api-rendr

API implementation on the fly. Quick and flexible definitions for express.

This module uses express.

Intuitive and simple

Straight forward, human friendly.

const { Render } = require("api-rendr");
const app = require("express")();

const r = new Render();
const oAPIEndpoints = {
    "ALL  /                   ": (req, res) => res.send("Try endpoint /orders"),
    "POST /orders             ": (req, res) => res.send("/orders POST handler"),
    "GET  /orders             ": (req, res) => res.send("/orders GET handler"),
    "GET  /orders/:ordId      ": (req, res) => res.send(`GET order ${req.params.ordId}`),
    "GET  /orders/:ordId/items": (req, res) => res.send(`GET items of order ${req.params.ordId}`)
}

app.use(r.render(oAPIEndpoints));
app.listen(3000, () => console.log(`Try opening http://localhost:3000/orders/1234/items`));

Yet versatile

Use full-power with complex and mixed definitions.

const { Render } = require("api-rendr");
const app = require("express")();

app.use(new Render().render({
    // [1] Define a handler fn for a "{METHOD} {/route}"
    "GET /": (req, res) => res.send("Try endpoint /orders"),
    // [2] Complex definition (object) for a {/route}
    "/orders": {
        // [3] Define a handler fn for a "{METHOD}" of a parent "{/route}"
        POST: (req, res) => res.send("/orders POST handler"),
        GET: (req, res) => res.send("/orders GET handler"),
        // Complex definition (object) for {/route/subroute}
        "/:ordId": {
            // Combine mixed definitions
            GET: (req, res) => res.send(`GET order ${req.params.ordId}`),
            "GET /status": "DONE",
            "/items": {
                // [4] Definition with an Array[] of handler fns
                GET: [
                    (req, res, next) => { console.log(`GET items of order ${req.params.ordId} - first handler...`); next(); },
                    (req, res, next) => { console.log(`GET items of order ${req.params.ordId} - second handler...`); next(); },
                    (req, res, next) => { res.send(`GET items of order ${req.params.ordId} - third and last handler.`) },
                ],
                "/detail": {
                    // [5] Implement a simple response with a fixed string
                    GET: "Not implemented yet!"
                }
            }
        }
    },
    "ALL /help     ": "This is the help to show...",
    // [6] Serve static resources
    "/resources": express.static(__dirname + "/static"),
}));

app.listen(3000, () => console.log(`Try opening http://localhost:3000/orders/1234/items/detail`));

Render class

This is the one and only, you need to instantiate it.

const { Render } = require("api-rendr");

Methods

constructor([options])

Same options as for express.Router() constructor described here.

const r = new Render();

render(APIEndpointsSettings)

Receives an APIEndpointsSettings descriptor object. Returns an express.Router() to be used by express app.

app.use(r.render(oAPIEndpoints));

The APIEndpointsSettings object.

Each key in this object, may be either:

• an HTTP Method (see Allowed HTTP methods),
• a path for a route
• or both.

The corresponding value for that key should be the handler for that request -in a Simple definition- (see Types of Handlers) or an object -Complex definition-.

Types of Handlers

There are four types of handlers that can be applied to a route.

1. Handler function

Standard express handler fn.

// Handle request by function
"GET /": (req, res) => { ... },

2. Fixed string

A String as the response. The response will be a HTTP 200 OK Content-type=text/plain.

// Serve a String
"GET /version": "This is MyAPI " + myApi.getVersion(),

3. Static content

A express.static() to serve static resources for a specific route.

Note: you should not declare the method for the route when using express.static().

// Serve static resources
"/resources": express.static(__dirname + "/static"),

4. Array of handler functions

An array of handler functions.

// Serve static resources
"GET /items": [
    (req, res, next) => { console.log(`GET items - first handler...`); next(); },
    (req, res, next) => { console.log(`GET items - second handler...`); next(); },
    (req, res, next) => { res.send(`GET items - third and last handler.`) },
],

Posible combinations

Eigth base combinations.

"{METHOD} {/route}" + handler for Simple definitions

    (a) "{METHOD} {/route}" + handler fn
    (b) "{METHOD} {/route}" + fixed string
    (c) "{METHOD} {/route}" + Array[] of handler fns


"{/route}" for static resources

    (d) "{/route}" + express.static(...),


"{/route}" + object for Complex definition

    (e) "{/route}": {
            (f) "{METHOD}" + handler fn
            (g) "{METHOD}" + fixed string
            (h) "{METHOD}" + Array[] of handler fns
    }

And the combinations of all above

    "{/route}": {
            "{METHOD}" + handler fn
            "{METHOD}" + fixed string
            "{METHOD}" + Array[] of handler fns
            "{/subroute}" + express.static(...)
            "{/subroute}": {
                ...
            }
            "{METHOD} {/subroute}" + handler fn
            "{METHOD} {/subroute}" + fixed string
            "{METHOD} {/subroute}" + Array[] of handler fns
        }

Allowed HTTP methods

These are the methods allowed by express:

• checkout
• copy
• delete
• get
• head
• lock
• merge
• mkactivity
• mkcol
• move
• m-search
• notify
• options
• patch
• post
• purge
• put
• report
• search
• subscribe
• trace
• unlock
• unsubscribe

Also allowed express all method as valid method.

Method parsing is case-insensitive and doesn't care of multiple blanks, so you can use "regular" uppercase style for HTTP methods descriptors and align paths as you like.

   "GET    /users      ": () => {},
   "POST   /users      ": () => {},
   "DELETE /users      ": () => {},
   "ALL    /accessToken": () => {}

Usage

See examples in examples.

Author

Lautaro Capella [e-mail]

License

GNU General Public License, version 2