple?: SimplePrintOptions; // Easy-to-use options cups?: CUPSOptions; // Full CUPS options raw?: Record<string, string>; // Raw key-value options }

interface SimplePrintOptions { copies?: number; duplex?: boolean; paperSize?: "A4" | "Letter" | "Legal" | "A3" | "A5" | "Tabloid"; quality?: "draft" | "normal" | "high"; color?: boolean; pageRange?: string; // e.g., "1-5,8,10-12" landscape?: boolean; }

// Subscribe to printer events const subscription = await subscribeToPrinterStateChanges(event => { switch (event.eventType) { case "connected": console.log(`Printer ${event.printerName} connected`); break; case "disconnected": console.log(`Printer ${event.printerName} disconnected`); break; case "state_changed": console.log( `${event.printerName}: ${event.oldState} → ${event.newState}` ); break; } });

import { createCustomPageSize } from "@printers/printers"; const photoSize = createCustomPageSize(4, 6, "in"); // "Custom.4x6in" await printer.printFile("photo.jpg", { cups: { media: photoSize, "print-quality": 5, }, });

Enable simulation mode to test without real printing:

# Unix/Linux/macOS PRINTERS_JS_SIMULATE=true node your-script.js # Windows Command Prompt set PRINTERS_JS_SIMULATE=true && node your-script.js # Windows PowerShell $env:PRINTERS_JS_SIMULATE="true"; node your-script.js

Check simulation status: