`git.clone()` returns SyntaxError: await is only valid in async function

[nodeselector]

Please be sure to mention:

• whether you are using Node or the Browser
  Node
• how you are using it (if you are using a bundler what bundler; if you are using a <script> tag what CDN URL)

Following the node quickstart tutorial, the below code returns SyntaxError: await is only valid in async function:

const git = require('isomorphic-git');
const fs = require('fs');
const os = require('os');
const path = require('path');


git.plugins.set('fs', fs);

// Make temporary directory
const dir = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'test-'));
console.log(dir);
// Behold - it is empty!
fs.readdirSync(dir);

await git.clone({
    fs,
    dir,
    url: 'https://github.com/isomorphic-git/isomorphic-git',
    ref: 'master',
    singleBranch: true,
    depth: 10
});

// Now it should not be empty...
fs.readdirSync(dir);

^^^^^
SyntaxError: await is only valid in async function    at createScript (vm.js:80:10)
    at Object.runInThisContext (vm.js:139:10)
    at Module._compile (module.js:616:28)    at Object.Module._extensions..js (module.js:663:10)
    at Module.load (module.js:565:32)
    at tryModuleLoad (module.js:505:12)
    at Function.Module._load (module.js:497:3)
    at Function.Module.runMain (module.js:693:10)
    at startup (bootstrap_node.js:188:16)
    at bootstrap_node.js:609:3

It seems per the tutorial and here that we should be able to use await, since .clone() returns a promise.

[jcubic]

This is javascript ES6 error, the proper syntax looks like this:

async function foo() {
   await git.clone({
      fs,
      dir,
      url: 'https://github.com/isomorphic-git/isomorphic-git',
      ref: 'master',
      singleBranch: true,
      depth: 10
  });
}

top level await is only available in console developer tools and I think that was proposal to add this to the language but I don't know the status.

if you want top level you need to create async IIFE:

async (() => {
   await git.clone({
      fs,
      dir,
      url: 'https://github.com/isomorphic-git/isomorphic-git',
      ref: 'master',
      singleBranch: true,
      depth: 10
  });
})();

[jcubic]

@wmhilton This can be added to docs, not every one will know everything about ES6. I had this problem with jQuery Terminal when the user didn't know that he need to escape \ in string when he create ASCII art. I've added that do getting started guide next to the relevant part about greetings where you put welcome message.

[kornerr]

Now that we're at it. Is there a way for git.clone to have a callback?

[millette]

@jcubic top-level await proposal for ECMAScript (stage 3)

[jcubic]

@millette I know about the proposal it was comment about current implementations. AFAIK browsers don't allow top level await yet, not sure about babel.

[millette]

Just trying to be helpful by providing the reference. https://v8.dev/features/top-level-await#support links to current browser issues.