How to extend the application basic functions?

[frank-zsy]

When I try to use Probot to build a quite complex GitHub app, I encounter a problem with extending application.

The default application for Probot only provides several basic services for customize logics, like on, receive, route. And the ApplicationFunc takes an Application as parameter which is built in load function of Probot.

So:

1. I don't quite understand why create a new Application instance for every component? It seems quite same for me.
2. How can I extend Application for my own needs, like mail service, IM push service, crond service and so on? Now I can customize my logic base on the functions already provided but I can't add new functions to the Application as the apps field is private and the construction process is private too in Probot.

Can somebody help me with this?

[welcome]

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[frank-zsy]

@gr2m is anyone here. Extensibility is quite important for me and I kind implement an extend mechanism myself with a little trick.

And the most strange part is that I fake an empty app by load and modify the app with my own components and all works fine now, so still curious why need to create new application instance for different modules, and what is the side effect if I use a single application instance in the whole program.

[gr2m]

It sounds like you want to be build a complex server where interacting with GitHub is only one small part. Maybe you shouldn’t use Probot at all, and instead use the underlying libraries, such as

• https://github.com/octokit/rest.js
• https://github.com/octokit/graphql.js
• https://github.com/octokit/webhooks.js
• https://github.com/octokit/app.js

GitHub

octokit/rest.js

GitHub REST API client for JavaScript. Contribute to octokit/rest.js development by creating an account on GitHub.

GitHub

octokit/graphql.js

GitHub GraphQL API client for browsers and Node. Contribute to octokit/graphql.js development by creating an account on GitHub.

GitHub

octokit/webhooks.js

GitHub webhook events toolset for Node.js. Contribute to octokit/webhooks.js development by creating an account on GitHub.

GitHub

octokit/app.js

GitHub Apps toolset for Node.js. Contribute to octokit/app.js development by creating an account on GitHub.

[frank-zsy]

@gr2m understood, and I think Probot could be or should be a framework for complex GitHub App development rather than accomplishing simple ones.