Building a Scalable API for Document Retrieval: Mrakdon's Approach

Mrakdon API Documentation: GET mrakdon.com/api/documents/{id} Endpoint

In modern application development, efficient document retrieval is critical for performance and user experience. This technical guide explores Mrakdon's approach to building a secure, cache-optimized API endpoint for document access.

Key Design Considerations

1. Authentication & Authorization

The endpoint enforces strict access controls using bearer token authentication:

This implementation:

• Requires Bearer authentication
• Validates API keys against a verification service
• Enforces user-document ownership

2. Caching Strategy

Mrakdon implements a Redis-based caching system with 1-minute TTL:

The cache strategy:

Header Value	Meaning
X-Cache: HIT	Served from cache
X-Cache: MISS	Fetched from DB

This reduces database load by ~60% in typical workloads while maintaining freshness.

3. Database Interaction

When cache misses, the endpoint executes a parameterized SQL query

Key features:

• Single query pattern
• JOIN on current version
• Strict user filtering
• Limited result set

Response Structure

Successful responses return a standardized JSON format:

{
  "id": "string",
  "title": "string",
  "type": "string",
  "version": 1,
  "content": "string",
  "timestamps": {
    "created": "ISO-8601",
    "updated": "ISO-8601"
  }
}

Error Handling

The endpoint returns clear error responses:

Status Code	Meaning	Response Body
401	Unauthorized	{ error: "Invalid API Key" }
404	Document Not Found	{ error: "Document not found" }
500	Internal Server Error	{ error: "Internal Server Error" }

Performance Considerations

The implementation combines:

1. Caching for fast read access
2. Parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection
3. Asynchronous operations for non-blocking I/O
4. Strict validation at multiple layers

Conclusion

This endpoint demonstrates Mrakdon's commitment to:

• Secure API design
• Performance optimization
• Clean API responses

Future improvements could include:

• Add pagination for version history
• Implement rate limiting
• Add versioned API endpoints

For developers integrating with this endpoint, always:

1. Handle 404 responses gracefully
2. Respect cache headers
3. Use exponential backoff for rate limits

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