Feed API Roadmap for Node.js: From Basics to Scale

Feed API Roadmap for Node.js: From Basics to Scale

A roadmap keeps your feed API learning focused. Here is the path from basics to scale.

Step 1: Build a Basic List Endpoint

GET /users. Return a list. No pagination yet. Just confirm you can query and return JSON.

Step 2: Add Offset Pagination

Add skip and limit. Cap the limit. Return { data, total, skip, limit }. Run find and countDocuments in parallel with Promise.all.

Step 3: Add Filtering

Build a filter from whitelisted query params. gender, age range, status. Pass the filter to User.find(filter).

Step 4: Add Sorting

Use sortBy and order. Whitelist sortable fields. Use .sort({ [sortBy]: order }).

Step 5: Add Field Selection

Let clients pick fields with ?fields=firstName,email. Whitelist selectable fields. Use .select(fields).

Step 6: Use .lean()

For read-only queries, use .lean(). Skips hydrating full documents. Faster and uses less memory.

Step 7: Add Indexes

Index the fields you filter and sort by. Use compound indexes for multi-field queries. Verify with explain().

Step 8: Exclude the Current User

For a feed, exclude the current user. _id: { $ne: req.user.userId }.

Step 9: Exclude Already-Seen Items

For a dating app, exclude users the current user has already swiped on. Fetch swiped IDs with distinct, filter with $nin.

Step 10: Switch to Cursor Pagination

For large collections, switch from offset to cursor. Fetch limit + 1 to know if there is more. Add a tiebreaker on _id for stable sort. Index the cursor field.

Step 11: Add Caching

For hot feeds, cache the first page in Redis with a short TTL. Saves database load. Invalidate on new signup or profile change.

Step 12: Add Rate Limiting

Rate limit the feed endpoint to prevent abuse. 100 requests per 15 min per user.

Step 13: Monitor in Production

Watch slow queries with the profiler or APM. Add indexes as query patterns emerge. Watch the feed endpoint's response time and error rate.

The Takeaway

The feed API roadmap: basic list, offset pagination, filtering, sorting, field selection, .lean(), indexes, exclude current user, exclude already-seen, cursor pagination for scale, caching, rate limiting, and monitoring. Take it one step at a time.