gui/docs/ref/wails-v3/features/bindings/best-practices.mdx
Snider 4bdbb68f46
Some checks failed
Security Scan / security (push) Failing after 9s
Test / test (push) Failing after 1m21s
refactor: update import path from go-config to core/config
Co-Authored-By: Virgil <virgil@lethean.io>
2026-03-14 10:26:36 +00:00

688 lines
15 KiB
Text

---
title: Bindings Best Practices
description: Design patterns and best practices for Go-JavaScript bindings
sidebar:
order: 4
---
## Bindings Best Practices
Follow **proven patterns** for binding design to create clean, performant, and secure bindings. This guide covers API design principles, performance optimisation, security patterns, error handling, and testing strategies for maintainable applications.
## API Design Principles
### 1. Single Responsibility
Each service should have one clear purpose:
```go
// ❌ Bad: God object
type AppService struct {
// Does everything
}
func (a *AppService) SaveFile(path string, data []byte) error
func (a *AppService) GetUser(id int) (*User, error)
func (a *AppService) SendEmail(to, subject, body string) error
func (a *AppService) ProcessPayment(amount float64) error
// ✅ Good: Focused services
type FileService struct{}
func (f *FileService) Save(path string, data []byte) error
type UserService struct{}
func (u *UserService) GetByID(id int) (*User, error)
type EmailService struct{}
func (e *EmailService) Send(to, subject, body string) error
type PaymentService struct{}
func (p *PaymentService) Process(amount float64) error
```
### 2. Clear Method Names
Use descriptive, action-oriented names:
```go
// ❌ Bad: Unclear names
func (s *Service) Do(x string) error
func (s *Service) Handle(data interface{}) interface{}
func (s *Service) Process(input map[string]interface{}) bool
// ✅ Good: Clear names
func (s *FileService) SaveDocument(path string, content string) error
func (s *UserService) AuthenticateUser(email, password string) (*User, error)
func (s *OrderService) CreateOrder(items []Item) (*Order, error)
```
### 3. Consistent Return Types
Always return errors explicitly:
```go
// ❌ Bad: Inconsistent error handling
func (s *Service) GetData() interface{} // How to handle errors?
func (s *Service) SaveData(data string) // Silent failures?
// ✅ Good: Explicit errors
func (s *Service) GetData() (Data, error)
func (s *Service) SaveData(data string) error
```
### 4. Input Validation
Validate all input on the Go side:
```go
// ❌ Bad: No validation
func (s *UserService) CreateUser(email, password string) (*User, error) {
user := &User{Email: email, Password: password}
return s.db.Create(user)
}
// ✅ Good: Validate first
func (s *UserService) CreateUser(email, password string) (*User, error) {
// Validate email
if !isValidEmail(email) {
return nil, errors.New("invalid email address")
}
// Validate password
if len(password) < 8 {
return nil, errors.New("password must be at least 8 characters")
}
// Hash password
hash, err := bcrypt.GenerateFromPassword([]byte(password), bcrypt.DefaultCost)
if err != nil {
return nil, err
}
user := &User{
Email: email,
PasswordHash: string(hash),
}
return s.db.Create(user)
}
```
## Performance Patterns
### 1. Batch Operations
Reduce bridge calls by batching:
```go
// ❌ Bad: N calls
// JavaScript
for (const item of items) {
await ProcessItem(item) // N bridge calls
}
// ✅ Good: 1 call
// Go
func (s *Service) ProcessItems(items []Item) ([]Result, error) {
results := make([]Result, len(items))
for i, item := range items {
results[i] = s.processItem(item)
}
return results, nil
}
// JavaScript
const results = await ProcessItems(items) // 1 bridge call
```
### 2. Pagination
Don't return huge datasets:
```go
// ❌ Bad: Returns everything
func (s *Service) GetAllUsers() ([]User, error) {
return s.db.FindAll() // Could be millions
}
// ✅ Good: Paginated
type PageRequest struct {
Page int `json:"page"`
PageSize int `json:"pageSize"`
}
type PageResponse struct {
Items []User `json:"items"`
TotalItems int `json:"totalItems"`
TotalPages int `json:"totalPages"`
Page int `json:"page"`
}
func (s *Service) GetUsers(req PageRequest) (*PageResponse, error) {
// Validate
if req.Page < 1 {
req.Page = 1
}
if req.PageSize < 1 || req.PageSize > 100 {
req.PageSize = 20
}
// Get total
total, err := s.db.Count()
if err != nil {
return nil, err
}
// Get page
offset := (req.Page - 1) * req.PageSize
users, err := s.db.Find(offset, req.PageSize)
if err != nil {
return nil, err
}
return &PageResponse{
Items: users,
TotalItems: total,
TotalPages: (total + req.PageSize - 1) / req.PageSize,
Page: req.Page,
}, nil
}
```
### 3. Caching
Cache expensive operations:
```go
type CachedService struct {
cache map[string]interface{}
mu sync.RWMutex
ttl time.Duration
}
func (s *CachedService) GetData(key string) (interface{}, error) {
// Check cache
s.mu.RLock()
if data, ok := s.cache[key]; ok {
s.mu.RUnlock()
return data, nil
}
s.mu.RUnlock()
// Fetch data
data, err := s.fetchData(key)
if err != nil {
return nil, err
}
// Cache it
s.mu.Lock()
s.cache[key] = data
s.mu.Unlock()
// Schedule expiry
go func() {
time.Sleep(s.ttl)
s.mu.Lock()
delete(s.cache, key)
s.mu.Unlock()
}()
return data, nil
}
```
### 4. Streaming with Events
Use events for streaming data:
```go
// ❌ Bad: Polling
func (s *Service) GetProgress() int {
return s.progress
}
// JavaScript polls
setInterval(async () => {
const progress = await GetProgress()
updateUI(progress)
}, 100)
// ✅ Good: Events
func (s *Service) ProcessLargeFile(path string) error {
file, err := os.Open(path)
if err != nil {
return err
}
defer file.Close()
scanner := bufio.NewScanner(file)
total := 0
processed := 0
// Count lines
for scanner.Scan() {
total++
}
// Process
file.Seek(0, 0)
scanner = bufio.NewScanner(file)
for scanner.Scan() {
s.processLine(scanner.Text())
processed++
// Emit progress
s.app.Event.Emit("progress", map[string]interface{}{
"processed": processed,
"total": total,
"percent": int(float64(processed) / float64(total) * 100),
})
}
return scanner.Err()
}
// JavaScript listens
OnEvent("progress", (data) => {
updateProgress(data.percent)
})
```
## Security Patterns
### 1. Input Sanitisation
Always sanitise user input:
```go
import (
"html"
"strings"
)
func (s *Service) SaveComment(text string) error {
// Sanitise
text = strings.TrimSpace(text)
text = html.EscapeString(text)
// Validate length
if len(text) == 0 {
return errors.New("comment cannot be empty")
}
if len(text) > 1000 {
return errors.New("comment too long")
}
return s.db.SaveComment(text)
}
```
### 2. Authentication
Protect sensitive operations:
```go
type AuthService struct {
sessions map[string]*Session
mu sync.RWMutex
}
func (a *AuthService) Login(email, password string) (string, error) {
user, err := a.db.FindByEmail(email)
if err != nil {
return "", errors.New("invalid credentials")
}
if !a.verifyPassword(user.PasswordHash, password) {
return "", errors.New("invalid credentials")
}
// Create session
token := generateToken()
a.mu.Lock()
a.sessions[token] = &Session{
UserID: user.ID,
ExpiresAt: time.Now().Add(24 * time.Hour),
}
a.mu.Unlock()
return token, nil
}
func (a *AuthService) requireAuth(token string) (*Session, error) {
a.mu.RLock()
session, ok := a.sessions[token]
a.mu.RUnlock()
if !ok {
return nil, errors.New("not authenticated")
}
if time.Now().After(session.ExpiresAt) {
return nil, errors.New("session expired")
}
return session, nil
}
// Protected method
func (a *AuthService) DeleteAccount(token string) error {
session, err := a.requireAuth(token)
if err != nil {
return err
}
return a.db.DeleteUser(session.UserID)
}
```
### 3. Rate Limiting
Prevent abuse:
```go
type RateLimiter struct {
requests map[string][]time.Time
mu sync.Mutex
limit int
window time.Duration
}
func (r *RateLimiter) Allow(key string) bool {
r.mu.Lock()
defer r.mu.Unlock()
now := time.Now()
// Clean old requests
if requests, ok := r.requests[key]; ok {
var recent []time.Time
for _, t := range requests {
if now.Sub(t) < r.window {
recent = append(recent, t)
}
}
r.requests[key] = recent
}
// Check limit
if len(r.requests[key]) >= r.limit {
return false
}
// Add request
r.requests[key] = append(r.requests[key], now)
return true
}
// Usage
func (s *Service) SendEmail(to, subject, body string) error {
if !s.rateLimiter.Allow(to) {
return errors.New("rate limit exceeded")
}
return s.emailer.Send(to, subject, body)
}
```
## Error Handling Patterns
### 1. Descriptive Errors
Provide context in errors:
```go
// ❌ Bad: Generic errors
func (s *Service) LoadFile(path string) ([]byte, error) {
return os.ReadFile(path) // "no such file or directory"
}
// ✅ Good: Contextual errors
func (s *Service) LoadFile(path string) ([]byte, error) {
data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
if err != nil {
return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to load file %s: %w", path, err)
}
return data, nil
}
```
### 2. Error Types
Use typed errors for specific handling:
```go
type ValidationError struct {
Field string
Message string
}
func (e *ValidationError) Error() string {
return fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s", e.Field, e.Message)
}
type NotFoundError struct {
Resource string
ID interface{}
}
func (e *NotFoundError) Error() string {
return fmt.Sprintf("%s not found: %v", e.Resource, e.ID)
}
// Usage
func (s *UserService) GetUser(id int) (*User, error) {
if id <= 0 {
return nil, &ValidationError{
Field: "id",
Message: "must be positive",
}
}
user, err := s.db.Find(id)
if err == sql.ErrNoRows {
return nil, &NotFoundError{
Resource: "User",
ID: id,
}
}
if err != nil {
return nil, fmt.Errorf("database error: %w", err)
}
return user, nil
}
```
### 3. Error Recovery
Handle errors gracefully:
```go
func (s *Service) ProcessWithRetry(data string) error {
maxRetries := 3
for attempt := 1; attempt <= maxRetries; attempt++ {
err := s.process(data)
if err == nil {
return nil
}
// Log attempt
s.app.Logger.Warn("Process failed",
"attempt", attempt,
"error", err)
// Don't retry on validation errors
if _, ok := err.(*ValidationError); ok {
return err
}
// Wait before retry
if attempt < maxRetries {
time.Sleep(time.Duration(attempt) * time.Second)
}
}
return fmt.Errorf("failed after %d attempts", maxRetries)
}
```
## Testing Patterns
### 1. Unit Testing
Test services in isolation:
```go
func TestUserService_CreateUser(t *testing.T) {
// Setup
db := &MockDB{}
service := &UserService{db: db}
// Test valid input
user, err := service.CreateUser("test@example.com", "password123")
if err != nil {
t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
}
if user.Email != "test@example.com" {
t.Errorf("expected email test@example.com, got %s", user.Email)
}
// Test invalid email
_, err = service.CreateUser("invalid", "password123")
if err == nil {
t.Error("expected error for invalid email")
}
// Test short password
_, err = service.CreateUser("test@example.com", "short")
if err == nil {
t.Error("expected error for short password")
}
}
```
### 2. Integration Testing
Test with real dependencies:
```go
func TestUserService_Integration(t *testing.T) {
// Setup real database
db, err := sql.Open("sqlite3", ":memory:")
if err != nil {
t.Fatal(err)
}
defer db.Close()
// Create schema
_, err = db.Exec(`CREATE TABLE users (...)`)
if err != nil {
t.Fatal(err)
}
// Test service
service := &UserService{db: db}
user, err := service.CreateUser("test@example.com", "password123")
if err != nil {
t.Fatal(err)
}
// Verify in database
var count int
db.QueryRow("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM users WHERE email = ?",
user.Email).Scan(&count)
if count != 1 {
t.Errorf("expected 1 user, got %d", count)
}
}
```
### 3. Mock Services
Create testable interfaces:
```go
type UserRepository interface {
Create(user *User) error
FindByEmail(email string) (*User, error)
Update(user *User) error
Delete(id int) error
}
type UserService struct {
repo UserRepository
}
// Mock for testing
type MockUserRepository struct {
users map[string]*User
}
func (m *MockUserRepository) Create(user *User) error {
m.users[user.Email] = user
return nil
}
// Test with mock
func TestUserService_WithMock(t *testing.T) {
mock := &MockUserRepository{
users: make(map[string]*User),
}
service := &UserService{repo: mock}
// Test
user, err := service.CreateUser("test@example.com", "password123")
if err != nil {
t.Fatal(err)
}
// Verify mock was called
if len(mock.users) != 1 {
t.Error("expected 1 user in mock")
}
}
```
## Best Practices Summary
### ✅ Do
- **Single responsibility** - One service, one purpose
- **Clear naming** - Descriptive method names
- **Validate input** - Always on Go side
- **Return errors** - Explicit error handling
- **Batch operations** - Reduce bridge calls
- **Use events** - For streaming data
- **Sanitise input** - Prevent injection
- **Test thoroughly** - Unit and integration tests
- **Document methods** - Comments become JSDoc
- **Version your API** - Plan for changes
### ❌ Don't
- **Don't create god objects** - Keep services focused
- **Don't trust frontend** - Validate everything
- **Don't return huge datasets** - Use pagination
- **Don't block** - Use goroutines for long operations
- **Don't ignore errors** - Handle all error cases
- **Don't skip testing** - Test early and often
- **Don't hardcode** - Use configuration
- **Don't expose internals** - Keep implementation private
## Next Steps
- [Methods](/features/bindings/methods) - Learn method binding basics
- [Services](/features/bindings/services) - Understand service architecture
- [Models](/features/bindings/models) - Bind complex data structures
- [Events](/features/events/system) - Use events for pub/sub
---
**Questions?** Ask in [Discord](https://discord.gg/JDdSxwjhGf) or check the [binding examples](https://github.com/wailsapp/wails/tree/v3-alpha/v3/examples/binding).