https://github.com/miniql/miniql
A tiny JSON-based query language inspired by GraphQL
https://github.com/miniql/miniql
data data-analysis data-science graphql javascript json queries query query-language typescript
Last synced: 19 days ago
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A tiny JSON-based query language inspired by GraphQL
- Host: GitHub
- URL: https://github.com/miniql/miniql
- Owner: miniql
- License: mit
- Created: 2020-07-17T05:55:26.000Z (almost 5 years ago)
- Default Branch: master
- Last Pushed: 2023-03-05T06:21:44.000Z (about 2 years ago)
- Last Synced: 2025-04-15T00:09:04.341Z (19 days ago)
- Topics: data, data-analysis, data-science, graphql, javascript, json, queries, query, query-language, typescript
- Language: TypeScript
- Homepage:
- Size: 526 KB
- Stars: 125
- Watchers: 4
- Forks: 7
- Open Issues: 12
-
Metadata Files:
- Readme: README.md
- Funding: .github/FUNDING.yml
- License: LICENSE
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README
# MiniQL
A tiny JSON-based query language inspired by GraphQL
Pronounced "miniquel", similar to "miniscule".
New to this? Check out the examples below or jump to [getting started](#getting-started).
For a quick idea of what queries look like and how they work, jump straight into [the interactive example](https://miniql.github.io/miniql-interactive-example/).
[Click here to support my work](https://www.codecapers.com.au/about#support-my-work)
Love this? Please star this repo!
# MiniQL in a nutshell
# Examples
## Interactive example
There's an interactive browser-only example of MiniQL here:
https://miniql.github.io/miniql-interactive-example/
You fnd find the code for it here:
https://github.com/miniql/miniql-interactive-example
## Node.js + CSV files
Here is an example of making MiniQL queries against a CSV file dataset under Node.js:
https://github.com/miniql/miniql-csv-example
## Node.js + JSON files
Here is an example of making MiniQL queries against a JSON file dataset under Node.js:
https://github.com/miniql/miniql-json-example
## JavaScript notebook
Here is an easy to read MiniQL example in a JavaScript notebook
https://miniql.github.io/notebook-example/
## Frontend + Express REST API + MongoDB
Here is an example of using MiniQL to make queries against a MongoDB database through an Express REST API to display query results in the frontend.
https://github.com/miniql/miniql-express-mongodb-example
# Motivation
GraphQL is awesome, but sometimes the following can be annoying...
- It is big and complicated.
- It introduces a new language into your stack.
- I don't want to define a "schema".
- Schemaless is the best way to prototype an MVP when you don't know what the data is yet.
- It's tedious to have to specify everything you want returned.
- Sometimes you just want everything returned! Especially when you are exploring your data!
# Aims
- To be tiny, yet flexible.
- To easily create queries.
- To easily implement the backend.
- To have a single query end point where auth can be implemented.
- To avoid having many separate REST APIs.
- To be able to retreive aggregate and optimized data to the front end.
- To be able to easily explore data.
- To not impose unecessary structure or rules on your data!
- Make the most of the backend capabilities (eg search and filtering capability in the database)
# Features
- The query language is JSON and can easily be sent over the weire.
- The results are JSON and can easiy be received over the wire.
- MiniQL works in both Node.js and the browser.
- MiniQL can potentially work in other programming languages, if someone wants to create an implementation for their own fav language.
- Decouples the query engine from entity resolution ([separation of concerns](https://
- There is no enforced schema, just like MongoDB.
- But you can easily make your own [JSON schema](https://json-schema.org/) for validation and intellisense in the frontend.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_concerns)).
- There is no built-in type system - use your programming language for that! (e.g. TypeScript)
- Follows relationships and resolves nested entities.
- You control how the relationships in your data are defined.
- Aggregates query results from different data sources.
- Supports arbitrary user-defined types of operations:
- The MiniQL convertion is have "get" or "update" operations.
- But use whatever names you like.
- You can have any other operations as well with whatever names you like.
- Optionally alias entities in the output. You control the field names that returned in the query result.
- The "query" is passed through to the resolver, you can build your own resolver or use one of the existing plugins:
- [JSON files](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@miniql/json)
- [CSV files](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@miniql/csv)
- [Inline data](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@miniql/inline)
# Bring your own
MiniQL delegates queries for entities to the *query resolver*.
The query resolver is something that you implmenent or is provided by a MiniQL plugin (such as the [JSON plugin](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@miniql/json), the [CSV plugin](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@miniql/csv) or the [Inline data plugin](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@miniql/inline)).
Implementing your own resolver means you can have what ever features you like in the backend.
Adding features like these is completely under your control:
- Pagination
- Retrieving total entities
- Entity search and filtering
- Included fields
- Excluded fields
- Or anthing else you can think of!
You can manage how data is returned, e.g:
- Blacklisted fields
- Whitelisted fields
- All data, partial data, whatever you want!
# Future
- Add a configurable MongoDB resolver.
- Caching and aggregation (wishlist)
- Hooks - be notifed when particular entities/fields have been updated.
- Optimisation to do queries in parallel.
- Built-in filtering?
- How to retreieve a count after search/filtering is applied.
# Getting started
Install MiniQL:
```bash
npm install --save miniql
```
Import MiniQL (JavaScript):
```javascript
const { miniql } = require("miniql");
```
Import MiniQL (TypeScript):
```typescript
import { miniql } from "miniql";
```
Now we must create a query resolver. For this example we'll use a `character` entity (see the Star Wars data in [the interactive example](https://miniql.github.io/miniql-interactive-example/)).
We need to define functions for retrieving and updating our character entity:
```javascript
const queryResolver = {
get: {
character: {
invoke: async (args: any, context: any) => { // Handles a 'get' query.
if (args.name !== undefined) {
// Asking for a particular named character.
// Look up the single named character in your database and return it.
const theCharacter = ...;
return theCharacter;
}
else {
// Asking for all characters.
// Look up all characters in your database and return them.
const allCharacters = ...;
return allCharacters;
}
}
}
},
update: {
character: {
invoke: async (args: any, context: any) => { // Handles an 'update' query.
if (args.name !== undefined) {
const updateParams = args.params;
// Store `updateParams` against the single
// named character in your database.
}
else {
const updateParams = args.params;
// Add a new named character with
// `updateParams` in your database.
}
},
},
},
};
```
There's various plugins that can create a query resolver for us depending on our data source:
- [JSON files](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@miniql/json)
- [CSV files](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@miniql/csv)
- [Inline data](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@miniql/inline)
A MonogDB query resolver is coming soon! If you'd like to implement a resolver for your own favorite database [please let me know](mailto:[email protected]).
Now that we have a query resolver we can execute queries against it with MiniQL.
First we need a query, let's create one to get the character called "Darth Vader":
```javascript
const getQuery = {
get: { // This is a 'get' operation.
character: {
args: {
name: "Darth Vader", // We are retrieving the record for Mr Vader.
},
},
},
};
```
Now we can execute the `get` query to retreive the record for Mr Vader:
```javascript
const context = {}; // Global context passed to our resolver.
const queryResult = await miniql(getQuery, queryResolver, {}); // Executes the query.
console.log(queryResult);
```
Here's the output of the query:
```json
{
"character": {
"name": "Darth Vader",
"height": 202,
"mass": 136,
"hair_color": "none",
"skin_color": "white",
"eye_color": "yellow",
"birth_year": "41.9BBY",
"gender": "male",
"homeworld": "Tatooine",
"species": "Human"
}
}
```
Now let's execute an `update` query to modify mr Vader's record:
```javascript
const updateQuery = {
update: { // This is an 'update' operation.
character: {
args: {
name: "Darth Vader",
params: {
// Sets Mr Vaders hair color.
hair_color: "brown", // At least it was brown back when he had hair.
},
},
},
},
};
```
Now we execute the `update` query against our query resolver:
```javascript
const context = {};
await miniql(updateQuery, queryResolver, {});
```
Mr Vader's hair color is now set to "brown".
Have fun with MiniQL!
More advanced documentation is coming soon! [Follow for updates.]((https://twitter.com/codecapers))
# Wishlist
- Parallelise complex queries over multiple nodes.
# Support the developer