From 59d7c7140a61a7bc7dfa07edcc2ccaba45f05341 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Max Countryman Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2024 10:51:09 -0700 Subject: [PATCH] provide web fundamentals design note --- src/lib.rs | 55 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 55 insertions(+) diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs index 01d0f36..a129f64 100644 --- a/src/lib.rs +++ b/src/lib.rs @@ -54,6 +54,61 @@ //! .unwrap(); //! } //! ``` +//! +//! # Design +//! +//! This library, while compact and straightforward, benefits from an +//! understanding of its design and its integration with core web application +//! fundamentals like HTTP. +//! +//! ## How Messages are Managed +//! +//! Messages in this library are written during one HTTP request and are +//! accessible only in subsequent requests. This lifecycle management is handled +//! transparently by the library, ensuring simplicity for the consuming +//! application. +//! +//! At first glance, this approach might seem to limit functionality: if +//! messages are delayed until the next request, how does this not result in +//! lost presentation state during user interactions? This is where the state +//! management capabilities of HTTP sessions come into play. +//! +//! ## Use of Sessions for State Management +//! +//! HTTP is a stateless protocol, but managing state over HTTP is a long-solved +//! problem with various effective solutions, sessions being one of the most +//! prominent. This library leverages sessions to maintain state, allowing +//! messages to persist between requests without affecting the continuity of the +//! user experience. +//! +//! Sessions can handle complex state scenarios, and when used in conjunction +//! with HTTP, they provide a robust foundation for modern, feature-rich +//! web applications. This library slots naturally into this well-established +//! paradigm by serializing state to and from the session. +//! +//! ## Practical Example: Managing User Registration State +//! +//! To better illustrate the concept, consider an application that uses +//! `axum-messages` with an HTML user registration form containing inputs for +//! the user's name, desired username, and password. +//! +//! - **GET Request**: When users navigate to `/registration`, the server +//! renders the form. +//! - **POST Request**: Users submit the form, which is then sent to +//! `/registration` where the server processes the data. +//! +//! During form processing, if the desired username is unavailable, the server +//! sets a flash message indicating the issue and redirects back to the +//! `/registration` URL. However, instead of presenting a blank form upon +//! redirection, the server can utilize the session to repopulate the form +//! fields with previously submitted data (except for sensitive fields like +//! passwords). This not only enhances user experience by reducing the need to +//! re-enter information but also demonstrates efficient state management using +//! sessions. +//! +//! By integrating messages and form data into sessions, the library facilitates +//! a smoother and more intuitive interaction flow, illustrating the powerful +//! synergy between state management via sessions and HTTP's stateless nature. #![warn( clippy::all, nonstandard_style,