···
1
+
# Production Readiness Assessment: Nozzle vs Mongoose
5
+
**Current Status: Not Ready for Production** ⚠️
7
+
Nozzle is a promising lightweight ODM with excellent type safety, but it lacks several critical features required for production use compared to Mongoose. It's suitable for small projects or prototypes but needs significant enhancements before replacing Mongoose in production environments.
13
+
### 1. **Type Safety**
14
+
- Excellent TypeScript integration with `InferModel` and `Input` (uses Zod's native types)
15
+
- Type-safe operations throughout
16
+
- Better type inference than Mongoose in many cases
17
+
- Leverages Zod's built-in `z.input<T>` for input types (handles defaults automatically)
19
+
### 2. **Clean API**
20
+
- Simple, intuitive API design
21
+
- No decorators or magic - explicit and predictable
22
+
- Minimal abstraction layer
24
+
### 3. **Schema Validation**
25
+
- Uses Zod for schema validation
26
+
- Validation on insert and update operations
27
+
- Type-safe schema definitions
29
+
### 4. **Modern Stack**
30
+
- Built on MongoDB native driver v6+
31
+
- Deno-first (can work with Node.js)
32
+
- Lightweight dependencies
36
+
## ❌ Critical Missing Features for Production
38
+
### 1. **Transactions** 🔴 CRITICAL
39
+
**Status:** Not implemented
41
+
**Impact:** Cannot perform multi-document atomic operations
43
+
**Mongoose Equivalent:**
45
+
const session = await mongoose.startSession();
46
+
session.startTransaction();
48
+
await UserModel.updateOne({...}, {...}, { session });
49
+
await OrderModel.create([...], { session });
50
+
await session.commitTransaction();
52
+
await session.abortTransaction();
57
+
- Financial operations
58
+
- Multi-collection updates
59
+
- Data consistency guarantees
60
+
- Rollback capabilities
64
+
### 2. **Connection Management** 🔴 CRITICAL
65
+
**Status:** ⚠️ **IMPROVED** - Connection pooling options exposed, but still missing advanced features
67
+
**Current Features:**
68
+
- ✅ Connection pooling configuration exposed via `MongoClientOptions`
69
+
- ✅ Users can configure `maxPoolSize`, `minPoolSize`, `maxIdleTimeMS`, etc.
70
+
- ✅ All MongoDB driver connection options available
71
+
- ✅ Leverages MongoDB driver's built-in pooling (no custom implementation)
73
+
**Remaining Issues:**
74
+
- ⚠️ No connection retry logic
75
+
- ⚠️ No health checks
76
+
- ⚠️ No connection event handling
77
+
- ⚠️ Cannot connect to multiple databases (singleton pattern)
78
+
- ⚠️ No connection string validation
79
+
- ⚠️ No automatic reconnection on connection loss
81
+
**Mongoose Provides:**
82
+
- Automatic reconnection
83
+
- Connection pool management (similar to what we expose)
84
+
- Connection events (connected, error, disconnected)
85
+
- Multiple database support
86
+
- Connection options (readPreference, etc.)
88
+
**Production Impact:**
89
+
- Application crashes on connection loss (no automatic recovery)
90
+
- No monitoring capabilities
91
+
- Cannot use multiple databases in same application
95
+
await connect("mongodb://localhost:27017", "mydb", {
99
+
maxIdleTimeMS: 30000,
100
+
connectTimeoutMS: 10000,
107
+
### 3. **Middleware/Hooks** 🔴 CRITICAL
108
+
**Status:** Not implemented
111
+
- Pre/post save hooks
112
+
- Pre/post remove hooks
113
+
- Pre/post update hooks
114
+
- Pre/post find hooks
119
+
- Password hashing before save
120
+
- Timestamp updates
122
+
- Data transformation
123
+
- Business logic encapsulation
125
+
**Example Needed:**
127
+
// Pre-save hook for password hashing
128
+
UserModel.pre('save', async function() {
129
+
if (this.isModified('password')) {
130
+
this.password = await hashPassword(this.password);
137
+
### 4. **Index Management** 🟡 IMPORTANT
138
+
**Status:** ✅ **IMPLEMENTED** - Comprehensive index management API
140
+
**Current Features:**
141
+
- ✅ `createIndex()` - Create single index with options (unique, sparse, TTL, etc.)
142
+
- ✅ `createIndexes()` - Create multiple indexes at once
143
+
- ✅ `dropIndex()` - Drop a single index
144
+
- ✅ `dropIndexes()` - Drop all indexes (except _id)
145
+
- ✅ `listIndexes()` - List all indexes on collection
146
+
- ✅ `getIndex()` - Get index information by name
147
+
- ✅ `indexExists()` - Check if index exists
148
+
- ✅ `syncIndexes()` - Synchronize indexes (create missing, update changed)
149
+
- ✅ Support for compound indexes
150
+
- ✅ Support for unique indexes
151
+
- ✅ Support for text indexes (via MongoDB driver)
152
+
- ✅ Support for geospatial indexes (via MongoDB driver)
153
+
- ✅ Comprehensive test coverage (index_test.ts)
155
+
**Remaining Gaps:**
156
+
- ⚠️ No schema-level index definition (indexes defined programmatically, not in Zod schema)
157
+
- ⚠️ No automatic index creation on model initialization
158
+
- ⚠️ No index migration utilities (though `syncIndexes` helps)
162
+
// Create a unique index
163
+
await UserModel.createIndex({ email: 1 }, { unique: true });
165
+
// Create compound index
166
+
await UserModel.createIndex({ name: 1, age: -1 });
168
+
// Sync indexes (useful for migrations)
169
+
await UserModel.syncIndexes([
170
+
{ key: { email: 1 }, name: "email_idx", unique: true },
171
+
{ key: { name: 1, age: -1 }, name: "name_age_idx" },
177
+
### 5. **Update Validation** 🟡 IMPORTANT
178
+
**Status:** ✅ **IMPLEMENTED** - Now validates updates using `parsePartial`
180
+
**Current Behavior:**
182
+
// ✅ Now validates update data!
183
+
await UserModel.updateOne({...}, { email: "invalid-email" }); // Throws validation error
186
+
**Implementation:**
187
+
- `parsePartial` function validates partial update data (model.ts:33-57)
188
+
- Both `update` and `updateOne` methods validate updates (model.ts:95-109)
189
+
- Uses schema's `partial()` method if available (e.g., Zod)
190
+
- Comprehensive tests confirm update validation works (validation_test.ts)
192
+
**Remaining Gaps:**
193
+
- No `setDefaultsOnInsert` option for updates
194
+
- No `runValidators` toggle option
195
+
- Validation errors still generic (not structured)
199
+
### 6. **Error Handling** 🟡 IMPORTANT
200
+
**Status:** Basic error handling
203
+
- Generic Error types
204
+
- No custom error classes
205
+
- Poor error messages
206
+
- No error recovery strategies
207
+
- Validation errors not structured
209
+
**Mongoose Provides:**
210
+
- `ValidationError`
213
+
- Detailed error paths
214
+
- Error recovery utilities
218
+
### 7. **Default Values** 🟡 IMPORTANT
219
+
**Status:** Partial support
221
+
**Current Issues:**
222
+
- Default values only work on insert if schema supports it
223
+
- No `setDefaultsOnInsert` for updates
224
+
- No function-based defaults with context
225
+
- No conditional defaults
229
+
### 8. **Relationships/Population** 🟡 IMPORTANT
230
+
**Status:** Not implemented
233
+
- Document references
234
+
- Population (join-like queries)
236
+
- Embedded documents management
239
+
- Manual joins required
240
+
- N+1 query problems
241
+
- No relationship validation
242
+
- Complex manual relationship management
246
+
### 9. **Query Building** 🟢 NICE TO HAVE
247
+
**Status:** Basic MongoDB queries + pagination helper
249
+
**Current Features:**
250
+
- ✅ `findPaginated` method with skip, limit, and sort options (model.ts:138-149)
251
+
- Basic MongoDB queries
254
+
- Query builder API (fluent interface)
257
+
- Query optimization hints
259
+
**Mongoose Provides:**
262
+
.where('age').gte(18)
263
+
.where('name').equals('John')
264
+
.select('name email')
266
+
.sort({ createdAt: -1 })
271
+
### 10. **Plugins** 🟢 NICE TO HAVE
272
+
**Status:** Not implemented
276
+
- Reusable functionality
277
+
- Ecosystem support
281
+
### 11. **Testing & Documentation** 🟡 IMPORTANT
282
+
**Status:** ✅ **IMPROVED** - More comprehensive tests added
284
+
**Current Coverage:**
285
+
- ✅ CRUD operations (crud_test.ts)
286
+
- ✅ Update validation (validation_test.ts)
287
+
- ✅ Default values (features_test.ts)
288
+
- ✅ Schema validation on insert
289
+
- ✅ Update validation with various scenarios
292
+
- Performance tests
293
+
- Edge case testing (connection failures, concurrent operations)
294
+
- API documentation
296
+
- Best practices guide
300
+
### 12. **Production Features** 🔴 CRITICAL
302
+
- Connection retry logic
303
+
- Graceful shutdown
304
+
- Health check endpoints
306
+
- Performance metrics
308
+
- Slow query detection
312
+
## 🔍 Code Quality Issues
314
+
### 1. **Error Messages**
316
+
// Current: Generic error
317
+
throw new Error(`Validation failed: ${JSON.stringify(result.issues)}`);
319
+
// Should be: Structured error with details
320
+
throw new ValidationError(result.issues, schema);
323
+
### 2. **Type Safety Gaps**
325
+
// This cast is unsafe
326
+
validatedData as OptionalUnlessRequiredId<Infer<T>>
329
+
### 3. **No Input Sanitization**
330
+
- No protection against NoSQL injection
331
+
- No query sanitization
332
+
- Direct MongoDB query passthrough
334
+
### 4. **Connection State Management**
336
+
// No way to check if connected
337
+
// No way to reconnect
338
+
// No connection state events
341
+
### 5. **Async Validation Not Supported**
343
+
if (result instanceof Promise) {
344
+
throw new Error("Async validation not supported");
350
+
## 📊 Feature Comparison Matrix
352
+
| Feature | Nozzle | Mongoose | Production Critical |
353
+
|---------|--------|----------|-------------------|
354
+
| Basic CRUD | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
355
+
| Type Safety | ✅✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
356
+
| Schema Validation | ✅ | ✅✅ | ✅ |
357
+
| Transactions | ❌ | ✅ | 🔴 |
358
+
| Middleware/Hooks | ❌ | ✅ | 🔴 |
359
+
| Index Management | ✅ | ✅ | 🟡 |
360
+
| Update Validation | ✅ | ✅ | 🟡 |
361
+
| Relationships | ❌ | ✅ | 🟡 |
362
+
| Connection Management | ⚠️ | ✅ | 🔴 |
363
+
| Error Handling | ⚠️ | ✅ | 🟡 |
364
+
| Plugins | ❌ | ✅ | 🟢 |
365
+
| Query Builder | ⚠️ | ✅ | 🟢 |
366
+
| Pagination | ✅ | ✅ | 🟢 |
367
+
| Default Values | ⚠️ | ✅ | 🟡 |
368
+
| Virtual Fields | ❌ | ✅ | 🟢 |
369
+
| Methods/Statics | ❌ | ✅ | 🟡 |
372
+
- ✅ = Fully implemented
373
+
- ✅✅ = Better than Mongoose
374
+
- ⚠️ = Partially implemented
375
+
- ❌ = Not implemented
376
+
- 🔴 = Critical for production
377
+
- 🟡 = Important for production
382
+
## 🎯 Recommendations
384
+
### For Production Use
386
+
**Do NOT use Nozzle in production if you need:**
388
+
2. Complex relationships
389
+
3. Robust connection management
390
+
4. Middleware/hooks
391
+
5. Enterprise-level features
393
+
**Consider Nozzle if:**
394
+
1. Building a simple CRUD API
395
+
2. Type safety is paramount
396
+
3. Minimal abstraction desired
397
+
4. Small to medium projects
398
+
5. Prototyping/MVP stage
402
+
If you want to make Nozzle production-ready:
404
+
**Phase 1: Critical (Must Have)**
405
+
1. ❌ Implement transactions
406
+
2. ❌ Add connection retry logic
407
+
3. ❌ Improve error handling
408
+
4. ✅ **COMPLETED** - Add update validation
409
+
5. ❌ Connection health checks
411
+
**Phase 2: Important (Should Have)**
412
+
1. ❌ Middleware/hooks system
413
+
2. ✅ **COMPLETED** - Index management
414
+
3. ⚠️ Better default value handling (works via schema defaults)
415
+
4. ❌ Relationship support
416
+
5. ⚠️ Comprehensive testing (improved, but needs more edge cases)
418
+
**Phase 3: Enhancement (Nice to Have)**
421
+
3. ✅ Virtual fields
422
+
4. ✅ Methods/statics
423
+
5. ✅ Performance optimizations
427
+
## 📈 Production Readiness Score
429
+
| Category | Score | Weight | Weighted Score |
430
+
|----------|-------|--------|----------------|
431
+
| Core Functionality | 8/10 | 20% | 1.6 |
432
+
| Type Safety | 9/10 | 15% | 1.35 |
433
+
| Error Handling | 4/10 | 15% | 0.6 |
434
+
| Connection Management | 3/10 | 15% | 0.45 |
435
+
| Advanced Features | 2/10 | 20% | 0.4 |
436
+
| Testing & Docs | 6/10 | 10% | 0.6 |
437
+
| Production Features | 2/10 | 5% | 0.1 |
439
+
**Overall Score: 5.1/10** (Not Production Ready)
441
+
**Mongoose Equivalent Score: ~8.5/10**
447
+
Nozzle is an excellent **proof of concept** and **development tool** with superior type safety, but it's **not ready to replace Mongoose in production** without significant development work.
449
+
**Estimated effort to reach production parity:** 3-6 months of full-time development
451
+
**Recommendation:** Use Mongoose for production, or invest heavily in Nozzle development before considering it as a replacement.
455
+
## 📝 Specific Code Issues Found
457
+
1. **model.ts:28** - Generic error messages, no structured error types
458
+
2. **model.ts:24-26** - Async validation explicitly unsupported (throws error)
459
+
3. **model.ts:71, 78, 118** - Unsafe type casting (`as OptionalUnlessRequiredId`)
460
+
4. ✅ **FIXED** - **model.ts:95-109** - Update operations now validate input via `parsePartial`
461
+
5. ✅ **FIXED** - All update methods (`update`, `updateOne`, `replaceOne`) now validate consistently
462
+
-6. **client.ts** - No connection options (pool size, timeouts, retry logic)
463
+
+6. ✅ **IMPROVED** - **client.ts** - Connection pooling options now exposed via `MongoClientOptions` (but still no retry logic)
464
+
7. **client.ts** - No way to reconnect if connection is lost
465
+
8. **client.ts** - Singleton pattern prevents multiple database connections
466
+
9. **No transaction support** - Critical for data consistency
467
+
10. **No query sanitization** - Direct MongoDB query passthrough (potential NoSQL injection)
468
+
11. ✅ **FIXED** - Removed `InsertType` in favor of Zod's native `z.input<T>` which handles defaults generically
469
+
12. **No error recovery** - Application will crash on connection loss
471
+
## 🆕 Recent Improvements
473
+
5. ✅ **Connection Pooling Exposed** (client.ts)
474
+
- Connection pooling options now available via `MongoClientOptions`
475
+
- Users can configure all MongoDB driver connection options
476
+
- Comprehensive test coverage (connection_test.ts)
478
+
1. ✅ **Update Validation Implemented** (model.ts:33-57, 95-109)
479
+
- `parsePartial` function validates partial update data
480
+
- Both `update` and `updateOne` methods now validate
481
+
- Comprehensive test coverage added
483
+
2. ✅ **Pagination Support Added** (model.ts:138-149)
484
+
- `findPaginated` method with skip, limit, and sort options
485
+
- Convenient helper for common pagination needs
487
+
3. ✅ **Index Management Implemented** (model.ts:147-250)
488
+
- Full index management API: createIndex, createIndexes, dropIndex, dropIndexes
489
+
- Index querying: listIndexes, getIndex, indexExists
490
+
- Index synchronization: syncIndexes for migrations
491
+
- Support for all MongoDB index types (unique, compound, text, geospatial)
492
+
- Comprehensive test coverage (index_test.ts)
494
+
4. ✅ **Enhanced Test Coverage**
495
+
- CRUD operations testing
496
+
- Update validation testing
497
+
- Default values testing
498
+
- Index management testing
502
+
*Assessment Date: 2024*
503
+
*Last Updated: 2024*
504
+
*Assessed by: AI Code Review*
509
+
### Version 0.2.0 (Latest)
510
+
- ✅ Update validation now implemented
511
+
- ✅ Pagination support added (`findPaginated`)
512
+
- ✅ Index management implemented
513
+
- ✅ Connection pooling options exposed
514
+
- ✅ Enhanced test coverage
515
+
- Updated scores and feature matrix
516
+
- Fixed incorrect code issue reports
518
+
### Version 0.1.0 (Initial)
519
+
- Initial production readiness assessment
knotbin.com