js-awe: An async execution planner

Async await has done a lot to improve the readability of code when compared with the callback style. But sometimes it is not a good construct, especially if you want to use it in a functional style!!!

One problem I see, is the spread of async await around the source code wherever it is handy. Every time we use await, an async branch will be created. The result will be an execution flow with the shape of a tree, with some chain functions running in sequence and others running concurrently. Understanding the tree of execution flow turns difficult. This is mainly by the fact that the construct of the tree is not explicitly coded in one place.

js-awe (npm install js-awe) library has a “plan” function that can help you with that.

“plan” tries to solve this problem by declaring this tree explicitly in one place and in a simple elegant way. It uses array nesting to define this tree. It does not use weird DSL. “plan” is an execution planner that pipe functions to run in sequence and functions to run concurrently. It handles for you the promise chaining and data passing so you can write pure functions free of async await.

The construct to run in sequence:

[ fun1, fun2, fun3 ]

execution and data flow coincides:

fun1 -> fun2 -> fun3

* fun1 will receive as input all the parameters when running the plan:
   plan().build(...)(param1, param2)
* fun2 will receive 1 input parameter corresponding with output from fun1
* fun3 will receive 1 input parameter corresponding with output from fun2

The construct to run concurrently:

[ fun1, [fun2], [fun3], fun4 ]

execution and data flow coincides:

       |-> fun2 --|
fun1 --|          |-> fun4
       |-> fun3 --|

* fun1 will receive as input all the parameters when running the plan:
  plan().build(...)(param1, param2)
* fun2 will receive 1 input parameter corresponding with output from fun1
* fun3 will receive 1 input parameter corresponding with output from fun1
* fun4 will receive 1 input parameter of type Array that contains two values:
  [outputFromfun2, outputFromFun3]

The best thing is to view an example. First, we need to install it:

npm install js-awe

You can see below is a simple example of its use. This could be part of an API to get the bank balances of all the holdings (savings and loans) for a specific customer:

import { plan } from 'js-awe'

const getCustomerBalances = plan().build([
  fetchAccounts,
  [filterSavings, getSavingBalances],
  [filterLoans, getLoanBalances],
  format,
])

console.log('result: ', await getCustomerBalances('0396d9b0'))

Execution:

            |->filterSavings -> getSavingBalances -|
getAccounts-|                                      |-> format
            |->filterLoans   -> getLoanBalances   -|

The flow of data:

• Return values from functions are passed to the next function to run, in a pipe-style way.
• When the return value is a promise, the planner will wait for its resolution before calling the next function.

You can see the whole example here:

import { plan } from 'js-awe'

const getCustomerBalances = plan().build([
  fetchAccounts,
  [filterSavings, getSavingBalances],
  [filterLoans, getLoanBalances],
  format,
])

console.log('result: ', await getCustomerBalances('0396d9b0'))

function filterSavings(accounts) {
  return accounts.filter((account) => account.type === 'saving')
}

function getSavingBalances(savingAccounts) {
  const listOfAcccountsToFetch = savingAccounts.map((account) => account.id)
  return fetchSavingBalances(listOfAcccountsToFetch)
}

function filterLoans(accounts) {
  return accounts.filter((account) => account.type === 'loan')
}
function getLoanBalances(loanAccounts) {
  const listOfAcccountsToFetch = loanAccounts.map((account) => account.id)
  return fetchLoanBalances(listOfAcccountsToFetch)
}

function format([savingBalances, loanBalances]) {
  return [...savingBalances, ...loanBalances]
}

// Data fetch services are mocked for local running.
// In production they should be fetch APIs to real implementations.
function fetchAccounts(customerId) {
  return Promise.resolve([
    { id: 1, type: 'saving' },
    { id: 2, type: 'loan' },
  ])
}

function fetchSavingBalances(listOfAcccountsToFetch) {
  return Promise.resolve([
    {
      id: 1,
      type: 'saving',
      balance: 13,
    },
  ])
}

function fetchLoanBalances(listOfAcccountsToFetch) {
  return Promise.resolve([
    {
      id: 2,
      type: 'loan',
      balance: 24,
    },
  ])
}

The Plan utility is recommended when we have a complex tree, and you want to manifest explicitly this async flow. For example, This utility would be a good tool for an API that generates its response based on different calls to other APIs. Especially if some of the calls need to be called in sequence and others can be run concurrently.

When it is not recommended:

• Simple async flows. Introducing another tool to learn may not be worth it.
• You have the skills to do it better yourself: more flexible, readible and performance.
• You are tired of new libraries, frameworks and abstractions. I get it!
• You are happy with your current approach.