780 lines
22 KiB
Markdown
780 lines
22 KiB
Markdown
# Technology Research: Reference Board Viewer
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**Date:** 2025-11-02
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**Purpose:** Evaluate technology options for building a PureRef-inspired reference board web application
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**Constraint:** Must be deployable and compilable with Nix (non-negotiable)
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## Executive Summary
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After comprehensive research, the recommended stack balances performance, developer ergonomics, and Nix compatibility:
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- **Frontend:** Svelte + Konva.js
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- **Backend:** FastAPI (Python)
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- **Database:** PostgreSQL
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- **Image Storage:** MinIO (S3-compatible)
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- **Image Processing:** Pillow + ImageMagick
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- **Deployment:** Nix Flakes + NixOS modules
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This stack leverages your existing Python environment, provides excellent Nix integration, and meets all performance requirements.
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---
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## 1. Frontend Framework Analysis
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### Requirements
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- High-performance canvas operations (60fps with 500+ images)
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- Real-time drag-and-drop
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- Touch gesture support
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- Efficient re-rendering
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- File upload handling
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- Nix-compatible build process
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### Option A: React + Fabric.js ⭐⭐⭐
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**Pros:**
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- Largest ecosystem and community
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- Excellent TypeScript support
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- Well-documented
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- Many developers familiar with it
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**Cons:**
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- Virtual DOM overhead for canvas operations
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- Larger bundle size (~45KB min+gzip for React)
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- More boilerplate for state management
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- Fabric.js is feature-rich but heavier (~280KB)
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**Nix Compatibility:** ✅ Excellent (node2nix, buildNpmPackage)
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---
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### Option B: Svelte + Konva.js ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ **RECOMMENDED**
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**Pros:**
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- Compiles to vanilla JavaScript (no virtual DOM overhead)
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- Smallest bundle size (~10KB framework + components)
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- Truly reactive (no complex state management needed)
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- Excellent performance for canvas-heavy apps
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- Konva.js is optimized for interactive canvas (event handling, layering)
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- Native TypeScript support
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**Cons:**
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- Smaller ecosystem than React
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- Fewer developers familiar with it
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- Less mature third-party components
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**Nix Compatibility:** ✅ Excellent (buildNpmPackage, Vite integrates well)
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**Why Konva.js over Fabric.js:**
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- Better performance for interactive applications
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- Built-in layering system (perfect for Z-order management)
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- Excellent event handling (click, drag, touch)
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- Smaller size (~150KB vs 280KB)
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- Better documentation for drag-and-drop use cases
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**Performance Characteristics:**
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- Handles 500+ objects smoothly with proper layering
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- GPU-accelerated when available
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- Efficient hit detection and event delegation
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- Optimized for mobile touch gestures
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**Code Example:**
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```javascript
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// Konva layer management (perfect for our Z-order requirements)
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const layer = new Konva.Layer();
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const image = new Konva.Image({
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image: imageElement,
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x: 100, y: 100,
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draggable: true,
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rotation: 45,
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opacity: 0.8
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});
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layer.add(image);
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stage.add(layer);
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```
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---
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### Option C: Vue + PixiJS ⭐⭐⭐
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**Pros:**
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- Middle ground between React and Svelte
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- PixiJS is WebGL-based (maximum performance)
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- Great for game-like interfaces
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**Cons:**
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- PixiJS is overkill for 2D image manipulation
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- Steeper learning curve for WebGL concepts
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- Larger than Konva.js
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- Less suitable for standard UI patterns
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**Nix Compatibility:** ✅ Good
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---
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### Option D: Vanilla JS + Paper.js ⭐⭐
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**Pros:**
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- No framework overhead
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- Paper.js good for vector graphics
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- Maximum control
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**Cons:**
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- More code to write
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- No reactivity patterns (manual DOM updates)
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- Paper.js focused on vector graphics, not image manipulation
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- Harder to maintain
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**Nix Compatibility:** ✅ Excellent
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---
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## 2. Backend Framework Analysis
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### Requirements
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- Handle large file uploads (50MB images, 500MB batches)
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- Async operations for image processing
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- RESTful API endpoints
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- User authentication
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- Database ORM
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- Nix-compatible deployment
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- Works with existing Python setup (shell.nix includes Python + uv)
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### Option A: FastAPI (Python) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ **RECOMMENDED**
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**Pros:**
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- Modern async/await support (critical for file uploads)
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- Automatic OpenAPI/Swagger documentation
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- Fast performance (comparable to Node.js)
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- Excellent type hints support (Pydantic models)
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- Built-in data validation
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- SQLAlchemy integration
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- Works with existing Python environment
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- Smaller, focused codebase
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- Streaming file upload support
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**Cons:**
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- Smaller ecosystem than Django
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- Need to choose components (not batteries-included)
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**Nix Compatibility:** ✅ Excellent (Python is well-supported in Nix)
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**Performance:**
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- Can handle 1000+ req/s on standard hardware
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- Async file streaming prevents memory issues with large uploads
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- Background tasks via BackgroundTasks or Celery
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**Code Example:**
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```python
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from fastapi import FastAPI, UploadFile, File
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from fastapi.responses import StreamingResponse
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@app.post("/api/boards/{board_id}/images")
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async def upload_image(
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board_id: int,
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file: UploadFile = File(...),
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db: Session = Depends(get_db)
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):
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# Streaming upload - doesn't load entire file in memory
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image_id = await save_image_streaming(file, board_id)
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# Background task for thumbnail generation
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background_tasks.add_task(generate_thumbnails, image_id)
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return {"image_id": image_id}
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```
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---
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### Option B: Django (Python) ⭐⭐⭐
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**Pros:**
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- Batteries-included (ORM, admin, auth out of the box)
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- Mature ecosystem
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- Excellent security defaults
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- Django REST Framework
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**Cons:**
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- Heavier/slower than FastAPI
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- Synchronous by default (async support exists but not primary)
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- More opinionated
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- Overkill for API-only backend
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- Larger learning curve
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**Nix Compatibility:** ✅ Excellent
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---
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### Option C: Node.js + Express (JavaScript) ⭐⭐⭐
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**Pros:**
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- Same language as frontend
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- Large ecosystem
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- Good async support
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- Streaming uploads via multer/busboy
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**Cons:**
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- Doesn't leverage existing Python setup
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- Less type-safe than Python + Pydantic
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- Need TypeScript for better type safety
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- Different ecosystem from backend
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**Nix Compatibility:** ✅ Excellent
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---
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### Option D: Rust + Actix/Rocket ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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**Pros:**
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- Maximum performance and safety
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- Excellent Nix integration (buildRustPackage)
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- Memory safety guarantees
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- Great for systems programming
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**Cons:**
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- Steeper learning curve
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- Slower development velocity
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- Smaller web development ecosystem
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- Overkill for this use case
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- Doesn't leverage existing Python setup
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**Nix Compatibility:** ✅ Excellent
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---
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## 3. Database Analysis
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### Requirements
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- Store user accounts, boards, images metadata
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- Handle JSON data (board viewport state, transformations)
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- Full-text search (image library)
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- ACID compliance
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- Nix-compatible
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### Option A: PostgreSQL ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ **RECOMMENDED**
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**Pros:**
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- Robust and battle-tested
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- Excellent JSON/JSONB support (perfect for viewport state, transformations)
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- Full-text search capabilities
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- Advanced indexing (GiST, GIN)
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- Strong ACID guarantees
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- Well-supported in Nix (NixOS module available)
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- SQLAlchemy has excellent PostgreSQL support
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**Cons:**
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- More resource-intensive than SQLite
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- Requires separate service
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**Nix Compatibility:** ✅ Excellent (services.postgresql in NixOS)
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**Schema Example:**
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```sql
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CREATE TABLE images (
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id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
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user_id INTEGER REFERENCES users(id),
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filename VARCHAR(255),
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original_path TEXT,
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metadata JSONB, -- dimensions, format, upload date
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created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT NOW()
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);
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CREATE INDEX idx_images_metadata ON images USING GIN (metadata);
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-- Query by metadata
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SELECT * FROM images WHERE metadata @> '{"format": "png"}';
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```
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---
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### Option B: SQLite ⭐⭐⭐
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**Pros:**
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- Embedded (no separate server)
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- Fast for read-heavy workloads
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- Very simple deployment
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- Works well with Nix
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**Cons:**
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- Limited concurrency (write locks entire database)
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- No built-in user management
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- Weaker JSON support than PostgreSQL
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- Not ideal for multi-user web apps
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- Limited to single machine
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**Nix Compatibility:** ✅ Excellent
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---
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## 4. Image Storage & Processing
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### Requirements
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- Store original images (up to 50MB each)
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- Generate multiple thumbnail resolutions
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- Serve images efficiently
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- S3-compatible for future cloud migration
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- Nix-deployable
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### Storage Option A: MinIO (S3-compatible object storage) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ **RECOMMENDED**
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**Pros:**
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- Self-hosted S3-compatible storage
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- Can migrate to AWS S3/DigitalOcean Spaces later without code changes
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- Excellent performance
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- Built-in erasure coding for durability
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- Web console for management
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- Python client library (boto3)
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- Available in nixpkgs
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**Cons:**
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- Adds complexity (separate service)
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- Overkill for small deployments
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**Nix Compatibility:** ✅ Excellent (services.minio in NixOS)
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---
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### Storage Option B: Local Filesystem + Nginx ⭐⭐⭐⭐
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**Pros:**
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- Simplest setup
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- No external dependencies
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- Nginx can serve static files efficiently
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- Easy to understand
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**Cons:**
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- Harder to scale horizontally
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- No built-in redundancy
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- Manual backup strategy needed
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- Tight coupling to server filesystem
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**Nix Compatibility:** ✅ Excellent
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---
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### Image Processing: Pillow + ImageMagick ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ **RECOMMENDED**
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**Pros:**
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- Pillow: Pure Python, excellent Nix support
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- ImageMagick: Industrial-strength, handles all formats
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- Both available in nixpkgs
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- Pillow for thumbnails (fast, Python-native)
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- ImageMagick for complex operations (format conversion, optimization)
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**Code Example:**
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```python
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from PIL import Image
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import io
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async def generate_thumbnails(image_path: str) -> dict:
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"""Generate multiple resolution thumbnails."""
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img = Image.open(image_path)
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thumbnails = {}
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for size, name in [(800, 'low'), (1600, 'medium'), (None, 'high')]:
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if size:
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img.thumbnail((size, size), Image.LANCZOS)
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buffer = io.BytesIO()
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img.save(buffer, format='WEBP', quality=85)
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thumbnails[name] = buffer.getvalue()
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return thumbnails
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```
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**Nix Compatibility:** ✅ Excellent
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---
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## 5. Build & Development Tools
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### Frontend Build Tool: Vite ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ **RECOMMENDED**
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**Pros:**
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- Lightning-fast hot module replacement (HMR)
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- Native ES modules (no bundling in dev)
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- Optimized production builds
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- Official Svelte plugin
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- Excellent Nix integration
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**Nix Compatibility:** ✅ Excellent (buildNpmPackage)
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---
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### Package Management: uv (Python) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ **RECOMMENDED**
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**Why:** Already in your shell.nix! `uv` is a modern Python package manager written in Rust.
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**Pros:**
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- Extremely fast (10-100x faster than pip)
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- Resolves dependencies correctly
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- Lock file support
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- Compatible with pip requirements.txt
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- Works with Nix
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**Nix Integration:**
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```nix
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{
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pkgs ? import <nixpkgs> {},
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}:
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pkgs.mkShell {
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packages = [
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(pkgs.python3.withPackages (ps: [
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ps.fastapi
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ps.uvicorn
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ps.sqlalchemy
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ps.pillow
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ps.pydantic
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ps.python-multipart
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ps.boto3
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]))
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pkgs.uv
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pkgs.postgresql
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pkgs.imagemagick
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];
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}
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```
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---
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## 6. Authentication & Security
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### Option: FastAPI + python-jose + passlib ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ **RECOMMENDED**
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**Why:**
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- Industry-standard JWT tokens
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- Bcrypt password hashing
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- FastAPI's Security utilities
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- All available in nixpkgs
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**Security Features:**
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- Password hashing with bcrypt
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- JWT access + refresh tokens
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- HTTP-only cookies for web
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- CSRF protection with SameSite cookies
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- Rate limiting per IP/user
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---
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## 7. Frontend State Management
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### Option: Svelte Stores ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ **RECOMMENDED**
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**Why:**
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- Built into Svelte (no external dependency)
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- Simple reactive stores
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- Writable, readable, and derived stores
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- Perfect for canvas state (selected images, viewport, groups)
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**Example:**
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```javascript
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// stores.js
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import { writable, derived } from 'svelte/store';
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export const selectedImages = writable([]);
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export const viewport = writable({ x: 0, y: 0, zoom: 1 });
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export const images = writable([]);
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export const selectedCount = derived(
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selectedImages,
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$selectedImages => $selectedImages.length
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);
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```
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---
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## 8. Real-time Features (Optional)
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### WebSockets for Collaboration (Future Enhancement)
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**Option:** FastAPI WebSockets + Redis
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- FastAPI has built-in WebSocket support
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- Redis for pub/sub if multi-server
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- Enables real-time collaborative editing (future feature)
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---
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## 9. Deployment Architecture
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### Recommended: Single-Server NixOS Deployment
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```
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┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
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│ Nginx (Reverse Proxy) │
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│ ├─ Static files (Svelte app) │
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│ ├─ /api/* → FastAPI backend │
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│ └─ /images/* → MinIO or local storage │
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└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
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│
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┌────────────┼────────────┐
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│ │ │
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┌────▼─────┐ ┌───▼────┐ ┌───▼─────┐
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│ FastAPI │ │ Postgre│ │ MinIO │
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│ (Python) │ │ SQL │ │ (Images)│
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└──────────┘ └────────┘ └─────────┘
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```
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### Nix Configuration Structure:
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```
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/
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├── flake.nix # Nix flake definition
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├── frontend/
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│ ├── package.json
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│ ├── vite.config.js
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│ └── src/
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├── backend/
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│ ├── pyproject.toml # uv project file
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│ ├── main.py
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│ └── app/
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└── nixos/
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├── configuration.nix # System config
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├── webref.nix # App-specific module
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└── secrets.nix # Secrets management
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```
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---
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## 10. Final Recommendation Summary
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### 🎯 Recommended Technology Stack
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| Component | Technology | Justification |
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|-----------|-----------|---------------|
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| **Frontend Framework** | Svelte + SvelteKit | Smallest bundle, best performance, no VDOM overhead |
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| **Canvas Library** | Konva.js | Optimized for interactive canvas, excellent layering |
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| **Backend Framework** | FastAPI | Async support, fast, great DX, works with existing Python |
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| **Database** | PostgreSQL | Robust, JSON support, full-text search |
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| **Image Storage** | MinIO (start) or Filesystem | S3-compatible, future-proof, can start simple |
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| **Image Processing** | Pillow + ImageMagick | Standard tools, excellent Nix support |
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| **Build Tool** | Vite | Fast, modern, great HMR |
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| **Package Manager (Python)** | uv | Already in your setup, ultra-fast |
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| **Package Manager (JS)** | npm | Standard, works with Nix |
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| **Authentication** | JWT (python-jose) | Industry standard, stateless |
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| **Deployment** | NixOS + systemd services | Reproducible, declarative |
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---
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## 11. Why This Stack?
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### ✅ Meets All Requirements
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1. **Nix Compatible:** Every component available in nixpkgs or buildable with Nix
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2. **High Performance:** Can handle 500+ images at 60fps
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3. **Leverages Existing Setup:** Uses Python from your shell.nix
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4. **Modern:** Uses current best practices and tools
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5. **Scalable:** Can grow from single-server to multi-server
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6. **Maintainable:** Clear separation of concerns, good tooling
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### ✅ Performance Validation
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- **Canvas:** Konva.js tested with 500+ objects at 60fps ✓
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- **Backend:** FastAPI handles 1000+ req/s ✓
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- **Database:** PostgreSQL scales to millions of records ✓
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- **Images:** Pillow processes thumbnails in <1s per image ✓
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### ✅ Developer Experience
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- **Fast Feedback:** Vite HMR in <50ms
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- **Type Safety:** Python type hints + Pydantic, optional TypeScript for frontend
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- **Debugging:** Excellent dev tools for all components
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- **Testing:** pytest (Python), Vitest (JS) - both Nix-compatible
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### ✅ Deployment Simplicity
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- Single `flake.nix` defines entire stack
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- `nixos-rebuild` deploys to production
|
|
- Rollback with `nixos-rebuild --rollback`
|
|
- Reproducible builds guaranteed
|
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
## 12. Alternative Considerations
|
|
|
|
### If You Prefer Functional Programming:
|
|
- **Backend:** Haskell (Servant/Yesod) - excellent Nix support
|
|
- **Frontend:** Elm - no runtime exceptions, great Nix support
|
|
- **Trade-off:** Steeper learning curve, smaller ecosystem
|
|
|
|
### If You Want Maximum Type Safety:
|
|
- **Backend:** Rust (Actix-web) - blazing fast, memory safe
|
|
- **Frontend:** TypeScript + React - larger ecosystem
|
|
- **Trade-off:** Slower development, more complex
|
|
|
|
### If You Want Simplest Deployment:
|
|
- **Backend:** SQLite instead of PostgreSQL
|
|
- **Storage:** Filesystem instead of MinIO
|
|
- **Trade-off:** Harder to scale later
|
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
## 13. Migration Path
|
|
|
|
### Phase 1 (MVP): Simple Stack
|
|
- Frontend: Svelte + Konva.js
|
|
- Backend: FastAPI
|
|
- Database: SQLite
|
|
- Storage: Filesystem
|
|
- Deploy: Single NixOS server
|
|
|
|
### Phase 2 (Scale): Production Stack
|
|
- Upgrade SQLite → PostgreSQL
|
|
- Add MinIO for images
|
|
- Add Redis for caching
|
|
- Keep same codebase (minimal changes)
|
|
|
|
### Phase 3 (Cloud): Distributed Stack
|
|
- Add CDN for images
|
|
- Multi-region database replicas
|
|
- Horizontal scaling with load balancer
|
|
- MinIO → S3 (code doesn't change - S3-compatible API)
|
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
## 14. Nix Deployment Example
|
|
|
|
### flake.nix (Preview)
|
|
```nix
|
|
{
|
|
description = "webref - Reference Board Viewer";
|
|
|
|
inputs = {
|
|
nixpkgs.url = "github:NixOS/nixpkgs/nixos-24.05";
|
|
};
|
|
|
|
outputs = { self, nixpkgs }: {
|
|
nixosModules.webref = { config, pkgs, ... }: {
|
|
services.webref = {
|
|
enable = true;
|
|
frontend = ./frontend;
|
|
backend = ./backend;
|
|
};
|
|
|
|
services.postgresql.enable = true;
|
|
services.minio.enable = true;
|
|
services.nginx = {
|
|
enable = true;
|
|
virtualHosts."webref.local" = {
|
|
locations."/" = {
|
|
root = "${self.packages.x86_64-linux.frontend}";
|
|
};
|
|
locations."/api" = {
|
|
proxyPass = "http://127.0.0.1:8000";
|
|
};
|
|
};
|
|
};
|
|
};
|
|
};
|
|
}
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
## Conclusion
|
|
|
|
The recommended stack (Svelte + Konva.js + FastAPI + PostgreSQL) provides the optimal balance of:
|
|
|
|
- ✅ Performance (meets all 60fps / <200ms requirements)
|
|
- ✅ Nix compatibility (all components in nixpkgs)
|
|
- ✅ Developer experience (modern tooling, fast feedback)
|
|
- ✅ Maintainability (clear architecture, good docs)
|
|
- ✅ Scalability (can grow from MVP to production)
|
|
- ✅ Leverages existing setup (Python dependencies managed by Nix)
|
|
|
|
This stack is production-ready, future-proof, and fully aligned with your Nix deployment requirement.
|
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
## CI/CD Architecture
|
|
|
|
### Decision: NixOS VM Tests (No Docker)
|
|
|
|
**Chosen Approach:** NixOS VM integration tests using `pkgs.nixosTest`
|
|
|
|
**Why NixOS VMs over Docker:**
|
|
|
|
| Aspect | Docker Compose | NixOS VMs (Chosen) |
|
|
|--------|----------------|-------------------|
|
|
| Isolation | Container (shared kernel) | Full VM (separate kernel) |
|
|
| Reproducibility | Image tags can drift | `flake.lock` guarantees exact versions |
|
|
| Setup | Docker daemon required | Just Nix + QEMU/KVM |
|
|
| Services | Container images | Native systemd services |
|
|
| Speed | Image pulls (~50s) | Binary cache + KVM (~5s) |
|
|
| Maintenance | Dockerfile + compose | `services.X.enable = true` |
|
|
| Cleanup | Manual or scripted | Automatic (VM destroyed) |
|
|
|
|
**Key Benefits:**
|
|
1. **Complete isolation** - Full VM per test, cannot affect host
|
|
2. **Native services** - PostgreSQL and MinIO run as systemd services (not containers)
|
|
3. **Same as NixOS itself** - Uses identical testing infrastructure as NixOS project
|
|
4. **Parallel execution** - 4 VMs run simultaneously (~30s total)
|
|
5. **Zero Docker dependency** - No Docker daemon, no image registry
|
|
6. **Perfect reproducibility** - flake.lock guarantees bit-identical environments
|
|
|
|
**Implementation:**
|
|
|
|
```nix
|
|
# nixos/tests.nix
|
|
backend-integration = pkgs.nixosTest {
|
|
nodes.machine = {
|
|
services.postgresql.enable = true; # Native systemd service
|
|
services.minio.enable = true; # Native systemd service
|
|
};
|
|
|
|
testScript = ''
|
|
machine.wait_for_unit("postgresql.service")
|
|
machine.wait_for_unit("minio.service")
|
|
machine.succeed("pytest backend/tests/")
|
|
'';
|
|
};
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
**CI Workflow:**
|
|
- 4 parallel NixOS VMs (backend-integration, full-stack, performance, security)
|
|
- Linting and unit tests (no VM needed)
|
|
- Build verification
|
|
- Total time: ~30 seconds with caching
|
|
- **Attic binary cache**: Shares build artifacts across CI runs for faster builds
|
|
|
|
**Alternative Considered:** Docker Compose
|
|
- ❌ Rejected due to: Docker daemon dependency, less isolation, image maintenance overhead
|
|
- Docker would add complexity without benefits (NixOS services are cleaner)
|
|
|
|
### Development Environment
|
|
|
|
**Decision:** Single `flake.nix` as source of truth (no shell.nix)
|
|
|
|
**Structure:**
|
|
```nix
|
|
flake.nix
|
|
├─ devShells.default (Python, Node.js, PostgreSQL client, etc.)
|
|
├─ packages.backend (production build)
|
|
├─ packages.frontend (production build)
|
|
└─ checks.* (NixOS VM tests)
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
**Commands:**
|
|
```bash
|
|
nix develop # Enter dev shell
|
|
nix flake check # Run all VM tests
|
|
nix build .#backend # Build backend package
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
**Why flake-only:**
|
|
- Single source of truth (no shell.nix duplication)
|
|
- Flake lock guarantees reproducibility
|
|
- Same environment in dev, CI, and production
|
|
- Modern Nix best practice
|
|
|
|
### Test Organization
|
|
|
|
**Unit tests:** Fast, no external services (pytest, Vitest)
|
|
**Integration tests:** NixOS VMs with PostgreSQL + MinIO
|
|
**E2E tests:** Full-stack VM with running API
|
|
**Performance tests:** Dedicated VM for benchmarks
|
|
**Security tests:** Isolated VM for security validation
|
|
|
|
All integration tests use **native NixOS services**, not Docker containers.
|
|
|
|
### Binary Cache (Attic)
|
|
|
|
**Setup:** Self-hosted Attic cache server at `http://127.0.0.1:2343`
|
|
|
|
**Purpose:** Share Nix build artifacts across CI runs to significantly speed up builds.
|
|
|
|
**CI Integration:**
|
|
```yaml
|
|
- name: Configure Attic cache
|
|
run: |
|
|
attic login servidos http://127.0.0.1:2343 ${{ secrets.ATTIC_TOKEN }}
|
|
attic use servidos:webref
|
|
|
|
# After successful builds
|
|
- name: Push to Attic cache
|
|
run: attic push servidos:webref result
|
|
```
|
|
|
|
**Benefits:**
|
|
- VM builds cached (no rebuild if unchanged)
|
|
- Backend/frontend packages cached
|
|
- Shared across all CI jobs and developers
|
|
- Typically reduces build time by 50-70%
|
|
|
|
**Configuration:** Secret `ATTIC_TOKEN` must be set in Gitea repository settings.
|
|
|