npm - @jcbuisson/express-x - Versions diffs - 2.1.19 → 3.0.0 - Mend

@jcbuisson/express-x 2.1.19 → 3.0.0

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package/README.md CHANGED Viewed

@@ -1,172 +1,153 @@
+Full doc: [https://expressx.jcbuisson.dev](https://expressx.jcbuisson.dev)
-# Getting started
-## Create a project
-Let's create a new folder for our application:
-```bash
-mkdir expressx-project
-cd expressx-project
-```
+# Getting started
-Since any ExpressX application is a Node application, we can create a default package.json using npm:
+ExpressX is a framework handling both backend and frontend and their communication using websockets.\
+A single websocket is used to channel both data and events between the server and each client.
 ```bash
-npm init es6 --yes
+mkdir myproject
+cd myproject
+mkdir backend frontend
 ```
-The `es6` argument adds `"type": "module"` in `package.json`. Beware! All further module imports must made with es6/esm `import` syntax.
+## Initialize backend
-## Install ExpressX
+`@jcbuisson/express-x` is the server-side library
 ```bash
-npm install @jcbuisson/express-x
+cd backend
+npm init es6
+npm install @jcbuisson/express-x cors
 ```
-## Our first server application
+## Back-end example with a custom service
-Now we can create an ExpressX application which will provide a complete REST API on a `user` resource
-backed in a [Prisma](https://www.prisma.io/) database
+The following example provides a 'math' service with two custom functions 'square' and 'cube':
 ```js
 // app.js
-import { expressXServer } from '@jcbuisson/express-x'
+import { expressX } from '@jcbuisson/express-x';
+import cors from 'cors'
-// `app` is a regular express application, enhanced with service and real-time features
-const app = expressX()
+// `app` is a regular express application, enhanced with express-x services and real-time features
+const app = expressX();
+// regular express middleware, to allow access from our front-end
+app.use(cors());
-// configure prisma client from schema
-const prisma = new PrismaClient()
+// create a custom 'math' service with 2 methods
+app.createService('math', {
+   square: (x) => x*x,
+   cube: (x) => x*x*x,
+});
+app.httpServer.listen(8000, () => console.log(`App listening at http://localhost:8000`));
+```
-// create two CRUD database services. They provide Prisma methods: `create`, 'createMany', 'find', 'findMany', 'upsert', etc.
-app.createService('User', prisma.User)
-app.createService('Post', prisma.Post)
+A service may have as many parameters as needed, of any types as long as they are serializable.
-app.server.listen(8000, () => console.log(`App listening at http://localhost:8000`))
+## Run back-end
+```
+node app.js
 ```
-Before running it we need to setup the corresponding database.
+## Initialize front-end
+`@jcbuisson/express-x-client` is the client-side library
-## Create the database
+```bash
+cd frontend
+npm init es6
+npm install @jcbuisson/express-x-client socket.io-client
+```
-Presently, ExpressX only handles [Prisma](https://www.prisma.io/). Prisma is able to connect to most brands of relational or NoSQL databases.
+## Front-end example
-First, provide the database schema in `prisma/schema.prisma`:
-```prisma
-generator client {
-   provider = "prisma-client-js"
-}
+index.html
-model User {
-   id          Int       @default(autoincrement()) @id
-   name        String
-   posts       Post[]
-}
+```html
+<html>
+   <input id="value-id" type="number" placeholder="Enter value"><br>
+   <button id="square-id" class="btn">Square</button>
+   <button id="cube-id" class="btn">Cube</button>
+   <p id="result-id"></p>
+</html>
-model Post {
-   id          Int       @default(autoincrement()) @id
-   text        String
-   author      User      @relation(fields: [authorId], references: [id], onDelete: Cascade)
-   authorId    Int
-}
+<script type="module">
+import io from 'socket.io-client';
+import expressXClient from '@jcbuisson/express-x-client';
-datasource db {
-   provider = "sqlite"
-   url      = "file:./dev.db"
-}
-```
+const socket = io('http://localhost:8000', {
+   transports: ["websocket"],
+});
-Then create the database:
-```bash
-npx prisma db push
-```
+const app = expressXClient(socket);
-The sqlite database file is created at `prisma/dev.db`
+const valueInput = document.getElementById('value-id');
+const squareBtn = document.getElementById('square-id');
+const cubeBtn = document.getElementById('cube-id');
+const resultParagraph = document.getElementById('result-id');
+squareBtn.addEventListener('click', async (ev) => {
+   const result = await app.service('math').square(valueInput.value);
+   resultParagraph.innerHTML = result;
+})
-## Run the application on the server side
+cubeBtn.addEventListener('click', async (ev) => {
+   const result = await app.service('math').cube(valueInput.value);
+   resultParagraph.innerHTML = result;
+})
+</script>
+```
-```bash
-node app.js
+## Run front-end
+```
+npx vite
 ```
+Calling a service method from the frontend is as easy as `await app.service('math').square(value)`
-## Use it with a websocket client
-Create the following client NodeJS script:
+## Add a CRUD API over a relational database
-```js
-// client.js
-import io from 'socket.io-client'
-import { expressXClient } from '@jcbuisson/express-x'
+With a few more lines to the backend, we can add a complete CRUD API on a `User` resource
+backed in a [Prisma](https://www.prisma.io/) database
-const socket = io('http://localhost:8000', { transports: ["websocket"] })
+```js
+// app.js
+import { expressX } from '@jcbuisson/express-x'
+import { PrismaClient } from '@prisma/client'
-const app = expressXClient(socket)
+const prisma = new PrismaClient()
-async function main() {
-   const user = await app.service('User').create({
-      name: "Joe",
-   })
-   await app.service('Post').create({
-      authorId: user.id,
-      text: "Post#1"
-   })
-   await app.service('Post').create({
-      authorId: user.id,
-      text: "Post#2"
-   })
-   const joe = await app.service('User').findUnique({
-      where: {
-         id: user.id,
-      },
-      include: {
-         posts: true,
-      },
-   })
-   console.log('joe', joe)
-   process.exit(0)
-}
-main()
-```
+// `app` is a regular express application, enhanced with express-x services and real-time features
+const app = expressX()
-For simplicity we use a node client, but you would write something similar with your favorite front-end framework.
+...
-You can use the exact same statements on services on the client side as you would on the server side, such as: `app.service('User').create(...)`.
-Of course the `app` object here on the client is quite different that the `app` object on the server; you can find explanations [here]().
+// Create a CRUD database 'user' service with the Prisma methods: `create`, 'findUnique', etc.
+// Conveniently, `Prisma.User` is the map of all CRUD methods on User table
+app.createService('user', Prisma.User)
-Now run the client script:
-```bash
-node client.js
+app.httpServer.listen(8000, () => console.log(`App listening at http://localhost:8000`))
 ```
-It prints the following lines in the console:
-```json
-joe {
-  id: 11,
-  name: 'Joe',
-  posts: [
-    { id: 12, text: 'Post#1', authorId: 11 },
-    { id: 13, text: 'Post#2', authorId: 11 }
-  ]
-}
+Of course the database must be created and setup first.
+Now the full API of Prisma is accessible from the client-side, for example:
+```js
+const user = await app.service('user').findUnique({ where: { id: userId }})
 ```
-We have a GraphQL-like experience with the nested posts, thanks to Prisma and its use through ExpressX services.
+By default, errors on the server-side are serialized and re-emitted on the client-side, so you can catch them if needed.
-::: info
-We could have removed from `app.js` all lines related to HTTP, since we are only using the websocket transport.
-:::
 ## Real-time applications
-When websocket transport is used (default situation) and when a connected client calls a service method,
-two twings happen on method completion:
+When a connected client calls a service method, two things happen on method completion:
 - the resulting value is sent to the client
 - an event is emitted, and sent to connected clients we'll call subscribers. The calling client may or not be one of those subscribers.
@@ -177,50 +158,140 @@ For example in a medical application, whenever a patients's record is modified,
 to channels in order to receive those events. ExpressX provides functions to configure which events are published to which channels.
 A channel is represented by a name and you can create and use as many channels as you need.
-In the following example, every time a client connects to the server, it joins (= is subscribed to) the 'anonymous' channel.
+### Example: shared bilboard
+In the following example of a shared bilboard, every time a client connects to the server, it joins (= is subscribed to) the 'all' channel.
+And whenever an event is emited by the `bilboard` service, this event is published on this channel,
+and then broacasted to all connected clients, leading to real-time updates.
+```js
+// app.js
+// Run it with: `node app.js`
+import { expressX } from '@jcbuisson/express-x';
+import cors from 'cors'
+// `app` is a regular express application, enhanced with express-x services and real-time features
+const app = expressX();
+// express middleware which prevents cors issues with dev front-end
+app.use(cors());
+let bilboard = '';
+// create a custom 'bilboard' service with 1 method
+app.createService('bilboard', {
+   sendMessage: (message) => {
+      bilboard = message;
+      return message;
+   }
+});
+// publish
+app.service('bilboard').publish(async (context) => {
+   return ['all']
+});
+// subscribe
+app.on('connection', (socket) => {
+   app.joinChannel('all', socket)
+})
+app.httpServer.listen(8000, () => console.log(`App listening at http://localhost:8000`));
+```
+```html
+<!-- index.html; run it with: npx vite -->
+<html>
+   <input id="message-id" type="text" placeholder="Enter message"><br>
+   <button id="send-id" class="btn">Send</button>
+   <div id="bilboard-id"></div>
+</html>
+<script type="module">
+import io from 'socket.io-client';
+import expressXClient from '@jcbuisson/express-x-client';
+const socket = io('http://localhost:8000', {
+   transports: ["websocket"],
+});
+const app = expressXClient(socket);
+const messageInput = document.getElementById('message-id');
+const sendBtn = document.getElementById('send-id');
+const bilboardDiv = document.getElementById('bilboard-id');
+sendBtn.addEventListener('click', async (ev) => {
+   await app.service('bilboard').sendMessage(messageInput.value);
+});
+app.service('bilboard').on('sendMessage', (message) => {
+   bilboardDiv.innerHTML = bilboardDiv.innerHTML + '<br>' + message;
+})
+</script>
+```
+The listener is triggered whenever the client receives from the server a `sendMessage` event from the `bilboard` service.
+This event is sent to all subscribers after the execution of `app.service('bilboard').sendMessage()` on the server.
+### Example : CRUD database
+In this other example, every time a client connects to the server, it joins (= is subscribed to) the 'anonymous' channel.
 And whenever an event is emited by the `post` or `user` service, this event is published on this channel,
 and then broacasted to all connected clients, leading to real-time updates.
 ```js
 // app.js
-import { expressXServer } from '@jcbuisson/express-x'
-import { PrismaClient } from '@prisma/client'
+import { expressX } from '@jcbuisson/express-x';
+import { PrismaClient } from '@prisma/client';
-// `app` is a regular express application, enhanced with service and real-time features
-const app = expressX()
+const prisma = new PrismaClient();
-// configure prisma client from schema
-const prisma = new PrismaClient()
+// `app` is a regular express application, enhanced with express-x services and real-time features
+const app = expressX(prisma);
-// create two CRUD database services. They provide Prisma methods: `create`, 'createMany', 'find', 'findMany', 'upsert', etc.
-app.createService('User', prisma.User)
-app.createService('Post', prisma.Post)
+// create two CRUD database services with the Prisma methods: `create`, 'update', etc
+app.createService('user', prisma.User);
+app.createService('post', prisma.Post);
 // publish
-app.service('User').publish(async (post, context) => {
+app.service('user').publish(async (context) => {
    return ['anonymous']
-})
-app.service('Post').publish(async (post, context) => {
+});
+app.service('post').publish(async (context) => {
    return ['anonymous']
-})
+});
 // subscribe
-app.on('connection', (socket) => {
-   console.log('connection', socket.id)
+app.addConnectListener((socket) => {
    app.joinChannel('anonymous', socket)
-})
+});
-app.server.listen(8000, () => console.log(`App listening at http://localhost:8000`))
+app.httpServer.listen(8000, () => console.log(`App listening at http://localhost:8000`));
 ```
 Here is how a client may listen to channel events:
 ```js
-...
-app.service('Post').on('create', post => {
-   console.log('post event created', post)
+import io from 'socket.io-client'
+import expressXClient from '@jcbuisson/express-x-client'
+const socket = io('http://localhost:8000', { transports: ["websocket"] })
+const app = expressXClient(socket)
+app.service('user').on('create', (user) => {
+   console.log('User created', user)
+   // update client cache
+})
+app.service('post').on('create', (post) => {
+   console.log('Post created', post)
+   // update client cache
 })
 ```
 The listener is triggered whenever the client receives from the server a `create` event from the service `post`.
-This event results from the completion on the server of a call `app.service('Post').create()`
+This event is sent to all subscribers after the execution of `app.service('post').create()` on the server.

package/package.json CHANGED Viewed

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "@jcbuisson/express-x",
-  "version": "2.1.19",
+  "version": "3.0.0",
   "description": "",
   "type": "module",
   "main": "src/index.mjs",
   "repository": {
     "type": "git",
-    "url": "git@github.com:jcbuisson/express-x.git"
+    "url": "git+ssh://git@github.com/jcbuisson/express-x.git"
   },
   "author": "Jean-Christophe Buisson <buisson@enseeiht.fr> (jcbuisson.dev)",
   "license": "MIT",

package/src/index.mjs CHANGED Viewed

@@ -5,9 +5,51 @@ import bcrypt from 'bcryptjs'
 // UTILISER L'ACKNOWLEDGEMENT : https://socket.io/docs/v4/#acknowledgements
+//////////////////////////       UTILITIES       //////////////////////////
+function truncateString(str, maxLength = 300, ellipsis = '...') {
+   // Check if the string already fits
+   if (str.length <= maxLength) return str;
+   // Calculate the cut-off point, accounting for the ellipsis length
+   const cutLength = maxLength - ellipsis.length;
+   // Ensure the string is long enough to be cut
+   if (cutLength < 0) return str.substring(0, maxLength); // Just cut it off if ellipsis doesn't fit
+   // Truncate the string and add the ellipsis
+   return str.substring(0, cutLength) + ellipsis;
+}
+class Mutex {
+   constructor() {
+      this.locked = false;
+      this.queue = [];
+   }
+   async acquire() {
+      if (this.locked) {
+         return new Promise(resolve => this.queue.push(resolve));
+      }
+      this.locked = true;
+   }
+   release() {
+      if (this.queue.length > 0) {
+         const next = this.queue.shift();
+         next();
+      } else {
+         this.locked = false;
+      }
+   }
+}
+//////////////////////////       EXPRESSX       //////////////////////////
 export function expressX(config) {
    const services = {}
@@ -254,8 +296,8 @@ export function expressX(config) {
       return service
    }
-   function configure(callback) {
-      callback(app)
+   function configure(callback, ...args) {
+      callback(app, ...args)
    }
    // `app.service(name)` starts here!
@@ -305,14 +347,13 @@ export class EXError extends Error {
 }
+//////////////////////////       HOOK METHODS       //////////////////////////
 /*
  * Add a timestamp property of name `field` with current time as value
 */
 export const addTimestamp = (field) => async (context) => {
    context.result[field] = (new Date()).toISOString()
-   return context
 }
 /*
@@ -321,84 +362,258 @@ export const addTimestamp = (field) => async (context) => {
 export const hashPassword = (passwordField) => async (context) => {
    const user = context.result
    user[passwordField] = await bcrypt.hash(user[passwordField], 5)
-   return context
 }
 /*
  * Remove `field` from `context.result`
 */
-export function protect(field) {
-   return async (context) => {
-      if (context.result) {
-         if (Array.isArray(context.result)) {
-            for (const value of context.result) {
-               delete value[field]
-            }
-         } else if (typeof context.result === "object") {
-            delete context.result[field]
+export const protect = (field) => (context) => {
+   if (context.result) {
+      if (Array.isArray(context.result)) {
+         for (const value of context.result) {
+            delete value[field]
          }
+      } else if (typeof context.result === "object") {
+         delete context.result[field]
       }
-      return context
    }
 }
-export const isNotExpired = async (context) => {
-   // do nothing if it's not a client call from a ws connexion
-   if (!context.socket) return
-   const expiresAt = context.socket?.data?.expiresAt
-   if (expiresAt) {
-      const expiresAtDate = new Date(expiresAt)
-      const now = new Date()
-      if (now > expiresAtDate) {
-         // expiration date is met
-         // clear socket.data
-         context.socket.data = {}
-         // leave all rooms except socket#id
-         const rooms = new Set(context.socket.rooms)
-         for (const room of rooms) {
-            if (room === context.socket.id) continue
-            context.socket.leave(room)
+//////////////////////////       RELOAD PLUGIN       //////////////////////////
+export const roomCache = {}
+export const dataCache = {}
+export async function reloadPlugin(app) {
+   const io = app.get('io')
+   app.addDisconnectingListener((socket, reason) => {
+      console.log('onSocketDisconnecting', socket.id, reason)
+      // save socket data & rooms in caches
+      const alreadySavedData = dataCache[socket.id]
+      const alreadySavedRooms = roomCache[socket.id]
+      dataCache[socket.id] = Object.assign({}, socket.data)
+      roomCache[socket.id] = new Set(socket.rooms)
+      if (alreadySavedData) dataCache[socket.id] = Object.assign(dataCache[socket.id], alreadySavedData)
+      if (alreadySavedRooms) roomCache[socket.id].add(alreadySavedRooms)
+   })
+   app.addConnectListener((socket) => {
+      console.log('onSocketConnect', socket.id)
+      // when client ask for transfer from fromSocketId to toSocketId
+      socket.on('cnx-transfer', async (fromSocketId, toSocketId) => {
+         app.log('verbose', `cnx-transfer from ${fromSocketId} to ${toSocketId}`)
+         console.log('dataCache', dataCache)
+         console.log('roomCache', roomCache)
+         // copy connection room & data from 'fromSocketId' to 'toSocketId'
+         const toSocket = io.sockets.sockets.get(toSocketId)
+         // data & rooms of fromSocketId are taken from dataCache and roomCache, since socket no longer exists
+         const fromSocketRooms = roomCache[fromSocketId]
+         if (toSocket && fromSocketRooms) {
+            // copy rooms
+            for (const room of fromSocketRooms) {
+               if (room === fromSocketId) continue // do not include room associated to socket#id
+               toSocket.join(room)
+            }
+            // copy data
+            toSocket.data = dataCache[fromSocketId]
+            // console.log('cnx-transfer data', toSocket.data)
+            // console.log('cnx-transfer rooms', toSocket.rooms)
+            // remove 'from' cache data
+            delete roomCache[fromSocketId]
+            delete dataCache[fromSocketId]
+            // send acknowlegment to toSocket
+            toSocket.emit('cnx-transfer-ack', fromSocketId, toSocketId)
+         } else {
+            console.log(`*** CNX TRANSFER ERROR, ${fromSocketId} -> ${toSocketId}`)
+            toSocket.emit('cnx-transfer-error', fromSocketId, toSocketId)
          }
-         // send an event to the client (typical client handling: logout)
-         context.socket.emit('not-authenticated')
-         // throw exception
-         throw new EXError('not-authenticated', "Session expired")
-      }
-   } else {
-      // send an event to the client (typical client handling: logout)
-      context.socket.emit('not-authenticated')
-      throw new EXError('not-authenticated', "No expiresAt in socket.data")
-   }
+      })
+   })
 }
-/*
- * Throw an error for a client service method call when socket.data does not contain user
-*/
-export const isAuthenticated = async (context) => {
-   // do nothing if it's not a client call from a ws connexion
-   if (context.caller !== 'client') return
-   if (!context.socket?.data) {
-      // send an event to the client (typical client handling: logout)
-      context.socket.emit('not-authenticated')
-      throw new EXError('not-authenticated', 'no data in socket')
-   }
-   if (!context.socket.data?.user) {
-      // send an event to the client (typical client handling: logout)
-      context.socket.emit('not-authenticated')
-      throw new EXError('not-authenticated', 'no user in socket.data')
+//////////////////////////       OFFLINE PLUGIN       //////////////////////////
+const mutex = new Mutex()
+export function offlinePlugin(app, modelNames) {
+   const prisma = app.get('prisma');
+   if (!prisma.metadata) {
+      app.log('error', "A model named 'metadata' is expected in the prisma database - see https://expressx.jcbuisson.dev/server-api.html#offline")
+      return
    }
-}
-/*
- * Extend value of socket.data.expiresAt of `duration` milliseconds
-*/
-export const extendExpiration = (duration) => async (context) => {
-   const now = new Date()
-   if (context.caller !== 'client') return
-   if (!context.socket?.data) {
-      // send an event to the client (typical client handling: logout)
-      context.socket.emit('not-authenticated')
-      throw new EXError('not-authenticated', 'no data in socket')
+   // add a database service for each model
+   for (const modelName of modelNames) {
+      const model = prisma[modelName];
+      app.createService(modelName, {
+         findUnique: model.findUnique,
+         findMany: model.findMany,
+         createWithMeta: async (uid, data, created_at) => {
+            const [value, meta] = await prisma.$transaction([
+               model.create({ data: { uid, ...data } }),
+               prisma.metadata.create({ data: { uid, created_at } })
+            ])
+            return [value, meta]
+         },
+         updateWithMeta: async (uid, data, updated_at) => {
+            const [value, meta] = await prisma.$transaction([
+               model.update({ where: { uid }, data }),
+               prisma.metadata.update({ where: { uid }, data: { updated_at } })
+            ])
+            return [value, meta]
+         },
+         deleteWithMeta: async (uid, deleted_at) => {
+            const [value, meta] = await prisma.$transaction([
+               model.delete({ where: { uid } }),
+               prisma.metadata.update({ where: { uid }, data: { deleted_at } })
+            ])
+            return [value, meta]
+         },
+      })
    }
-   context.socket.data.expiresAt = new Date(now.getTime() + duration)
+   // add a synchronization service
+   app.createService('sync', {
+      // AMÉLIORER : ne pas avoir une exclusion mutuelle globale, mais seulement par model/where
+      go: async (modelName, where, cutoffDate, clientMetadataDict) => {
+         await mutex.acquire()
+         try {
+            console.log('>>>>> SYNC', modelName, where, cutoffDate)
+            const databaseService = app.service(modelName)
+            const prisma = app.get('prisma')
+            // STEP 1: get existing database `where` values
+            const databaseValues = await databaseService.findMany({ where })
+            const databaseValuesDict = databaseValues.reduce((accu, value) => {
+               accu[value.uid] = value
+               return accu
+            }, {})
+            // console.log('clientMetadataDict', clientMetadataDict)
+            // console.log('databaseValuesDict', databaseValuesDict)
+            // STEP 2: compute intersections between client and database uids
+            const onlyDatabaseIds = new Set()
+            const onlyClientIds = new Set()
+            const databaseAndClientIds = new Set()
+            for (const uid in databaseValuesDict) {
+               if (uid in clientMetadataDict) {
+                  databaseAndClientIds.add(uid)
+               } else {
+                  onlyDatabaseIds.add(uid)
+               }
+            }
+            for (const uid in clientMetadataDict) {
+               if (uid in databaseValuesDict) {
+                  databaseAndClientIds.add(uid)
+               } else {
+                  onlyClientIds.add(uid)
+               }
+            }
+            // console.log('onlyDatabaseIds', onlyDatabaseIds)
+            // console.log('onlyClientIds', onlyClientIds)
+            // console.log('databaseAndClientIds', databaseAndClientIds)
+            // STEP 3: build add/update/delete sets
+            const addDatabase = []
+            const updateDatabase = []
+            const deleteDatabase = []
+            const addClient = []
+            const updateClient = []
+            const deleteClient = []
+            for (const uid of onlyDatabaseIds) {
+               const databaseValue = databaseValuesDict[uid]
+               let databaseMetaData = await prisma.metadata.findUnique({ where: { uid }})
+               if (!databaseMetaData) {
+                  console.log('no metadata - should not happen', modelName, where, uid)
+                  databaseMetaData = { uid, created_at: new Date() }
+               }
+               addClient.push([databaseValue, databaseMetaData])
+            }
+            for (const uid of onlyClientIds) {
+               const clientMetaData = clientMetadataDict[uid]
+               if (clientMetaData.deleted_at) {
+                  deleteClient.push([uid, clientMetaData.deleted_at])
+               } else if (new Date(clientMetaData.created_at) > cutoffDate) {
+                  addDatabase.push(clientMetaData)
+               } else {
+                  // ???
+               }
+            }
+            for (const uid of databaseAndClientIds) {
+               const databaseValue = databaseValuesDict[uid]
+               const clientMetaData = clientMetadataDict[uid]
+                  || { uid, created_at: new Date() } // should not happen
+               if (clientMetaData.deleted_at) {
+                  deleteDatabase.push(uid)
+                  deleteClient.push([uid, clientMetaData.deleted_at])
+               } else {
+                  const databaseMetaData = await prisma.metadata.findUnique({ where: { uid }})
+                     || { uid, created_at: new Date() } // should not happen
+                  const clientUpdatedAt = new Date(clientMetaData.updated_at || clientMetaData.created_at)
+                  const databaseUpdatedAt = new Date(databaseMetaData.updated_at || databaseMetaData.created_at)
+                  const dateDifference = clientUpdatedAt - databaseUpdatedAt
+                  // console.log('databaseMetaData', databaseMetaData, 'clientMetaData', clientMetaData, 'dateDifference', dateDifference)
+                  if (dateDifference > 0) {
+                     updateDatabase.push(clientMetaData)
+                  } else if (dateDifference < 0) {
+                     updateClient.push(databaseValue)
+                  }
+               }
+            }
+            console.log('addDatabase', truncateString(JSON.stringify(addDatabase)))
+            console.log('deleteDatabase', truncateString(JSON.stringify(deleteDatabase)))
+            console.log('updateDatabase', truncateString(JSON.stringify(updateDatabase)))
+            console.log('addClient', truncateString(JSON.stringify(addClient)))
+            console.log('deleteClient', truncateString(JSON.stringify(deleteClient)))
+            console.log('updateClient', truncateString(JSON.stringify(updateClient)))
+            // STEP4: execute database deletions
+            for (const uid of deleteDatabase) {
+               const clientMetaData = clientMetadataDict[uid]
+               // console.log('---delete', uid, clientMetaData)
+               await databaseService.deleteWithMeta(uid, clientMetaData.deleted_at)
+            }
+            // STEP5: return to client the changes to perform on its cache, and create/update to perform on database with full data
+            // database creations & updates are done later by the client with complete data (this function only has client values's meta-data)
+            return {
+               toAdd: addClient,
+               toUpdate: updateClient,
+               toDelete: deleteClient,
+               addDatabase,
+               updateDatabase,
+            }
+         } catch(err) {
+            console.log('*** err sync', err)
+         } finally {
+            mutex.release()
+         }
+      },
+   })
 }