/**
 * removes invalid characters from a string and throws an error
 * if left with an empty string
 *
 * @param name - name to check and transform
 */
function validate_name (name: string): string {
  const new_name = name
    .replace (/[^a-z0-9]/giu, '')
    .replace (/^[0-9]+/iu, '');
  if (new_name === '')
    throw new Error (`invalid node name ${name}`);
  return new_name;
}

export { validate_name };