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Local Development Setup

This guide will help you set up a local development environment for Rates API, allowing you to make changes, test new features, and contribute to the project.

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Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following installed:
  • Bun: The JavaScript runtime and package manager used by the project
  • Git: For version control
  • A text editor or IDE: Such as VS Code, WebStorm, etc.

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Getting Started

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1. Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/simonbetton/ratesapi.nz.git
cd ratesapi.nz

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2. Install Dependencies

Using Bun to install dependencies: 
bun i

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3. Run the Development Server

Start the local development server: 
bun run dev
This will start the server at http://localhost:8787. You can access the API and Swagger UI documentation at this URL.

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Scraping Data

The project includes scripts to scrape rate data from financial institution websites. These scripts are located in the bin/ directory. To run a scraper script: 
bun run bin/scrape-mortgage-rates.ts
Available scraper scripts:
  • scrape-mortgage-rates.ts: Fetches current mortgage rates
  • scrape-personal-loan-rates.ts: Fetches personal loan rates
  • scrape-car-loan-rates.ts: Fetches car loan rates
  • scrape-credit-card-rates.ts: Fetches credit card rates
The scraped data is stored in the CloudFlare D1 database, allowing for comprehensive historical data management.

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CloudFlare D1 Database

The project uses CloudFlare D1, a serverless SQL database built on SQLite, for data storage. This allows for efficient storage and querying of both current and historical rate data.

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Local Development with D1

For local development, you’ll need to set up a local D1 database: 
# Install Wrangler CLI if not already installed
npm install -g wrangler

# Create a local D1 database
wrangler d1 create ratesapi-data-local

# Apply database schema to local database
wrangler d1 execute ratesapi-data-local --file=./schema.sql --local

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Database Schema

The database schema includes tables for:
  • Current rates (mortgage, personal loan, car loan, credit card)
  • Historical time series data
  • Institution information
  • Metadata and audit logs

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Development Tips

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Project Structure

  • src/: Contains the main application code
    • index.ts: The entry point for the application
    • models/: Data schemas and types
    • routes/: API endpoint handlers
    • lib/: Utility functions and helpers
  • bin/: Scripts for scraping data
  • schema.sql: Database schema definition file

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Testing Your Changes

Before submitting changes, make sure to:
  1. Test all affected endpoints locally
  2. Run any necessary data scraper scripts
  3. Ensure the project builds without errors

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Common Tasks

  • Add a new endpoint: Create a new route handler in src/routes/
  • Update data models: Modify schemas in src/models/
  • Enhance scrapers: Modify the scraper scripts in bin/