respy
About
respy is simple template engine to standardize REST API response. it provides elegant way to decouple database model to response data model.
Usecase Example
Generally database model has additional fields than required to build response and there are two cases in consideration. the first case, the fields used internally by database or database client (e.g. __v or __id field by MongoDB and Mongoose) and the second, the fields should be hidden to the client because it's too verbose and only occupying I/O bandwidth or sensitive to show to the REST clients. Of couse, there are many other ways (like using proper selection in database query or deleting unrequired item directly) to deal with these situations though, they typically generate a lot of boiler plate and error prone.
Install
npm install respy --saveHow to Use
Declare template (basic)
you can easily define response template like below. let say the template is defined as UserTemplate.js for example.
var respy = require('respy');
var Geolocation = respy.Template({
latitude: {
type: Number
},
longitude: {
type: Number
}
});
var GetUserResponse = respy.Template({
loginId : {
type: String
},
lastname: {
type: String
},
firstname: {
type: String
},
email: {
type: String
},
gender: {
type: String,
required: false
},
location: {
type: Geolocation
}
});
Declare template (recursive templating)
var Geolocation = respy.Template({
latitude: {
type: Number
},
longitude: {
type: Number
}
});
Var User = respy.Template({
age : {
type: Number
},
name: {
type: String
},
locations : {
type: [Geolocation] /// array of geolocation object
}
});1.Render single object into REST API response
var respy = require('respy');
// mongo document found
var UserData = {
__id : 'dcbadcbadcbadcbadcba' // should be excluded from response body
__v : 'abcdabcdabcdabcdabcd' // should be excluded from response body
loginId : 'respy',
lastname: 'prix',
firstname: 'fritz',
email: 'fritzprix@mailinator.com',
password: 'abcdefg1234',
age:32, // let say this information is very sensitive privacy, so should not included to response body
gender: 'male',
location: {
latitude: 32.4242,
longitude: 32.4233
},
hash: 'ef9ek3mfi9fkeoi'
};
respy(200, UserData).render(res, UserTemplate.GetUserResponse);
the snippet above will generate response like below, you see the fields not required is dropped.
{
"code": 200,
"message": "Success",
"success": true,
"data": {
"loginId": "respy",
"lastname": "prix",
"firstname": "fritz",
"email" : "fritzprix@mailinator.com",
"gender": "male",
"location": {
"latitude": 32.4342,
"longitude": 32.4233
}
}
}
2.Render array of data into REST API response
respy(200, UserData).render(res, [UserTemplate.GetUserResponse]);
