Node.js / child_process throwing E2BIG

Question

I have a fairly simple C++ program which only takes one argument that is a Base64 encoded string. I can call the program.

I am now trying to call this program using Node.js' child_process.spawn(), but it is throwing an "E2BIG" error when I pass in the same Base64 string.

The Base64 string I am testing with is 305016 bytes in length.

Running getconf ARG_MAX on my Linux box returns 2097152.

Why does child_process throw the error?

Answer 1

Try to strace it to see if Node.js is making the system call or not - i.e., check is it an internal Node.js limitation or is it the Linux system which is rejecting it.

The strcpy used by libuv in Node.js can return E2BIG.