Hornwitser
bcd94709d2
Reverse the direction of the API for sending messages from
messageDefinition.send(link, { content });
to
link.send(new MessageClass(content));
and convert all message definitions to use the JSON serialisable class
pattern and explicit registration of message handlers, along with a
end-to-end based routing of messages instead of link to link.
The experience I gained from the existing way messages were defined and
sent over links was that it was difficult to understand for people
unfamiliar with the system. The automatic registration of message
handlers ment that code was being called as if by magic from nowhere
with no easy way to discover it. The manual forwarding and rules for
what can be sent where and how obscured its working.
The use of pure JSON as both input and output from message handlers made
it tedious to work with. Data had to be manually converted between the
program representation and the over the wire format, which made handler
code unplesant to write. Particularly because the over the wire format
used snake_case while the program code uses camelCase for variables.
The idea behind the decision to do it this way was to make it more clear
which data came from the wire and which from the program, and while this
worked it didn't make message handlers any nicer to write.
The direction of the API and magic registration of message handlers also
meant that a future migration to TypeScript would be troublesome. While
it may be possible to implement, the degree of TypeScript magic required
would go starkly against the principle of keep it simple stupid.
By refactoring to using the JSON serialisable class pattern most of
these issues go away. There is no longer a need to distinguish the on
wire format of messages with the program representation because the only
place that deals with the wire format of messages are the toJSON and
fromJSON methods on the classes themselves. Message handlers will work
with proper instances of classes instead of raw data, something that
makes them easier to write, and trivial to type with TypeScript.
End-to-end routing also simplifies sending messages that need to do
mulitple hops to reach the destination. And removes the need for having
all messages be specified in plugin's info module, as they can be routed
without having to be parsed completely.
The explicit registration of message handlers is something that I
thought would be tedious boilerplate code that could be automated away.
But experience now shows it to be the opposite. Allthough dull
repetition, the purpose it serves is to link together the code in a way
that humans can easily find. With explicit registration searching the
name of the message handler in the editor will show the registration that
ties it together with the type of message it handles and the kind of
registration. With implicit registration searching the name of the
message handler turns up only the handler with no clue as to what calls
it.
Clusterio Player Auth Plugin
Plugin authenticating logged in players to the web interface. Authentication is achieved by a simple challenge response mechanism where players have to log into one of the Factorio server in the cluster and open a dialog that presents a code, this code is input into the login form on the web interface which gives back a second code. Once the player enters the second code into the dialog in-game the web interface is authenticated.
Installation
Run the following commands in the folder Clusterio is installed to:
npm install @clusterio/plugin-player_auth
npx clusteriocontroller plugin add @clusterio/plugin-player_auth
Substitute clusteriocontroller with clusteriohost or clusterioctl if this a dedicate host or ctl installation respectively.
Controller Configuration
player_auth.code_length
Length in character of the generated challenge codes that need to be input between the web interface login form and the in-game Factorio login dialog.
Defaults to 6.
player_auth.code_timeout
Time in seconds the first code generated stays valid. The login must be completed in less than this time starting from when the login dialog is opened in-game.
Defaults to 120.