mappersmith

What is mappersmith?

Mappersmith is a lightweight HTTP client library for JavaScript that simplifies the process of making HTTP requests. It provides a declarative way to define API endpoints and offers features like middleware support, request/response transformation, and retries.

What are mappersmith's main functionalities?

Declarative API Definition

Mappersmith allows you to define your API endpoints in a declarative manner. This example shows how to define a client with endpoints for fetching all users and fetching a user by ID.

const { forge } = require('mappersmith');

const api = forge({
  clientId: 'my-api',
  host: 'https://api.example.com',
  resources: {
    User: {
      all: { path: '/users' },
      byId: { path: '/users/{id}' }
    }
  }
});

api.User.all().then(response => console.log(response.data));

Middleware Support

Mappersmith supports middleware, allowing you to intercept and modify requests and responses. This example demonstrates how to log requests and responses using middleware.

const { forge, configs } = require('mappersmith');

configs.middleware = [
  (request) => {
    console.log('Request:', request);
    return request;
  },
  (response) => {
    console.log('Response:', response);
    return response;
  }
];

const api = forge({
  clientId: 'my-api',
  host: 'https://api.example.com',
  resources: {
    User: {
      all: { path: '/users' }
    }
  }
});

api.User.all().then(response => console.log(response.data));

Request/Response Transformation

Mappersmith allows you to transform requests and responses. This example shows how to transform the response to extract user names from the list of users.

const { forge } = require('mappersmith');

const api = forge({
  clientId: 'my-api',
  host: 'https://api.example.com',
  resources: {
    User: {
      all: { path: '/users', transform: (response) => response.data.map(user => user.name) }
    }
  }
});

api.User.all().then(userNames => console.log(userNames));

Retries

Mappersmith provides built-in support for retrying failed requests. This example configures the client to retry failed requests up to 3 times with exponential backoff.

const { forge, configs } = require('mappersmith');

configs.retry = { retries: 3, factor: 2, minTimeout: 1000 };

const api = forge({
  clientId: 'my-api',
  host: 'https://api.example.com',
  resources: {
    User: {
      all: { path: '/users' }
    }
  }
});

api.User.all().then(response => console.log(response.data));

Other packages similar to mappersmith

axios

Axios is a popular promise-based HTTP client for JavaScript. It offers a simple API for making HTTP requests and supports features like interceptors, request/response transformation, and automatic JSON parsing. Compared to Mappersmith, Axios is more widely used and has a larger community, but it does not provide a declarative way to define API endpoints.

fetch

Fetch is a built-in web API for making HTTP requests in modern browsers. It provides a low-level API for making requests and handling responses. While Fetch is more lightweight and has no external dependencies, it lacks the higher-level abstractions and features like middleware and retries that Mappersmith offers.

superagent

Superagent is a small, progressive HTTP request library for Node.js and browsers. It provides a flexible API for making HTTP requests and supports features like plugins, request/response transformation, and retries. Compared to Mappersmith, Superagent is more flexible but requires more manual setup for defining API endpoints.

README

Mappersmith

Mappersmith is a lightweight rest client for node.js and the browser. It creates a client for your API, gathering all configurations into a single place, freeing your code from HTTP configurations.

Table of Contents

1. Installation
2. Usage
3. Commonjs
4. Configuring my resources 1. Parameters 1. Default parameters 1. Body 1. Headers 1. Alternative host
5. Promises
6. Response object
7. Middlewares
8. Testing Mappersmith
9. Gateways
10. Development

Installation

NPM

npm install mappersmith --save
# yarn add mappersmith

Browser

Download the tag/latest version from the dist folder.

Build from the source

Install the dependencies

yarn

Build

npm run build
npm run release # for minified version

Usage

To create a client for your API you will need to provide a simple manifest. If your API reside in the same domain as your app you can skip the host configuration. Each resource has a name and a list of methods with its definitions, like:

import forge from 'mappersmith'

const github = forge({
  host: 'https://status.github.com',
  resources: {
    Status: {
      current: { path: '/api/status.json' },
      messages: { path: '/api/messages.json' },
      lastMessage: { path: '/api/last-message.json' },
    }
  }
})

github.Status.lastMessage().then((response) => {
  console.log(`status: ${response.data()}`)
})

Commonjs

If you are using commonjs, your require should look like:

const forge = require('mappersmith').default

Configuring my resources

Each resource has a name and a list of methods with its definitions. A method definition can have host, path, method, headers, params, bodyAttr and headersAttr. Example:

const client = forge({
  resources: {
    User: {
      all: { path: '/users' }

      // {id} is a dynamic segment and will be replaced by the parameter "id"
      // when called
      byId: { path: '/users/{id}' },

      // {group} is also a dynamic segment but it has default value "general"
      byGroup: { path: '/users/groups/{group}', params: { group: 'general' } },
    },
    Blog: {
      // The HTTP method can be configured through the `method` key, and a default
      // header "X-Special-Header" has been configured for this resource
      create: { method: 'post', path: '/blogs', headers: { 'X-Special-Header': 'value' } },

      // There are no restrictions for dynamic segments and HTTP methods
      addComment: { method: 'put', path: '/blogs/{id}/comment' }
    }
  }
})

Parameters

If your method doesn't require any parameter, you can just call it without them:

client.User
  .all() // https://my.api.com/users
  .then((response) => console.log(response.data()))
  .catch((response) => console.error(response.data()))

Every parameter that doesn't match a pattern {parameter-name} in path will be sent as part of the query string:

client.User.all({ active: true }) // https://my.api.com/users?active=true

When a method requires a parameters and the method is called without it, Mappersmith will raise an error:

client.User.byId(/* missing id */)
// throw '[Mappersmith] required parameter missing (id), "/users/{id}" cannot be resolved'

Default Parameters

It is possible to configure default parameters for your resources, just use the key params in the definition. It will replace params in the URL or include query strings.

If we call client.User.byGroup without any params it will default group to "general"

client.User.byGroup() // https://my.api.com/users/groups/general

And, of course, we can override the defaults:

client.User.byGroup({ group: 'cool' }) // https://my.api.com/users/groups/cool

Body

To send values in the request body (usually for POST, PUT or PATCH methods) you will use the special parameter body:

client.Blog.create({
  body: {
    title: 'Title',
    tags: ['party', 'launch']
  }
})

By default, it will create a urlencoded version of the object (title=Title&tags[]=party&tags[]=launch). If the body used is not an object it will use the original value. If body is not possible as a special parameter for your API you can configure it through the param bodyAttr:

// ...
{
  create: { method: 'post', path: '/blogs', bodyAttr: 'payload' }
}
// ...

client.Blog.create({
  payload: {
    title: 'Title',
    tags: ['party', 'launch']
  }
})

NOTE: It's possible to post body as JSON, check the EncodeJsonMiddleware bellow for more information

Headers

To define headers in the method call use the parameter headers:

client.User.all({ headers: { Authorization: 'token 1d1435k'} })

If headers is not possible as a special parameter for your API you can configure it through the param headersAttr:

// ...
{
  all: { path: '/users', headersAttr: 'h' }
}
// ...

client.User.all({ h: { Authorization: 'token 1d1435k'} })

Alternative host

There are some cases where a resource method resides in another host, in those cases you can use the host key to configure a new host:

// ...
{
  all: { path: '/users', host: 'http://old-api.com' }
}
// ...

client.User.all() // http://old-api.com/users

Promises

Mappersmith does not apply any polyfills, it depends on a native Promise implementation to be supported. If your environment doesn't support Promises, please apply the polyfill first. One option can be then/promises

In some cases it is not possible to use/assign the global Promise constant, for those cases you can define the promise implementation used by Mappersmith.

For example, using the project rsvp.js (a tiny implementation of Promises/A+):

import RSVP from 'rsvp'
import { configs } from 'mappersmith'

configs.Promise = RSVP.Promise

All Promise references in Mappersmith use configs.Promise. The default value is the global Promise.

Response object

Mappersmith will provide an instance of its own Response object to the promises. This object has the methods:

• request() - Returns the original Request
• status() - Returns the status number
• success() - Returns true for status greater than 200 and lower than 400
• headers() - Returns an object with all headers, keys in lower case
• data() - Returns the response data, if Content-Type is application/json it parses the response and returns an object

Middlewares

The behavior between your client and the API can be customized with middlewares. A middleware is a function which returns an object with two methods: request and response.

The request method receives an instance of Request object and it must return a Request. The method enhance can be used to generate a new request based on the previous one.

The response method receives a function which returns a Promise resolving the Response. This function must return a Promise resolving the Response. The method enhance can be used to generate a new response based on the previous one.

You don't need to implement both methods, you can define only the phase you need.

Example:

const MyMiddleware = () => ({
  request(request) {
    return request.enhance({
      headers: { 'x-special-request': '->' }
    })
  },

  response(next) {
    return next().then((response) => response.enhance({
      headers: { 'x-special-response': '<-' }
    }))
  }
})

The middleware can be configured using the key middlewares in the manifest, example:

const client = forge({
  middlewares: [ MyMiddleware ],
  resources: {
    User: {
      all: { path: '/users' }
    }
  }
})

It can, optionally, receive the resourceName and resourceMethod, example:

const MyMiddleware = ({ resourceName, resourceMethod }) => ({
  /* ... */
})

client.User.all()
// resourceName: 'User'
// resourceMethod: 'all'

Built-in middlewares

EncodeJson

Automatically encode your objects into JSON

import EncodeJson from 'mappersmith/middlewares/encode-json'

const client = forge({
  middlewares: [ EncodeJson ],
  /* ... */
})

client.User.all({ body: { name: 'bob' } })
// => body: {"name":"bob"}
// => header: "Content-Type=application/json;charset=utf-8"

GlobalErrorHandler

Provides a catch-all function for all requests. If the catch-all function returns true it prevents the original promise to continue.

import GlobalErrorHandler, { setErrorHandler } from 'mappersmith/middlewares/global-error-handler'

setErrorHandler((response) => {
  console.log('global error handler')
  return response.status() === 500
})

const client = forge({
  middlewares: [ GlobalErrorHandler ],
  /* ... */
})

client.User
  .all()
  .catch((response) => console.error('my error'))

// If status != 500
// output:
//   -> global error handler
//   -> my error

// IF status == 500
// output:
//   -> global error handler

Log

Log all requests and responses. Might be useful in development mode.

import Log from 'mappersmith/middlewares/log'

const client = forge({
  middlewares: [ Log ],
  /* ... */
})

Testing Mappersmith

Mappersmith plays nice with all test frameworks, the generated client is a plain javascript object and all the methods can be mocked without any problem. However, this experience can be greatly improved with the test library.

The test library has 4 utilities: install, uninstall, mockClient and mockRequest

install and uninstall

They are used to setup the test library, example using jasmine:

import { install, uninstall } from 'mappersmith/test'

describe('Feature', () => {
  beforeEach(() => install())
  afterEach(() => uninstall())
})

mockClient

mockClient offers a high level abstraction, it works directly on your client mocking the resources and their methods.

It accepts the methods:

• resource(resourceName), ex: resource('Users')
• method(resourceMethodName), ex: method('byId')
• with(resourceMethodArguments), ex: with({ id: 1 })
• status(statusNumber), ex: status(204)
• response(responseData), ex: response({ user: { id: 1 } })

Example using jasmine:

import forge from 'mappersmith'
import { install, uninstall, mockClient } from 'mappersmith/test'

describe('Feature', () => {
  beforeEach(() => install())
  afterEach(() => uninstall())

  it('works', (done) => {
    const myManifest = {} // Let's assume I have my manifest here
    const client = forge(myManifest)

    mockClient(client)
      .resource('User')
      .method('all')
      .response({ allUsers: [{id: 1}] })

    // now if I call my resource method, it should return my mock response
    client.User
      .all()
      .then((response) => expect(response.data()).toEqual({ allUsers: [{id: 1}] }))
      .then(done)
  })
})

To mock a failure just use the correct HTTP status, example:

// ...
mockClient(client)
  .resource('User')
  .method('byId')
  .with({ id: 'ABC' })
  .status(422)
  .response({ error: 'invalid ID' })
// ...

The method with accepts the body and headers attributes, example:

// ...
mockClient(client)
  .with({
    id: 'abc',
    headers: { 'x-special': 'value'},
    body: { payload: 1 }
  })
  // ...

mockRequest

mockRequest offers a low level abstraction, very useful for automations.

It accepts the params: method, url, body and response

Example using jasmine:

import forge from 'mappersmith'
import { install, uninstall, mockRequest } from 'mappersmith/test'

describe('Feature', () => {
  beforeEach(() => install())
  afterEach(() => uninstall())

  it('works', (done) => {
    mockRequest({
      method: 'get',
      url: 'https://my.api.com/users?someParam=true',
      response: {
        body: { allUsers: [{id: 1}] }
      }
    })

    const myManifest = {} // Let's assume I have my manifest here
    const client = forge(myManifest)

    client.User
      .all()
      .then((response) => expect(response.data()).toEqual({ allUsers: [{id: 1}] }))
      .then(done)
  })
})

A more complete example:

// ...
mockRequest({
  method: 'post',
  url: 'http://example.org/blogs',
  body: 'param1=A&param2=B', // request body
  response: {
    status: 503,
    body: { error: true },
    headers: { 'x-header': 'nope' }
  }
})
// ...

Gateways

Mappersmith has a pluggable transport layer and it includes by default two gateways: xhr and http. Mappersmith will pick the correct gateway based on the environment you are running (nodejs or the browser).

You can write your own gateway, take a look at XHR for an example. To configure, import the configs object and assign the gateway option, like:

import { configs } from 'mappersmith'
configs.gateway = MyGateway

It's possible to globally configure your gateway through the option gatewayConfigs.

XHR

When running in the browser you can configure withCredentials and configure to further customize the XMLHttpRequest object, example:

import { configs } from 'mappersmith'
configs.gatewayConfigs.XHR = {
  withCredentials: true,
  configure(xhr) {
    xhr.ontimeout = () => console.error('timeout!')
  }
}

Take a look here for more options.

Development

Running unit tests:

yarn test-browser
yarn test-node

Running integration tests:

node spec/integration/server.js &
yarn test-browser-integration
yarn test-node-integration

Running all tests

node spec/integration/server.js &
yarn test

Compile and release

NODE_ENV=production yarn build

Contributors

Check it out!

https://github.com/tulios/mappersmith/graphs/contributors

License

See LICENSE for more details.

Changelog

2.0.0

• Expose resourceName and resourceMethod to middlewares
• Features from 2.0.0-rc1 to 2.0.0-rc7