Kent Watsen <[email protected]> writes:

>> On Jan 3, 2024, at 4:58 AM, Ladislav Lhotka <[email protected]> wrote:
>> 
>> Kent Watsen <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>> writes:
>> 
>>> Thanks Lada!
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> On Jan 2, 2024, at 6:50 AM, Ladislav Lhotka <[email protected]> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> Hi Kent,
>>>> 
>>>> it's not exactly what you are asking for but FWIW Yangson has a method 
>>>> DataModel.schema_digest [1]
>>>> that returns a “schema digest” - a JS object that contains all information 
>>>> that is necessary for such a client-side web app - data tree structure, 
>>>> types, restrictions and more. I used it successfully for writing a 
>>>> RESTCONF client app in AngularJS.
>>>> 
>>> 
>>>> [1] 
>>>> https://yangson.labs.nic.cz/datamodel.html#yangson.datamodel.DataModel.schema_digest
>>> 
>>> I can’t believe I didn’t know the importance of this method before.
>>>  - an opportunity to improve the docs?
>> 
>> Do you have any suggestions?
>
> Sure.  Something along these lines?
>
> OLD: Generate digest of the data model schema. This information is primarily 
> intended to aid client applications.
>
> NEW: Generate a digest of the data model schema.  The digest is a flattened 
> and compressed view intended to enable processing the data model without a 
> full YANG processing stack, e.g., a single-page application written in 
> Javascript running in a web browser.

OK, will use, thanks.

>
>
>
>>> You’re right that it isn’t what was asked for, but it may very well be 
>>> sufficient…
>>>  - especially given that you said your AngularJS project was successful.
>> 
>> YANG schema info is also needed in other parts of such an app, e.g. in HTML 
>> templates.
>
> Can you say a bit more here?  By “YANG schema”, do you mean the schema digest 
> in particular?  Why would there be HTML templates if dynamically-generating 
> the layout?

Yes, I meant the schema digest. Of course it's not necessary if you can 
generate the entire app from a YANG data model. My aim was to write a 
multi-purpose app that uses a data model (digest) as input and adjusts 
accordingly.

Lada

>
>
>
>>>> I discussed this once with Martin Björklund and I think he mentioned that 
>>>> tail-f used something similar. Perhaps this could be an idea for 
>>>> standardizing - apart from web apps there are other restricted 
>>>> environments not well suited for dealing with all the complexity and 
>>>> modularity of YANG data models. 
>>> 
>>> I welcome opening a discussion into supporting SPAs on top of RESTCONF.
>>> 
>>> One issue I foresee is folks thinking server-rendered UI is good enough.
>>> I’d like to counter with three comments:
>>>  1. Server-rendered takes more server-processing
>>>        - it is better to offload to client, right?
>>>  2. RESTCONF is moving into the realm of applications (not network devices)
>>>        - several NMS/Controller systems have RESTCONF-based NBIs
>>>        - such apps want/need SPA UI to meet market-demand
>>>  3. JS tooling to process YANG is nearly non-existent (but see [A] and [B]
>>>        - this sets a high-bar for every application
>>>        - also suggests a market-opportunity...
>> 
>> 4. A server-side app is kinda "man in the middle", so you typically have to 
>> store credentials for accessing the devices on that web server. In contrast, 
>> a client-side app authenticates directly with the RESTCONF server.
>
> Indeed, that too.
>
>
>> Lada
>
> K.
>
>

-- 
Ladislav Lhotka <[email protected]>
PGP Key ID: 0xB8F92B08A9F76C67

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