The `openurl` package provides a simple Node.js module to programmatically open URLs, `mailto:` links, or local files using the operating system's default applications. For instance, `http` links will open in the default web browser, and `mailto` links in the default email client. The package's current and final stable version is `1.1.1`, which was last published over 10 years ago in January 2016. Consequently, `openurl` is no longer actively maintained and does not receive updates, bug fixes, or new features. While it may still function for basic use cases in CommonJS environments, it lacks modern features like native ECMAScript Modules (ESM) support and may have unaddressed platform-specific issues. Developers are strongly encouraged to use actively maintained alternatives like the `open` package (by Sindre Sorhus) for better cross-platform compatibility, ESM support, and ongoing reliability.
npm install openurlVerified import paths — ran on the pinned version, not inferred.
This quickstart demonstrates how to open a web URL, compose an email using a mailto link with multiple recipients, subject, and body, and open a local file path using the operating system's default applications.
Migrate to actively maintained alternatives such as the `open` package (by Sindre Sorhus) for modern, cross-platform URL opening capabilities, including ESM support and continuous maintenance. For example, `npm install open` then `import open from 'open'; await open('https://example.com');`Ensure your project uses CommonJS `require('openurl')` or convert your project to use dynamic `import()` for `openurl` if you must use it in an ESM context, though migration to a modern ESM-compatible library is recommended.Thoroughly test `openurl` functionality across all target operating systems and with various URL patterns. Due to its abandoned status, these issues are unlikely to be fixed. Prefer using a modern, actively maintained library that addresses such cross-platform nuances.
Ensure you are using `require()` for CommonJS: `const openurl = require('openurl'); openurl.open('...');` If in an ESM project, consider using dynamic `import()` or, preferably, migrate to an ESM-native package like `open`.Install `xdg-utils` which provides `xdg-open` on most Linux distributions (e.g., `sudo apt-get install xdg-utils` on Debian/Ubuntu, `sudo yum install xdg-utils` on Fedora/CentOS). Ensure your environment is configured to use graphical applications.
There is no direct fix for this issue within `openurl` due to its abandonment. The recommended solution is to switch to a modern, actively maintained library like `open` (https://www.npmjs.com/package/open), which has better cross-platform handling for such edge cases.
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