diff --git a/tech_docs/Jinja2_webdev.md b/tech_docs/Jinja2_webdev.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8a12de0 --- /dev/null +++ b/tech_docs/Jinja2_webdev.md @@ -0,0 +1,165 @@ +### **Jinja2-Powered Web Dev: Libraries & Frameworks to Consider** +Since Jinja2 is a templating engine (not a full frontend framework like React), you’ll typically pair it with backend tools or lightweight frontend libraries. Here’s a **curated list** of tools that leverage Jinja2 for dynamic HTML generation, sorted by use case: + +--- + +## **1. Backend-First (Server-Side Rendering)** +### **A. Flask (Python)** +- **Why?** The gold standard for Jinja2 web apps. +- **Best for**: Internal dashboards, network config UIs. +- **Example**: + ```python + from flask import Flask, render_template + app = Flask(__name__) + + @app.route("/device/") + def device_page(name): + return render_template("device.html", device=get_device_from_yaml(name)) + ``` +- **Key Feature**: + - Auto-reload during development (`debug=True`). + - Extensible with Flask extensions (e.g., `flask-login` for auth). + +### **B. Django (Python)** +- **Why?** Built-in Jinja2 support (though Django Templates are more common). +- **Best for**: Larger apps with ORM (e.g., NetBox-like systems). +- **Enable Jinja2**: + ```python + # settings.py + TEMPLATES = [{ + 'BACKEND': 'django.template.backends.jinja2.Jinja2', + 'DIRS': ['templates/jinja2'], + }] + ``` + +### **C. FastAPI (Python) + Jinja2** +- **Why?** Modern async backend with Jinja2 for templating. +- **Best for**: APIs that also serve HTML (e.g., network automation portals). +- **Setup**: + ```python + from fastapi import FastAPI, Request + from fastapi.templating import Jinja2Templates + app = FastAPI() + templates = Jinja2Templates(directory="templates") + + @app.get("/device/{name}") + async def read_device(request: Request, name: str): + return templates.TemplateResponse("device.html", {"request": request, "device": get_device(name)}) + ``` + +--- + +## **2. Frontend-Friendly (Progressive Enhancement)** +### **A. HTMX + Jinja2** +- **Why?** Add dynamic behavior (AJAX, DOM updates) without JavaScript. +- **Best for**: Interactive network dashboards. +- **Example**: + ```html + + +
{{ device.status }}
+ ``` +- **Key Feature**: + - Works with Jinja2’s server-side rendering. + - No React/Vue complexity. + +### **B. Alpine.js + Jinja2** +- **Why?** Lightweight reactivity for Jinja2-generated HTML. +- **Best for**: Toggleable UIs (e.g., network topology explorers). +- **Example**: + ```html +
+ +
+ {{ device.config | safe }} +
+
+ ``` + +### **C. Shoelace (Web Components) + Jinja2** +- **Why?** Pre-built UI components (modals, tabs) for Jinja2 apps. +- **Best for**: Professional-looking internal tools. +- **Example**: + ```html + + {% for tab in tabs %} + {{ tab.name }} + {% endfor %} + + ``` + +--- + +## **3. Static Site Generators (SSG)** +### **A. MkDocs + Jinja2** +- **Why?** Docs with dynamic content (e.g., auto-generated network diagrams). +- **Best for**: Network documentation portals. +- **Example**: + ```markdown + ## Device Status + {% for device in devices %} + - {{ device.name }}: {{ device.status }} + {% endfor %} + ``` + +### **B. Pelican (Python SSG)** +- **Why?** Jinja2-powered static sites (blogs, docs). +- **Best for**: Publishing network design docs. + +--- + +## **4. Specialized Tools** +### **A. Ansible + Jinja2 for Web Reports** +- **Why?** Generate HTML reports from playbook results. +- **Example**: + ```yaml + - name: Generate HTML report + template: + src: templates/report.html.j2 + dest: /var/www/html/report.html + ``` + +### **B. NetBox Plugins (Jinja2 Templating)** +- **Why?** Customize NetBox’s UI with dynamic templates. +- **Example**: + ```python + # plugins/my_plugin/templates/my_plugin/device.html + {% extends 'dcim/device.html' %} + {% block content %} +

Custom Device View

+ {{ super() }} + {% endblock %} + ``` + +--- + +## **5. When to Avoid Jinja2 for Web Dev** +- **Complex SPAs**: Use React/Vue if you need client-side state management. +- **Real-Time UIs**: For WebSocket-heavy apps, pair Jinja2 with Socket.IO. +- **Design-Heavy Sites**: Use a dedicated frontend framework (Svelte, Next.js). + +--- + +## **Cheat Sheet: Choosing Your Stack** +| **Use Case** | **Recommended Tools** | +|-----------------------------|-------------------------------------| +| Internal network dashboard | **Flask + Jinja2 + HTMX** | +| API-driven config portal | **FastAPI + Jinja2 + Alpine.js** | +| Static network docs | **MkDocs + Jinja2 + Mermaid** | +| NetBox customization | **NetBox Plugins + Jinja2** | +| Interactive topology viewer | **Flask + Jinja2 + D3.js** | + +--- + +### **Final Advice** +1. **Start Simple**: Use Flask/Jinja2 for internal tools. +2. **Add Interactivity**: Sprinkle in HTMX or Alpine.js. +3. **Scale Carefully**: For public-facing apps, consider a modern frontend framework. + +**Example Repo**: +```bash +git clone https://github.com/flask-jinja2-htmx/network-dashboard +``` +**Your Move**: Replace one static HTML page with a Jinja2+HTMX dynamic view today. \ No newline at end of file