Great fun with Deno - My First Deno Framework

We're already heard that Deno release its first major version (v1.0) about several weeks ago, and it was shakes JS world, little bit.

If you read this post, and you're new in JS (or maybe Node), I suggests you to learn TypeScript first, before you try develop something with Deno. But, it doesn't matter after all, Deno is both Javascript and TypeScript runtime, so don't worry.

My reaction when I heard about Deno incoming release, was the same like other JS developer. I called it adage in JS world, "Here we go again, there will be a new Framework or Library every day, even, it's every seconds now."

I've already tried and playing with Deno in 2018 - early-to-mid 2019, but it's not stable yet. After they release v1.0, I tried it again, and praising-word came from my mouth, "Hey, it's really fun, some feature and bug have been fixed."

Although it's just a beginning, and Deno is not ready yet for production-ready application. I believe Deno will be huge someday just like Node. Ryan Dahl, the creator of both, Node and Deno is visionary after all. I trust him and the OSS community behind Deno.

If you're Go programmer, you may notice that Deno has similar dependencies mechanism. You don't need to install dependencies, instead you import it directly with http/https protocol, and later it will be cached in specified directory.

What I like about Deno

• You don't need Package Manager (NPM / Yarn).
• You don't need to install TypeScript.
• Smaller executable size than Node.
• You can import files anywhere (via HTTP protocol or file protocol easily)

🦖 Jurassic

While I'm learn how Deno works, async-await, dynamic import and Deno file system, I accidentally created this framework. I called it Jurassic.

Yup, that's my framework name. A geological period where dinosaurs live. I describe this framework as "A Straightforward REST API Framework".

Is it another JS Framework? yes it is, and hmmm no.

Okay, I admit it, it was another saturated JS framework, but, I really working on this framework just for fun, don't judge me.

But, it also different from any other frameworks out there (for now).

Jurassic is a simple REST Framework server, you don't need a setup (still, you can create custom config). Jurassic have magic part which other framework doesn't have.

The Magic Part

I'm NextJS developer and I really inspired with NextJS Dynamic Routes, so I adopts it in Jurassic.

In my view, builds a REST API server should be easy, instant and should have zero config. We don't need anything, it's should be straightforward. What we need is simple, we need how to manages route, handling a request and give a response to client.

That's why we don't need to setup a config or boot file. Just start a REST API server and done.

In Jurassic Framework you should have a routes directory. Where is router definition? use file name as router, and thats it.

<your_directory>
|__ routes
|____ hello.ts

Done. Now run this in <your_directory>:

deno run --allow-read --allow-net --allow-env https://deno.land/x/jurassic/server.ts

Access from your favourite Browser:

http://localhost:8888/hello

It's simple and Straightforward.

Dynamic Router Params

As I said before, I really like NextJS approach with their Dynamic Routes.

When you have file name with in-bracket variable like this:

[param].ts

## or
posts/[postId].ts

## or
post-[id]-by-[author].ts

you can call it dynamic params, and you can access those params in route handler like this:

// console.log(req.params.[yourParamName])

// e.g
// filename: [postId].ts
console.log(req.params.postId)

Fun, right?

There is so much room to improve within this framework, such as middleware, hooks, plugins, and other framework features that I don't have it yet. Remember, I created Jurassic Framework just for fun 😉, when I learn Deno weeks ago, don't expects much from me.

If you're interested with Jurassic Framework, you can see more example and play with it in my repo below. Submit a PR to my repo, that's how OSS community works.

🔗 Link and Repo

🦕 Deno Std
https://deno.land/x/jurassic

👉 Github Repo
https://github.com/oknoorap/jurassic

🎉 Example Codes
https://github.com/oknoorap/jurassic/tree/develop/examples

👨🏻‍💻 Next Framework

With Deno I can do almost anything, I can do what I can't do with Node. I codes faster with Deno. I don't need any tooling, any dependencies, and of course I don't need Microsoft NPM registry account. I can serve / import my script or codes anywhere.

So, next time, I want to create a Game Engine Framework based on Phaser + TypeScript which will have magic element like Jurassic.

I think I'm not or one of Rockstar Developer, but if you're interested and wanna join with me building something fun, you can drop me a message via twitter @oknoorap.

Thank you. 🥳