Service Design Specification

linkedin-networking-service documentation Version: 1.0.0

Scope

This document provides a structured architectural overview of the networking microservice, detailing its configuration, data model, authorization logic, business rules, and API design. It has been automatically generated based on the service definition within Mindbricks, ensuring that the information reflects the source of truth used during code generation and deployment.

The document is intended to serve multiple audiences:

Note for Frontend Developers: While this document is valuable for understanding business logic and data interactions, please refer to the Service API Documentation for endpoint-level specifications and integration details.

Note for Backend Developers: Since the code for this service is automatically generated by Mindbricks, you typically won’t need to implement or modify it manually. However, this document is especially valuable when you’re building other services—whether within Mindbricks or externally—that need to interact with or depend on this service. It provides a clear reference to the service’s data contracts, business rules, and API structure, helping ensure compatibility and correct integration.

Networking Service Settings

Handles professional networking logic for user-to-user connections: manages connection requests, accepted relationships, listing/removal, permissions, and state transitions. Publishes connection lifecycle events for notification…

Service Overview

This service is configured to listen for HTTP requests on port 3001, serving both the main API interface and default administrative endpoints.

The following routes are available by default:

The service uses a PostgreSQL database for data storage, with the database name set to linkedin-networking-service.

This service is accessible via the following environment-specific URLs:

Authentication & Security

This service requires user authentication for access. It supports both JWT and RSA-based authentication mechanisms, ensuring secure user sessions and data integrity. If a crud route also is configured to require login, it will check a valid JWT token in the request query/header/bearer/cookie. If the token is valid, it will extract the user information from the token and make the fetched session data available in the request context.

Service Data Objects

The service uses a PostgreSQL database for data storage, with the database name set to linkedin-networking-service.

Data deletion is managed using a soft delete strategy. Instead of removing records from the database, they are flagged as inactive by setting the isActive field to false.

Object Name Description Public Access
connection Represents a single established user-to-user professional relationship (mutual connection). One record per unordered user pair, deleted on disconnect… accessPrivate
connectionRequest Tracks a user's request to connect with another user, supporting request/accept/reject/cancel, with audit timestamps. accessPrivate

connection Data Object

Object Overview

Description: Represents a single established user-to-user professional relationship (mutual connection). One record per unordered user pair, deleted on disconnect…

This object represents a core data structure within the service and acts as the blueprint for database interaction, API generation, and business logic enforcement. It is defined using the ObjectSettings pattern, which governs its behavior, access control, caching strategy, and integration points with other systems such as Stripe and Redis.

Core Configuration

Composite Indexes

The index also defines a conflict resolution strategy for duplicate key violations.

When a new record would violate this composite index, the following action will be taken:

On Duplicate: throwError

An error will be thrown, preventing the insertion of conflicting data.

Properties Schema

Property Type Required Description
connectedSince Date Yes -
userId1 ID Yes -
userId2 ID Yes -

Default Values

Default values are automatically assigned to properties when a new object is created, if no value is provided in the request body. Since default values are applied on db level, they should be literal values, not expressions.If you want to use expressions, you can use transposed parameters in any business API to set default values dynamically.

Constant Properties

connectedSince userId1 userId2

Constant properties are defined to be immutable after creation, meaning they cannot be updated or changed once set. They are typically used for properties that should remain constant throughout the object’s lifecycle. A property is set to be constant if the Allow Update option is set to false.

Elastic Search Indexing

connectedSince userId1 userId2

Properties that are indexed in Elastic Search will be searchable via the Elastic Search API. While all properties are stored in the elastic search index of the data object, only those marked for Elastic Search indexing will be available for search queries.

Database Indexing

userId1 userId2

Properties that are indexed in the database will be optimized for query performance, allowing for faster data retrieval. Make a property indexed in the database if you want to use it frequently in query filters or sorting.

Cache Select Properties

userId1 userId2

Cache select properties are used to collect data from Redis entity cache with a different key than the data object id. This allows you to cache data that is not directly related to the data object id, but a frequently used filter.

Relation Properties

userId1 userId2

Mindbricks supports relations between data objects, allowing you to define how objects are linked together. You can define relations in the data object properties, which will be used to create foreign key constraints in the database. For complex joins operations, Mindbricks supportsa BFF pattern, where you can view dynamic and static views based on Elastic Search Indexes. Use db level relations for simple one-to-one or one-to-many relationships, and use BFF views for complex joins that require multiple data objects to be joined together.

The target object is a parent object, meaning that the relation is a one-to-many relationship from target to this object.

On Delete: Set Null Required: Yes

The target object is a parent object, meaning that the relation is a one-to-many relationship from target to this object.

On Delete: Set Null Required: Yes

Formula Properties

connectedSince

Formula properties are used to define calculated fields that derive their values from other properties or external data. These properties are automatically calculated based on the defined formula and can be used for dynamic data retrieval.

connectionRequest Data Object

Object Overview

Description: Tracks a user's request to connect with another user, supporting request/accept/reject/cancel, with audit timestamps.

This object represents a core data structure within the service and acts as the blueprint for database interaction, API generation, and business logic enforcement. It is defined using the ObjectSettings pattern, which governs its behavior, access control, caching strategy, and integration points with other systems such as Stripe and Redis.

Core Configuration

Composite Indexes

The index also defines a conflict resolution strategy for duplicate key violations.

When a new record would violate this composite index, the following action will be taken:

On Duplicate: throwError

An error will be thrown, preventing the insertion of conflicting data.

Properties Schema

Property Type Required Description
receiverUserId ID Yes -
senderUserId ID Yes -
sentAt Date Yes -
status Enum Yes -
respondedAt Date No -
message String No -

Default Values

Default values are automatically assigned to properties when a new object is created, if no value is provided in the request body. Since default values are applied on db level, they should be literal values, not expressions.If you want to use expressions, you can use transposed parameters in any business API to set default values dynamically.

Constant Properties

receiverUserId senderUserId sentAt message

Constant properties are defined to be immutable after creation, meaning they cannot be updated or changed once set. They are typically used for properties that should remain constant throughout the object’s lifecycle. A property is set to be constant if the Allow Update option is set to false.

Auto Update Properties

status respondedAt

An update crud API created with the option Auto Params enabled will automatically update these properties with the provided values in the request body. If you want to update any property in your own business logic not by user input, you can set the Allow Auto Update option to false. These properties will be added to the update API’s body parameters and can be updated by the user if any value is provided in the request body.

Enum Properties

Enum properties are defined with a set of allowed values, ensuring that only valid options can be assigned to them. The enum options value will be stored as strings in the database, but when a data object is created an addtional property with the same name plus an idx suffix will be created, which will hold the index of the selected enum option. You can use the index property to sort by the enum value or when your enum options represent a sequence of values.

Elastic Search Indexing

receiverUserId senderUserId sentAt status respondedAt message

Properties that are indexed in Elastic Search will be searchable via the Elastic Search API. While all properties are stored in the elastic search index of the data object, only those marked for Elastic Search indexing will be available for search queries.

Database Indexing

receiverUserId senderUserId sentAt status

Properties that are indexed in the database will be optimized for query performance, allowing for faster data retrieval. Make a property indexed in the database if you want to use it frequently in query filters or sorting.

Cache Select Properties

receiverUserId senderUserId status

Cache select properties are used to collect data from Redis entity cache with a different key than the data object id. This allows you to cache data that is not directly related to the data object id, but a frequently used filter.

Relation Properties

receiverUserId senderUserId

Mindbricks supports relations between data objects, allowing you to define how objects are linked together. You can define relations in the data object properties, which will be used to create foreign key constraints in the database. For complex joins operations, Mindbricks supportsa BFF pattern, where you can view dynamic and static views based on Elastic Search Indexes. Use db level relations for simple one-to-one or one-to-many relationships, and use BFF views for complex joins that require multiple data objects to be joined together.

The target object is a parent object, meaning that the relation is a one-to-many relationship from target to this object.

On Delete: Set Null Required: Yes

The target object is a parent object, meaning that the relation is a one-to-many relationship from target to this object.

On Delete: Set Null Required: Yes

Session Data Properties

senderUserId

Session data properties are used to store data that is specific to the user session, allowing for personalized experiences and temporary data storage. If a property is configured as session data, it will be automatically mapped to the related field in the user session during CRUD operations. Note that session data properties can not be mutated by the user, but only by the system.

Formula Properties

sentAt

Formula properties are used to define calculated fields that derive their values from other properties or external data. These properties are automatically calculated based on the defined formula and can be used for dynamic data retrieval.

Filter Properties

status

Filter properties are used to define parameters that can be used in query filters, allowing for dynamic data retrieval based on user input or predefined criteria. These properties are automatically mapped as API parameters in the listing API’s that have “Auto Params” enabled.

Business Logic

networking has got 9 Business APIs to manage its internal and crud logic. For the details of each business API refer to its chapter.

Edge Controllers

helloWorld

Configuration:

REST Settings:

sendMail

Configuration:

REST Settings:

Service Library

Functions

ensureNoDuplicateOrBlocked.js

// Throws if: sender or receiver are the same, already connected, active request exists between these users
module.exports = async function ensureNoDuplicateOrBlocked(senderId, receiverId) {
  if (senderId === receiverId) throw new Error('Cannot connect to yourself.');
  // Check for existing connection
  const existing = await this.sequelize.models.connection.findOne({ where: { isActive: true, [this.sequelize.Op.or]: [ { userId1: senderId, userId2: receiverId }, { userId1: receiverId, userId2: senderId } ] } });
  if (existing) throw new Error('Users are already connected.');
  // Check for pending requests either direction
  const req = await this.sequelize.models.connectionRequest.findOne({ where: { isActive: true, status: 0, [this.sequelize.Op.or]: [ { senderUserId: senderId, receiverUserId: receiverId }, { senderUserId: receiverId, receiverUserId: senderId } ] } });
  if (req) throw new Error('Active connection request already exists.');
  return true;
}

ensureUpdateAllowed.js

// Throws if sessionUserId is not receiver or status is not 'pending'.
module.exports = function ensureUpdateAllowed(sessionUserId, requestObject) {
  if (!requestObject) throw new Error('Request not found.');
  if (requestObject.status !== 0) throw new Error('Request already responded to.');
  if (requestObject.receiverUserId !== sessionUserId) throw new Error('Only the receiver can accept/reject this request.');
  return true;
};

ensureDeleteAllowed.js

// Only sender or receiver may delete request.
module.exports = function ensureDeleteAllowed(sessionUserId, requestObject) {
  if (!requestObject) throw new Error('Request not found.');
  if (requestObject.senderUserId !== sessionUserId && requestObject.receiverUserId !== sessionUserId) {
    throw new Error('Unauthorized to delete this request.');
  }
  return true;
};

ensureDisconnectAllowed.js

// User must be part of the connection (sessionUserId == userId1 or userId2)
module.exports = function ensureDisconnectAllowed(sessionUserId, otherUserId) {
  if (!sessionUserId || !otherUserId) throw new Error('Both users required.');
  if (sessionUserId === otherUserId) throw new Error('Cannot disconnect from yourself.');
  return true;
};

Edge Functions

helloWorld.js

module.exports = async (request) => { return { status: 200, message: "Hello from the networking edge function!", date: new Date().toISOString() }; }

sendMail.js

module.exports = async (request) => { throw new Error('Not Implemented: Use notification microservice for emails.'); }

This document was generated from the service architecture definition and should be kept in sync with implementation changes.