sending arguments into data loaders using an interactive user-driven rig

[drewda]

We've been making great use of Observable Framework to create reports on a recurring batch basis.

We're now thinking about whether we might be able to also use Framework in a more interactive batch architecture.

Our goal would be for users to be able to provide some arguments for a report. We'd probably build our own basic web UI for this. After the user submits the arguments, an async background job would run Framework in a sandboxed environment, publish the output, and direct the user to the static assets.

If any of the contributors are up for considering this: Is there an existing way to send arguments into Framework data loaders? Looks like #245 has added some potentially related capabilities.

Also open to any other input or ideas. Thank you!

[mythmon]

That's a very interesting idea! I'd probably approach this by setting environment variables when running the Framework build command. Those environment variables could then be read in the data loaders.

Alternatively, the observablehq.config.js file is code, and is free to run arbitrary code. It could read the user input from some input (maybe environment variables, maybe a file, maybe something else?). Then it could construct dynamicPaths in such a way to trigger the parameterized data loaders feature from #245.

I'm curious to hear about what you build with this!

[drewda]

Thanks for such a prompt response and for these pointers!