pas2js AsyncAWait

Overview

Pas2js supports the JS operators async/await to simplify the use of Promise, which itself simplifies writing asynchronous code, like starting a download, waiting for the result, then depending on the result start the next and so forth. Instead of writing a tedious and hard to read mass of sub functions an async procedure can be written in the common serial aka imperative way.

Basics

First of we have the async keyword, which you add as a procedure type modifier to turn it into an async function (or async procedure). An async function knows how to expect the possibility of the await function being used to invoke asynchronous code.

Usually you call an async function via the await function. To explain the inner workings it is useful to see what happens when you call an async function directly. Then you get a TJSPromise:

uses JS;

function Run: word; async;
begin
  Result:=3;
end;

var p: TJSPromise;
begin
  p:=Run(); // calling directly without await() returns a TJSPromise!
end.

That's because an async function runs till an await and returns. If there is no await it works like a normal function. If it contains one or more await calls, each await pauses the execution of the async function and continues it asynchronously (single threaded) later. A TJSPromise has a hook for success and one for fail, which usually requires writing some anonymous functions. With async/await you can write much more readable code.

AWait

Pas2js provides a built-in await function, which supports three flavours:

function await(AsyncFunctionOfResultTypeT): T;
function await(aType; p: TJSPromise): aType; // explicit promise requires the resolved type
function await(const Expr: T): T; // implicit promise

The await function can only be used inside a procedure with the async modifier.

An async procedure can contain multiple await calls.

You can enclose an await function in try..finally or try..except for the case that there the TJSPromise raises an exception.

Example Async try fetch

Example demonstrating waiting for an async function, catching errors with a try..except and no anonymous functions.

// Translated from https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn/JavaScript/Asynchronous/Async_await
program askmom;

{$mode objfpc}

uses
  browserconsole, JS, Web, SysUtils;

procedure myFetch; async;
var
  response: TJSResponse;
  myBlob: TJSBlob;
  image: TJSHTMLImageElement;
  objectURL: string;
begin
  try
    response := await(window.fetch('test1.png'));

    if not response.ok then
      raise Exception.Create('HTTP error! status: '+str(response.status))
    else begin
      myBlob := await(response.blob());
      objectURL := URL.createObjectURL(myBlob);
      image := TJSHTMLImageElement(document.createElement('img'));
      image.src := objectURL;
      document.body.appendChild(image);
    end;
  except
    console.log(JSExceptValue);
  end;
end;

begin
  myFetch;
end.

Example Wait 2 Seconds

Example demonstrating using await with a non async function, creating the TJSPromise manually:

Program MyModule;

uses JS, Web;

function ResolveAfter2Seconds: TJSPromise;
// returns immediately with a Promise,
// which after 2 seconds gets resolved
begin
  Result:=TJSPromise.new(procedure(resolve, reject : TJSPromiseResolver)
    begin
    window.setTimeout(procedure
      begin
      resolve('resolved');
      end,
      2000); // wait 2 seconds
    end);
end;

procedure AsyncCall; async;
var s: string;
begin
  writeln('calling');
  s := await(string,resolveAfter2Seconds());
  // the await pauses this procedure returning to the caller
  // when the Promise from resolveAfter2Seconds gets resolved 
  // this procedure is continued
  writeln(s); // expected output: 'resolved'
end;

begin
  AsyncCall;
  // calling AsyncCall returns immediately, while the Promise is waiting
  writeln('called');
end.

Expected output:

calling
called
resolved