From 44862f65d2388e19b70a03409f1c16195e8f9342 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Sergey Savelyev <sergeysav.nn@gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2026 18:24:40 -0800
Subject: [PATCH] Transfer Panel Details Without an Extra Layer of JSON
 Encoding (#14)

**Rationale:**

This made it harder to snoop on the traffic in the network monitor because it was encoded as a string.

**Changes:**

- Backend now accepts & provides the panel data as a JSON object rather than as a string
- Backend now supports compression
- Minor improvements to error handling
- Some panel structures were getting saved in the JSON when they weren't supposed to be (now this no longer happens)

Reviewed-on: https://gitea.sergeysav.com/sergeysav/telemetry_visualization/pulls/14
Co-authored-by: Sergey Savelyev <sergeysav.nn@gmail.com>
Co-committed-by: Sergey Savelyev <sergeysav.nn@gmail.com>
---
 api/src/client/mod.rs                         |  1 -
 frontend/src/components/CommandInput.vue      |  1 -
 .../CommandParameterListConfigurator.vue      | 15 ++++
 frontend/src/components/CommandSender.vue     |  7 +-
 frontend/src/components/TelemetryLine.vue     | 10 ++-
 frontend/src/composables/command.ts           | 16 +++--
 frontend/src/composables/json.ts              | 20 +++---
 frontend/src/composables/telemetry.ts         | 21 ++++--
 frontend/src/panels/panel.ts                  |  7 +-
 frontend/src/views/PanelEditorView.vue        | 72 ++++++++++++++++---
 frontend/src/views/PanelView.vue              |  8 +--
 server/src/http/api/panels.rs                 |  2 +-
 server/src/http/mod.rs                        |  3 +-
 server/src/panels/mod.rs                      |  4 +-
 server/src/panels/panel.rs                    |  5 +-
 15 files changed, 149 insertions(+), 43 deletions(-)

diff --git a/api/src/client/mod.rs b/api/src/client/mod.rs
index e4ac66b..ae89d0d 100644
--- a/api/src/client/mod.rs
+++ b/api/src/client/mod.rs
@@ -193,7 +193,6 @@ impl Client {
                     break;
                 }
             }
-            println!("Exited Loop");
         });
 
         Ok(outer_rx)
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/CommandInput.vue b/frontend/src/components/CommandInput.vue
index 11d6644..3abb66d 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/CommandInput.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/CommandInput.vue
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ onMounted(() => {
                 model.value = 0.0;
             }
         } else if (is_boolean.value) {
-            debugger;
             model.value = false;
         }
     }
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/CommandParameterListConfigurator.vue b/frontend/src/components/CommandParameterListConfigurator.vue
index f5a76c0..e97f907 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/CommandParameterListConfigurator.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/CommandParameterListConfigurator.vue
@@ -76,6 +76,21 @@ watch([command_info], ([cmd_info]) => {
                 value: default_value,
             };
         }
+        // Perform some cleanup to remove data that shouldn't be there
+        switch (model_param_value.type) {
+            case 'constant':
+                model_param_value = {
+                    type: model_param_value.type,
+                    value: model_param_value.value,
+                };
+                break;
+            case 'input':
+                model_param_value = {
+                    type: model_param_value.type,
+                    id: model_param_value.id,
+                };
+                break;
+        }
         model_value[param.name] = model_param_value;
     }
     model.value = model_value;
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/CommandSender.vue b/frontend/src/components/CommandSender.vue
index 42096af..d4ac9a6 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/CommandSender.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/CommandSender.vue
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { ref } from 'vue';
 import CommandParameter from '@/components/CommandParameter.vue';
 import FlexDivider from '@/components/FlexDivider.vue';
 import type { DynamicDataType } from '@/composables/dynamic.ts';
-import { toJsonString } from '@/composables/json.ts';
+import { parseJsonString, toJsonString } from '@/composables/json.ts';
 
 const props = defineProps<{
     command: CommandDefinition | null;
@@ -30,10 +30,11 @@ async function sendCommand() {
         },
         body: toJsonString(params),
     });
+    const text_response = await response.text();
     if (response.ok) {
-        result.value = await response.json();
+        result.value = parseJsonString(text_response);
     } else {
-        result.value = await response.text();
+        result.value = text_response;
     }
     busy.value = false;
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/TelemetryLine.vue b/frontend/src/components/TelemetryLine.vue
index ef2fda7..f265df0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/TelemetryLine.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/components/TelemetryLine.vue
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import {
     isBooleanType,
     isNumericType,
 } from '@/composables/dynamic.ts';
+import { parseJsonString } from '@/composables/json.ts';
 
 const props = defineProps<{
     data: string;
@@ -138,7 +139,14 @@ watch(
                 const res = await fetch(
                     `/api/tlm/history/${uuid}?from=${min_x.toISOString()}&to=${max_x.toISOString()}&resolution=${data_min_sep.value}`,
                 );
-                const response = (await res.json()) as TelemetryDataItem[];
+                const text_response = await res.text();
+                if (!res.ok) {
+                    console.error(text_response);
+                    return;
+                }
+                const response = parseJsonString(
+                    text_response,
+                ) as TelemetryDataItem[];
                 for (const data_item of response) {
                     const val_t = Date.parse(data_item.timestamp);
                     const raw_item_val = data_item.value[
diff --git a/frontend/src/composables/command.ts b/frontend/src/composables/command.ts
index 06167f5..d4afd83 100644
--- a/frontend/src/composables/command.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/composables/command.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { ref, toValue, watchEffect } from 'vue';
 import { type MaybeRefOrGetter } from 'vue';
 import type { AnyTypeId } from '@/composables/dynamic.ts';
+import { parseJsonString } from '@/composables/json.ts';
 
 export interface CommandParameterDefinition {
     name: string;
@@ -20,8 +21,14 @@ export function useAllCommands() {
     watchEffect(async () => {
         try {
             const res = await fetch(`/api/cmd`);
-            data.value = await res.json();
-            error.value = null;
+            const text_response = await res.text();
+            if (res.ok) {
+                data.value = parseJsonString(text_response);
+                error.value = null;
+            } else {
+                data.value = null;
+                error.value = text_response;
+            }
         } catch (e) {
             data.value = null;
             error.value = e;
@@ -41,12 +48,13 @@ export function useCommand(name: MaybeRefOrGetter<string>) {
 
         try {
             const res = await fetch(`/api/cmd/${name_value}`);
+            const text_response = await res.text();
             if (res.ok) {
-                data.value = await res.json();
+                data.value = parseJsonString(text_response);
                 error.value = null;
             } else {
                 data.value = null;
-                error.value = await res.text();
+                error.value = text_response;
             }
         } catch (e) {
             data.value = null;
diff --git a/frontend/src/composables/json.ts b/frontend/src/composables/json.ts
index 0e63f14..0717126 100644
--- a/frontend/src/composables/json.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/composables/json.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,16 @@
 // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
-export function toJsonString(data: any): string {
-    return JSON.stringify(data, (_key, value) => {
-        if (typeof value == 'bigint') {
-            // @ts-expect-error TS2339
-            return JSON.rawJSON(value.toString());
-        }
-        return value;
-    });
+export function toJsonString(data: any, pretty: boolean = false): string {
+    return JSON.stringify(
+        data,
+        (_key, value) => {
+            if (typeof value == 'bigint') {
+                // @ts-expect-error TS2339
+                return JSON.rawJSON(value.toString());
+            }
+            return value;
+        },
+        pretty ? 4 : undefined,
+    );
 }
 
 // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-explicit-any
diff --git a/frontend/src/composables/telemetry.ts b/frontend/src/composables/telemetry.ts
index fa56db8..9ea8cd0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/composables/telemetry.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/composables/telemetry.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import { ref, toValue, watchEffect } from 'vue';
 import { type MaybeRefOrGetter } from 'vue';
 import type { AnyTypeId } from '@/composables/dynamic.ts';
+import { parseJsonString } from '@/composables/json.ts';
 
 export interface TelemetryDefinition {
     uuid: string;
@@ -16,8 +17,14 @@ export function useAllTelemetry() {
     watchEffect(async () => {
         try {
             const res = await fetch(`/api/tlm/info`);
-            data.value = await res.json();
-            error.value = null;
+            const text_response = await res.text();
+            if (res.ok) {
+                data.value = parseJsonString(text_response);
+                error.value = null;
+            } else {
+                data.value = null;
+                error.value = text_response;
+            }
         } catch (e) {
             data.value = null;
             error.value = e;
@@ -37,8 +44,14 @@ export function useTelemetry(name: MaybeRefOrGetter<string>) {
 
         try {
             const res = await fetch(`/api/tlm/info/${name_value}`);
-            data.value = await res.json();
-            error.value = null;
+            const text_response = await res.text();
+            if (res.ok) {
+                data.value = parseJsonString(text_response);
+                error.value = null;
+            } else {
+                data.value = null;
+                error.value = text_response;
+            }
         } catch (e) {
             data.value = null;
             error.value = e;
diff --git a/frontend/src/panels/panel.ts b/frontend/src/panels/panel.ts
index 45479c0..c95d8f0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/panels/panel.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/panels/panel.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import type { RouteLocationRaw } from 'vue-router';
 import { ref, type Ref, watchEffect } from 'vue';
+import { parseJsonString } from '@/composables/json.ts';
 
 export enum PanelHeirarchyType {
     LEAF = 'leaf',
@@ -61,7 +62,11 @@ export function usePanelHeirarchy(): Ref<PanelHeirarchyChildren> {
     watchEffect(async () => {
         try {
             const res = await fetch(`/api/panel`);
-            const data = await res.json();
+            if (!res.ok) {
+                console.error('Failed to fetch panels');
+                return;
+            }
+            const data = parseJsonString(await res.text());
 
             const server_panels: PanelHeirarchyFolder = {
                 name: 'Server Panels',
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/PanelEditorView.vue b/frontend/src/views/PanelEditorView.vue
index 5840d01..f3e9e0b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/PanelEditorView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/PanelEditorView.vue
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import DynamicComponent from '@/components/DynamicComponent.vue';
 import type { OptionalDynamicComponentData } from '@/composables/dynamic.ts';
-import { ref, watchEffect } from 'vue';
+import { ref, useTemplateRef, watchEffect } from 'vue';
 import { parseJsonString, toJsonString } from '@/composables/json.ts';
 
 const data = ref<OptionalDynamicComponentData>({ type: 'none' });
@@ -20,7 +20,11 @@ const unselect = () => {
 
 async function reload_panel_list() {
     const res = await fetch(`/api/panel`);
-    panel_list.value = await res.json();
+    if (!res.ok) {
+        console.error('Failed to reload panel list');
+        return;
+    }
+    panel_list.value = parseJsonString(await res.text());
 }
 watchEffect(reload_panel_list);
 
@@ -29,10 +33,9 @@ async function load(id: string) {
     load_screen.value = false;
     loading.value = true;
     const panel_data = await fetch(`/api/panel/${id}`);
-    const panel_json_value = await panel_data.json();
-    data.value = parseJsonString(
-        panel_json_value['data'],
-    ) as OptionalDynamicComponentData;
+    const panel_text_value = await panel_data.text();
+    const panel_json_value = parseJsonString(panel_text_value);
+    data.value = panel_json_value['data'] as OptionalDynamicComponentData;
     panel_name.value = panel_json_value['name'];
     panel_id.value = id;
     loading.value = false;
@@ -53,26 +56,31 @@ async function save() {
             method: 'PUT',
             body: toJsonString({
                 name: panel_name.value,
-                data: toJsonString(data.value),
+                data: data.value,
             }),
             headers: {
                 'Content-Type': 'application/json',
             },
         });
-        await res.json();
+        await res.text();
+        // TODO: Handle failures
     } else {
         const res = await fetch('/api/panel', {
             method: 'POST',
             body: toJsonString({
                 name: panel_name.value,
-                data: toJsonString(data.value),
+                data: data.value,
             }),
             headers: {
                 'Content-Type': 'application/json',
             },
         });
-        const uuid = await res.json();
-        panel_id.value = uuid as string;
+        const text_response = await res.text();
+        if (res.ok) {
+            const uuid = parseJsonString(text_response);
+            panel_id.value = uuid as string;
+        }
+        // TODO: Handle failures
     }
     loading.value = false;
 }
@@ -81,6 +89,35 @@ async function showLoadScreen() {
     load_screen.value = true;
     await reload_panel_list();
 }
+
+function download() {
+    const file = new Blob([toJsonString(data.value, true)], {
+        type: 'application/json',
+    });
+    const a = document.createElement('a');
+    const url = URL.createObjectURL(file);
+    a.href = url;
+    a.download = panel_name.value.toLowerCase().replace(' ', '_') + '.json';
+    document.body.appendChild(a);
+    a.click();
+    setTimeout(function () {
+        document.body.removeChild(a);
+        window.URL.revokeObjectURL(url);
+    }, 0);
+}
+
+const upload_input = useTemplateRef<HTMLInputElement>('upload-input');
+
+function upload() {
+    upload_input.value!.click();
+}
+
+async function onUpload() {
+    const input = upload_input.value!;
+    const file = input.files![0];
+    const file_data = await file.text();
+    data.value = parseJsonString(file_data);
+}
 </script>
 
 <template>
@@ -113,6 +150,15 @@ async function showLoadScreen() {
                     {{ panel_id ? 'Save' : 'New' }}
                 </button>
                 <button @click.prevent.stop="showLoadScreen">Load</button>
+                <button @click.prevent.stop="download">Download</button>
+                <input
+                    ref="upload-input"
+                    class="file"
+                    type="file"
+                    accept="application/json"
+                    @change="onUpload"
+                />
+                <button @click.prevent.stop="upload">Upload</button>
             </div>
             <div id="inspector" class="column"></div>
         </div>
@@ -127,4 +173,8 @@ async function showLoadScreen() {
     height: 100vh;
     background: variables.$dark-background-color;
 }
+
+input.file {
+    display: none;
+}
 </style>
diff --git a/frontend/src/views/PanelView.vue b/frontend/src/views/PanelView.vue
index b14a74d..071259f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/views/PanelView.vue
+++ b/frontend/src/views/PanelView.vue
@@ -22,10 +22,10 @@ provide('inputs', inputs);
 
 watchEffect(async () => {
     const panel_data = await fetch(`/api/panel/${id.value}`);
-    const panel_json_value = await panel_data.json();
-    panel.value = parseJsonString(
-        panel_json_value['data'],
-    ) as OptionalDynamicComponentData;
+    const panel_text_value = await panel_data.text();
+    panel.value = parseJsonString(panel_text_value)[
+        'data'
+    ] as OptionalDynamicComponentData;
 });
 </script>
 
diff --git a/server/src/http/api/panels.rs b/server/src/http/api/panels.rs
index 2341b60..9199bed 100644
--- a/server/src/http/api/panels.rs
+++ b/server/src/http/api/panels.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use uuid::Uuid;
 #[derive(Deserialize)]
 struct CreateParam {
     name: String,
-    data: String,
+    data: serde_json::Value,
 }
 
 #[derive(Deserialize)]
diff --git a/server/src/http/mod.rs b/server/src/http/mod.rs
index 9b82a48..772a6d0 100644
--- a/server/src/http/mod.rs
+++ b/server/src/http/mod.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use crate::http::backend::setup_backend;
 use crate::http::websocket::setup_websocket;
 use crate::panels::PanelService;
 use crate::telemetry::management_service::TelemetryManagementService;
-use actix_web::middleware::Logger;
+use actix_web::middleware::{Compress, Logger};
 use actix_web::{web, App, HttpServer};
 use log::info;
 use std::sync::Arc;
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ pub async fn setup(
             .service(web::scope("/backend").configure(setup_backend))
             .service(web::scope("/ws").configure(setup_websocket))
             .service(web::scope("/api").configure(setup_api))
+            .wrap(Compress::default())
             .wrap(Logger::default())
     })
     .bind("localhost:8080")?
diff --git a/server/src/panels/mod.rs b/server/src/panels/mod.rs
index 1c91e04..6798827 100644
--- a/server/src/panels/mod.rs
+++ b/server/src/panels/mod.rs
@@ -14,10 +14,12 @@ impl PanelService {
         Self { pool }
     }
 
-    pub async fn create(&self, name: &str, data: &str) -> anyhow::Result<Uuid> {
+    pub async fn create(&self, name: &str, data: &serde_json::Value) -> anyhow::Result<Uuid> {
         let id = Uuid::new_v4();
         let id_string = id.to_string();
 
+        let data = serde_json::to_string(data)?;
+
         let mut transaction = self.pool.begin().await?;
 
         let _ = sqlx::query!(
diff --git a/server/src/panels/panel.rs b/server/src/panels/panel.rs
index d30646e..92d9545 100644
--- a/server/src/panels/panel.rs
+++ b/server/src/panels/panel.rs
@@ -12,11 +12,12 @@ pub struct Panel {
     #[sqlx(flatten)]
     #[serde(flatten)]
     pub header: PanelRequired,
-    pub data: String,
+    #[sqlx(json)]
+    pub data: serde_json::Value,
 }
 
 #[derive(Default, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub struct PanelUpdate {
     pub name: Option<String>,
-    pub data: Option<String>,
+    pub data: Option<serde_json::Value>,
 }