multithreading - Javascript Worker Thread Options? -

i developing single page application using electron (io.js + chrome). application interfaces sdk requires polling/heartbeat run main/event loop (similar libusb , libusb_handle_events_timeout_completed api). hoping use worker thread , timer seems sandboxing may have made option impossible--unless missing something. i've tested timer functionality within worker thread , works great. however, need require various other modules (ffi, etc) allow me communicate sdk; however, require not available worker threads.

are there other options/apis/modules/etc available allow me start new thread can require other modules can make simple call sdk every many milliseconds? long have ipc main thread, new thread can sole communicator sdk, therefore there should no problems corruption. suggestions or further areas research appreciated.

after spending more time on problem found node.js clusters best approach me. have ability to:

• require code.
• still have nice neat ipc.
• can monitor lifecycle of forked cluster (process).

one thing did learn. learned couple things:

• if use electron, do, make sure use cluster.setupmaster() otherwise when cluster if forked attempt use electron environment throw bunch of bad option errors , cluster.fork fail.
• one other problem found if app not have terminal , use console.log within worker cluster, cluster terminate. not sure if specific electron (io.js) or what, took time figure out. app runs, , logs fine terminal. without terminal terminate worker. since first line of worker console.log, made harder find.

there may better solutions, seems work best use case.

for interested simplified implementation looks this:

app.js

var cluster = require('cluster'); var path = require('path');  var sdkworker = null;  // must use setupmaster otherwise default electron  // environment used , fail with: // ../node_modules/electron-prebuilt/dist/electron: bad option: --type=renderer // ... cluster.setupmaster({   exec: path.join(__dirname, "sdk_worker.js"),   //args: ['--use', 'https'],   silent: false });  sdkworker = cluster.fork({});  cluster.on('fork', function(worker) {     console.log('worker: forked: ' + worker.process.pid); });  cluster.on('online', function(worker) {     console.log('worker: ' + worker.process.pid + ' online'); });  cluster.on('exit', function(worker, code, signal) {      var suicide = "";     if (worker.suicide === true) {         suicide = " [suicide] ";     }      console.log('exit: worker: '+suicide+ worker.process.pid + ' died code: ' + code + ', , signal: ' + signal);     sdkworker = null;     //console.log('starting new worker');     //this.sdkworker = cluster.fork(); });  sdkworker.on( 'message', function( msg ) {     console.log("from sdk: "+msg.cmdid);     } );  // init lib , sdk platform sdkworker.send( {cmdid:"init"} );  // initial enumeration of usb sdkworker.send( {cmdid:"enumusb"} );  // start contant polling of sdk sdkworker.send( {cmdid:"startpoll"} ); 

sdk_worker.js

// cluster support process.on('message', function(msg) {     //console.log("from master: "+msg.cmdid); //////// bad });