There are 5 key options for implementing REST APIs in ColdFusion: 1) Natively in CF10+, 2) Natively in Railo 4+, 3) Using the Taffy framework, 4) Using the ColdBox framework with the RELAX module, 5) Using the lightweight FW1 framework. Each option has different configurations, routing conventions, and considerations around simplicity, extensibility, and documentation. The document recommends choosing based on application architecture needs and that every option can work - the most important things are taking security seriously, making the API robust, and getting creative.

1. How We Rest

2. Who Am I?
@Francainath

3. This is what I do:
(+ )
(REST)

4. In the Beginning...

5. Changing landscape

6. Where we are today:

7. PROBLEM:
How can we make our app work on all
these devices?

8. solution #1: RESPONSIVE DESIGN

9. solution #2: CUSTOM APPS
Unique app for each environment

10. This requires:

11. Why REST?
When compared to SOAP
(Simple Object Access Protocol),
REST is considered:
lighter weight
easier to use (for the most part)
more flexible

12. REST basics
App architecture style
HTTP request-response model
hence web focused
REpresentational State Transfer
Supports HTTP methods:
GET, POST, PUT, DELETE, OPTIONS
Returns data in different formats
JSON, text, XML, etc.

13. How We Rest
5 key options
2 servers
3 frameworks

14. Natively available in CF10+
Uses separate servlet to run REST
Register your RESTful services
register/manage RESTful aspects in
CFC via metadata

15. Setup/Configuration
RestInitApplication(rootPath[,serviceMapping[,options]])
(in application.cfc)

16. Routing
{domain}/rest/{serviceMapping}/{subResource}
Example:
{domain}/rest/fantasyFootball/getQuarterback/{id}

17. CFC code
SHOW TIME!!!
(examples/CF10quarterback.cfc
in github repo)

18. Considerations
"/rest" mapping
can change this by revising the context path for the REST
servlet in web.xml
Metadata in CFCs
Advocates: truly REST
Critics: verbose, confusing

19. Natively available in Railo 4+
Uses separate servlet to run REST
Register your RESTful services
register/manage RESTful aspects in
CFC via metadata

20. Setup/Configuration
RestInitApplication(rootPath[,serviceMapping[,options]])
(in application.cfc)

21. Routing
{domain}/rest/{service}/{action}
{domain}/rest/fantasyFootball/getRunningback/{id}

22. CFC code
SHOW TIME!!!
(examples/RailoRunningBack.cfc
in github repo)

23. Considerations
"/rest" mapping
{domain}/rest/{service}/{action}
Metadata in CFCs
Advocates: truly REST
Critics: verbose, confusing

24. REST focused framework
Design: make REST simple for CF
works as far back as CF8
mostly conventions, some
configurations necessary

25. Setup/Configuration
Download from
Taffy.io
Github (github.com/atuttle/Taffy)
Unzip into web root (preferred) or API
subfolder
Application CFC attribute:
extends="taffy.core.api"

26. Routing
taffy:uri/taffy_uri attribute determines
route connection
url: {domain}/api/{players}
component extends="taffy.core.resource" taffy:uri="/players" {
//cfc code
}

27. CFC code
SHOW TIME!!!
(examples/taffyApplication.cfc and
examples/taffyWideReceiver.cfc
in github repo)

28. Considerations
Simple implementation
Diverse: CF8+ (& corr. Railo)
Well documented
Tooling (Dashboard)
configuration: known issues w/Tomcat

29. Enterprise application framework
conventions based
diverse and extensible
REST as a module of your application

30. Setup/Configuration
Preferred workflow:
made directory for your app
install ColdBox & preferred app skeleton
install RELAX module
Takes roughly a minute
Best Practice: setup all your REST
CFCs in an API module

31. Routing
SHOW TIME!!!
(examples/ColdBoxModuleConfig.cfc
in github repo)

32. CFC code
SHOW TIME!!!
(examples/ColdBoxTeam.cfc
in github repo)

33. Unique Considerations
Simple implementation
Very extensible within Box family
RELAX as tester & documentation
well documented
Routes fully customizeable
Very little unique code in CFC

34. Lightweight framework
conventions based
very simple, accessible
REST as an application option

35. Setup/Configuration
Download from
fw1.riaforge.org
github.com/framework-one/fw1
coldbox.org/forgebox/view/fw1
setup app in application.cfc
set routes/return data

36. Routing
SHOW TIME!!!
(examples/FW1Application.cfc
in github repo)

37. CFC code example
SHOW TIME!!!
(examples/FW1kicker.cfc
in github repo)

38. Unique Considerations
Simple framework
simple route setup
Very little unique code in CFC

39. Recommendations
Every option works
non-frameworks vs frameworks
application architecture style &
extensibility
what you wanna do "under the hood"
There is no universal "right option"

40. REST is not afancy or a gimic
Take security seriously
Make your API robust
get Creative!!!

41. Thank You
https://github.com/Francainath/CFSummit-
How-We-Rest