Phake

Effortlessly Generate Realistic Mock Data with Ease using Handlebars and Fakerjs

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Features

• Utilize the power of declarative templates using Handlebars.
• Seamlessly integrate with Faker.js for generating realistic and randomized data.
• Enjoy the simplicity of a command-line interface for streamlined usage.
• Incorporate the tool into your development process and easily version your templates.
• Promote code reuse and maintainability by creating DRY (Don't Repeat Yourself) templates, allowing you to reuse template sections across multiple templates.
• Leverage custom Handlebars helpers to simplify data creation and manipulation, further enhancing the flexibility and functionality of your templates.

Quick Start

Create a template file named sample.json.hbs with the following content

 {
    "id": {{faker 'number.int' 10}},
    "node_id": "{{faker 'string.alpha' 25}}",
    "name": "{{faker 'word.noun'}}",
    "language": "{{randomize 'javascript' 'ruby' 'golang' 'c++'}}",
    "forks_count": {{faker 'number.int' max=10000}},
    "size": {{faker 'number.float' max=10000 precision=0.2}},
    "default_branch": "{{randomize 'main' 'master'}}",
    "open_issues_count": {{faker 'number.int' max=50}},
    "is_template": {{randomize false true}},
    "description": "{{faker 'lorem.sentences' max=3}}",
    "topics": [
        {{#repeat 5}}
            "{{faker 'string.alpha' 5}}"
        {{/repeat}}
    ]
}

Run the phake-cli command to compile the template into user.json

npx @sayjava/phake-cli compile -t sample.json.hbs

{
  "id": 7,
  "node_id": "HSUWMxwXsVKxycdaVOiJFnlNe",
  "name": "factory",
  "language": "javascript",
  "forks_count": 4558,
  "size": 8800,
  "default_branch": "master",
  "open_issues_count": 9,
  "is_template": true,
  "description": "Aliquam sunt eveniet quam",
  "topics": [
    "UiqiJ",
    "GdyVl",
    "LUiDO",
    "QEHha",
    "Ksvjv"
  ]
}

Phake Compile

The Phake CLI uses Handlebars and FakerJS to generate sample data for development purposes. It allows you to define data templates using Handlebars syntax and generate realistic sample data based on those templates, incorporating fake data generated by FakerJS.

Installation

npm i -g @sayjava/phake-cli

CLI Options

Flag	Default	Description
-t, --template	-	file/directory containing .hbs files
-o, --output	cwd	The directory to write the output files

File Naming

Improve the functionality of the phake CLI with the following enhancements:

• The phake CLI now intelligently uses file extensions to name the output files that are written to the output directory.
• If no file extension is supplied, the output file will still be created but without any file extension.
• This flexible approach allows you to specify the desired file extension for the output, providing compatibility with various file formats and ensuring clarity in file naming.
• You can now generate output files with the appropriate extensions, making it easier to identify and work with the generated files.
• This enhancement adds versatility to the phake CLI, catering to a wider range of use cases and preferences.

Examples

Input	Output
sample.json.hbs	sample.json
sample.yaml.hbs	sample.yaml
sample.hbs	sample

Usage

phake compile -t name-of-template.hbs

Compile a folder containing .hbs files

phake -t dir/containing-hbs-files -o folder/to/write/output

Compile a single [name].hbs file

phake -t dir/containing/single.hbs -o folder/to/write/output

Compile a single [name].json.hbs file with an explicit file extension. This will create [name].json

phake -t dir/containing/single.json.hbs -o folder/to/write/output

DRY Templates with Handlebar's Partials

• Enable easy reuse of template sections by naming them as [name].partial.hbs.
• Partial files are not compiled individually but instead registered as Handlebar partials. This allows them to be referenced and included within other template files seamlessly.
• By adopting this approach, you can efficiently organize and manage your templates, promoting modular and reusable code.
• The registration of partials ensures that changes made to a partial file reflect automatically across all templates that reference it.
• This method of partial registration enhances maintainability and reduces duplication of code within your project.

Example

{
  "title": "{{ faker "company.name" }}",
  "price": "{{ faker "commerce.price" min=100 max=200 dec=0 symbol='£' }}"
}

The partial can then be referenced from other template files

{
  "items": [
    {{#repeat 3}}
        {{> item }}
    {{/repeat}}
  ],
}

Template Helpers

phake ships with some handy helpers that eases data generation. All Handlebar Helpers are also supported.

Helper	Description	Example	options
repeat	Generates a comma separated list for creating arrays	[{{#repeat 5}} index-{{@index}} {{/repeat}}]	number Iteration count
for	Repeat items for the specified range	{{#for 1 5}} index-{{@index}} {{/for}}	number Iteration count
randomize	Randomize an array	{{randomize "german shepard" "golden retriever" "pug"}}	values to be randomized
var	Register a variable to be used later	{{#var 'myVar' 5 }} then accessed later as {{myVar}}	name of the variable, value of the variable
imageURI	Generate a URI encoded random patterned image using a seed string	{{imageURI 'seedString' }}	string to use to seed the generated pattern, color to use for the pattern
imageURL	Generate a URL encoded random patterned image using a seed string	{{imageURL 'seedString' #00FF00 }}	string to use to seed the generated pattern, color to use for the pattern
imageSVG	Generate a SVG random patterned image using a seed string	{{imageSVG 'seedString' }}	string to use to seed the generated pattern, color to use for the pattern
imageBase64	Generate a base64 encoded random patterned image	{{imageBase64 'seedString' }}	string to use to seed the generated pattern, color to use for the pattern