JavaScriptCaller Transformer Deprecation

Liz Sanderson
Liz Sanderson
  • Updated

FME Version

Introduction

Safe Software is taking steps to deprecate the JavaScriptCaller transformer. It will be phased out in a series of stages. This article explains the reasoning and timeline for this deprecation.

Justification

The JavaScriptCaller has a number of problems that currently reduce its usefulness.

Some of these issues are:

  • The transformer does not work in some Server contexts.
  • The transformer requires a major upgrade to continue to work on the macOS platform.
  • The transformer requires Python 2.7 to build, which is itself being deprecated.

Resolving these issues and keeping the maintenance up-to-date cannot, sadly, be justified by its current use statistics.

Timeline

The intended deprecation timeline is as follows:

FME2018.x

In FME2018 (FME2018.1.1, build 18579 onwards)...

  • A workspace using this transformer causes a warning message to occur in the log:
"The JavaScriptCaller transformer will be removed in FME 2020. Please consider migrating to a PythonCaller or other solution to avoid future inconvenience"

FME2019

In FME2019...

  • The transformer will be completely removed from macOS installations.
    • Once the transformer is completely removed from a platform it will not be possible to add a new instance, and a workspace containing the transformer will not operate.
  • The transformer will remain operable in Windows and Linux installations, but will be hidden from the Workbench interface so that new instances cannot be added.
  • No faults will be fixed or enhancements made to the transformer.

FME2020+

In FME2020 and beyond...

  • The transformer will be completely removed from all platforms.
    • Once the transformer is completely removed it will not be possible to add a new instance, and a workspace containing the transformer will not operate.

Alternatives

The FME support team is available to help with any questions about this deprecation, involving alternative solutions to current JavaScriptCaller use.

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