Experiment: migrate to DRF + React

[paigewilliams]

Status as of 01/05/2025:

• Begin using Django REST Framework (DRF) in the TEKDB/explore routes. Adding a prefix of /api/ to the DRF routes to maintain functionality in the preexisting routes and try to move incrementally without breaking changes.
  • api/explore/<model>/<id> works.
  • api/explore/<model>/<id>/download does not work yet.
  • api/page/<name> works.
  • api/search works.
  • api/export/<model>/<id>/format does not work.
  • api/site-info works.
  • api/csrf works.
  • Tests are failing.
• Use react in the frontend
  • Using react-router v7 in "framework" mode. I feel pretty good about this decision.
  • Can log in from the client.
  • Using react-bootstrap for styles and some components.
  • /explore page needs to be behind auth.
  • Need to decide on if we want a state management library, and if so which one.
  • Need to add auth middleware to check if user is authenticated.
  • Need to store users credentials or something to stay logged in.
  • Lots of style work, including fonts and organizing the css files a bit.
  • Executing a search from the form does not work.
  • Need to add dockerfile for client app.

Lots more to do if we want to move forward with this! I'm not 100% sold on this being the best use case for the frontend given all of the work to get credentials and make sure everything is secure. I am interested in trying Alpine.js and HTMX as a more lightweight alternative to React with the goal of phasing out Knockout and jQuery.

[pollardld]

❤️ it