Promise.valueOf() returns a promise, not the value of the promise.

I cannot get the value out of a promise. valueOf seems to be the way to do this, but it is either broken or I misunderstood how to use it.

Testcase q.valueof.js

#!/usr/bin/env node

var util    = require('util'),
    q       = require('q');

util.debug('Test promise.valueOf()...');

var someFunction = function(val, cb){cb(null, val);};
var someValue = 'shiboleet';
var myPromise = q.nfcall(someFunction, someValue).then(function(val){
    util.debug('Expect: "shiboleet" (1)');
    util.log(val); // String: shiboleet
    return val;
});

util.debug('Expect: "shiboleet" (2)');
util.log(myPromise.valueOf()); // Object: Promise

Terminal output

$ ./q.valueof.js 
DEBUG: Test promise.valueOf()...
DEBUG: Expect: "shiboleet" (2)
19 Mar 18:34:43 - [object Promise]
DEBUG: Expect: "shiboleet" (1)
19 Mar 18:34:43 - shiboleet

[kriskowal]

@redsandro Tough call. undefined is a perfectly meaningful fulfillment value, but a promise is not.

[Redsandro]

I now realize that a promise that not is fulfilled yet cannot reveal it’s value, but I am wondering if the valueOf() shouldn’t be undefined in this case.