[RFC]: Developer dashboard for tracking ecosystem build failures

[hemantmm]

Full name

Hemant M Mehta

University status

Yes

University name

Vellore Institute of Technology

University program

Electronics and Computer Engineering

Expected graduation

2025

Short biography

I am a final year undergraduate student at Vellore Institute of Technology, currently pursuing B.Tech in Electronics and Computer Engineering. I started learning C/C++ and Java and also started to learn the core concepts like DSA, and OOP’s as well. Then I began to explore Web Development and started with JavaScript and then explored more with React, Next, TypeScript, and Node which helped me to build projects and work on newer technologies as well. Then started to explore open-source and was the best decision that helped me to gain hands-on experience in coding and learning along the way. I am keen on learning new and cutting-edge technologies like DevOps, and Ai&ML.

Timezone

Indian Standard Time ( IST ) ( UTC +5:30 )

Contact details

email: hemant29mehta@gmail.com, github: hemantmm

Platform

Mac

Editor

I prefer VSCode due to its user-friendly interface, extensive extension, powerful debugging capabilities, cross-platform availability, and collaborative features, making it an ideal choice for using this editor.

Programming experience

My programming journey began with HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Java in high school, and I then in college by expanding my knowledge of React, Next, and web development. Later, I explored backend technologies, specifically the MERN stack, along with databases, while working on various academic projects, hackathons, and open-source contributions.

Here are my projects:

Sorting Visualizer
Crypto API
Shopping Platform

JavaScript experience

I have worked with JavaScript on several projects, including web apps using React, Next.js, and Node.js along with libraries like MaterialUI. I enjoy how flexible and dynamic JavaScript is. It makes building interactive web applications fun!

One of JavaScript’s biggest advantages is its rich ecosystem, which includes a wide range of frameworks and libraries for frontend, backend, and even current AI/ML development. Its asynchronous programming model, with features like promises and async/await, makes handling complex tasks seamless. However, JavaScript’s weak typing and performance limitations can be drawbacks, especially in larger codebases. Despite this, its flexibility and widespread adoption make it an indispensable tool for modern development.

Node.js experience

Outside of stdlib I have only worked with npm packages and client-side code for javascript. Why working on stdlib packages when I got to fully access the potential of the framework working on Node API's and documenting them.

C/Fortran experience

Thanks to my course curriculum, I learned C as my first programming language, where I gained a solid understanding of the fundamentals of C programming. Through my contributions to Stdlib, I’ve further enhanced my C programming skills.

I don’t have experience with Fortran, but if needed, I’m ready to learn!

Interest in stdlib

I really loved the idea of stdlib when I found out about it. An entire mathematical open source library for JavaScript. This will really increase accessibility and effectiveness and improve the popularity and support of Javascript in the world.
Additionally, I like how well organized the library is: from implementing a specific format for all merges to linting checks, it is really impressive to adhere to coding conventions that much, and I liked the thought and effort that went into it. It is also very well thought out how easy it has been made for new developers to contribute to the stdlib library, from adding a dev container to adding multiple tests, etc.

The thing I liked the most about stdlib library is that the functions being implemented are core functions that will be used everywhere. Even small and minor functions will be picked up quickly, and there won't be as much of a reliance on other languages for such features as there was before.

Version control

Yes

Contributions to stdlib

Open PRs: https://github.com/stdlib-js/stdlib/pulls/hemantmm
Merged PRs: https://github.com/stdlib-js/stdlib/pulls?q=is%3Apr+author%3Ahemantmm+is%3Aclosed

stdlib showcase

Since I haven't directly created any repositories, demos, or tutorials using stdlib, I don't have a personal showcase at the moment. However, I am actively contributing to the stdlib project and continuously exploring its functionality in depth. My focus is on understanding its core modules, improving documentation, and contributing code enhancements where possible. As I dive deeper into stdlib, I aim to create meaningful contributions and, in the future, develop comprehensive demos and guides to help others utilize it effectively.

Goals

The goal of this project is to build a developer dashboard for Stdlib to monitor build failures in real-time across its 3500+ standalone repositories. Currently, while the backend database collects build results, there is no frontend interface for viewing and analyzing this data. This project aims to create a comprehensive dashboard that allows developers to track, filter, and investigate build failures efficiently, helping maintain the integrity and reliability of the ecosystem. To create an intuitive, daily-updated dashboard using a real-time backend database, featuring a build status table with filtering, detailed repository insights, historical build trends, and consolidated metrics for code coverage and npm downloads. Built with a Node.js backend querying Postgresql and a frontend in ReactJs powered by Esbuild and Tailwind CSS, this project will enhance visibility into stdlib build health, aiding developers in tracking and resolving issues efficiently. Over 12 weeks, I will implement a main dashboard table, a repository details page with build and commit details, a historical trends page for success/failure graphs, and a metrics page for trend analysis, ensuring scalability and a polished user experience.

Essential deliverables:

1. Initialize environment setup and database connections.
2. Develop backend APIs to query build results.
3. Design the frontend layout and user interface.
4. Implement filtering features and repository navigation.
5. Add historical overviews and supplementary metrics for deeper analysis.

Features:

1. Real-Time Build Failure Tracking – Uses WebSockets for instant updates, eliminating manual refreshes.
2. Interactive Data Visualization – To display build failure trends with bar and pie charts.
3. Fast and Optimized Backend – Built with Fastify for high performance and low latency, with PostgreSQL as the database.
4. Dynamic Routing for Module Insights – Uses React Router DOM for module-specific navigation (e.g., /modules/:module-name).
5. Customizable Filtering & Sorting – Allows filtering failures by date, severity, module, or error type with dynamic search functionality.
6. Caching & Performance Enhancements – Uses Fastify-caching plugin to optimize responses and reduce database load.
7. Fully Responsive UI – Built with Tailwind CSS, ensuring a modern, seamless experience across desktop and mobile.

Tech Stack:

Frontend:

1. React+Vite:- Fast, efficient build process and high performance.
2. TailwindCSS:- Pre-built CSS classes which make styling easier.
3. @tanstack/react-table: a library that we will use to make tables in ReactJS.
4. Chart.js:- a library that we will use to make charts in ReactJS.
5. React Router DOM:- Enables dynamic routing (e.g., /modules/:module-name), already used in stdlib.

Backend:

1. Fastify:- Lightweight, high-performance Node.js framework used by stdlib.
2. pg (PostgreSQL Client):- Lightweight PostgreSQL client with active maintenance and community support.
3. WebSockets:- Provides real-time build failure updates, enhancing user experience.

Database:

1. PostgreSQL:- Stores build results and failure logs for structured querying and historical analysis.

Detailed Plan:

The stdlib Developer Dashboard solves the problem of monitoring build statuses across stdlib-js’s extensive repository network by providing a public, lightweight tool that updates daily via querying stdlib-js's existing database. Building on the npm project statusboard’s simplicity, this project adds interactive features tailored for developers like filtering, detailed views, and trend visualization. The 12-week timeline (May 12 - August 11, 2025) allows for a robust implementation, including core functionality, optimization, and additional polish, with the following objectives and plan:

Objectives :

1. Comprehensive Build Monitoring: Develop a Main Dashboard with a table displaying Repository, Status, Conclusion, Updated, Link, Coverage, and Downloads (e.g., 12000), updated daily from the database.
2. Flexible Filtering: Enable filtering by status and conclusion to pinpoint build issues quickly.
3. Repository Deep Dive: Create a Repository Details page with build status, recent builds, jobs, commits, and links to Historical Trends and Metrics.
4. Historical Analysis: Implement a Historical Trends page with a 30-day build success/failure chart, scalable for all repositories.
5. Metrics Insights: Build a Metrics page combining coverage and download trends, linked from Repository Details, to highlight repository health and usage.
6. Robustness & Polish: Ensure scalability for 4100+ repositories, optimize performance, and refine the UI/UX with Tailwind CSS over 12 weeks.

Why this project?

What excites me most about this project is the opportunity to contribute to improving the developer experience for stdlib as well as enhancing my knowledge through a real-time developer dashboard. The idea of creating a dashboard that visualizes build failures in real time feels both impactful and meaningful, as it directly helps contributors and maintainers identify and resolve issues faster.

Qualifications

I am well-suited for this project due to my strong technical skills, and relevant experience. As a developer, I have worked extensively with JavaScript, and Node.js, etc. Technologies that are directly relevant to this project. My experience with building APIs and creating dynamic dashboards makes me confident in my ability to deliver a robust and effective solution.

Additionally, I have been going through stdlib-js/www have given me hands-on experience with the codebase, its standards, and its development practices. This familiarity will enable me to collaborate effectively with the maintainers and follow the project's guidelines seamlessly.

Prior art

Similar projects focusing on monitoring build failures and providing real-time insights have been implemented by various CI/CD platforms and developer tools.

NPM Status Board: NPM provides a status board that displays the real-time health of its services, including build and deployment statuses. While it is not specifically designed for stdlib-js, it demonstrates how real-time monitoring can effectively track and visualize service issues, providing transparency and reliability insights.

Commitment

I am fully committed to working on this project and can dedicate 40+ hours per week throughout the Google Summer of Code program. I can focus entirely on this project without any academic interruptions.

My schedule is flexible, allowing me to collaborate effectively across different time zones, attend any mentor meetings, and promptly address feedback. I am eager to make consistent and meaningful contributions during GSoC and continue to support the project even after it.

Schedule

Assuming a 12-week schedule,

• Community Bonding Period:

1. Introduce myself, discuss stdlib_github schema details, and confirm requirements for the Main Dashboard.
2. Deep dive into the already implemented PostgreSQL schema.
3. Make the UI wireframe and finalize it with mentors, discuss the website theme.
4. Discuss and document the API routes. Set the development environment and initialize the starting code for the Frontend and Backend.

• Week 1 and 2:

1. Make the core frontend components for the landing page as mentioned in the detailed plan.
2. Mentor approval and any changes to be made.
3. Make a PR and documentation.

• Week 3 and 4:

1. Develop API routes and discuss with mentors.
2. Implement all the APIs that are mentioned in the detailed plan at once.
3. Make a PR and documentation.

• Week 5:

1. Integrate the Frontend and Backend, and then implement the pagination.
2. Implement search by name and other functionalities as mentioned in the detailed plan.
3. Implement the core functionalities.
4. Integrate the APIs to get repos in sorted order when we click on the icon in the header of the column.

• Week 6 and 7: (midterm)

1. Midterm evaluation.
2. Develop Frontend for respective repo to show historical overviews and other metrics.
3. Make components to show the basic information for the repo.
4. Implement chats to show its build status over time, downloads over time, and workflow for the particular repo.
5. Make a PR and documentation.

• Week 8 and 9:

1. Develop a Frontend for trend analysis, like top repo with most downloads and other trends.
2. Integrate it with backend APIs and make it fully functional.
3. Make a PR and documentation.

• Week 10:

1. Testing the website. And making the required changes.
2. Optimise the PostgreSQL queries.

• Week 11:

1. Do pending tasks.

• Week 12 (FInal Week):

1. Final review to ensure that the project delivers expected outcomes.
2. Document the remaining part and make the final PR.

Notes:

• The community bonding period is a 3 week period built into GSoC to help you get to know the project community and participate in project discussion. This is an opportunity for you to setup your local development environment, learn how the project's source control works, refine your project plan, read any necessary documentation, and otherwise prepare to execute on your project project proposal.
• Usually, even week 1 deliverables include some code.
• By week 6, you need enough done at this point for your mentor to evaluate your progress and pass you. Usually, you want to be a bit more than halfway done.
• By week 11, you may want to "code freeze" and focus on completing any tests and/or documentation.
• During the final week, you'll be submitting your project.

Related issues

#4

Checklist

• I have read and understood the Code of Conduct.
• I have read and understood the application materials found in this repository.
• I understand that plagiarism will not be tolerated, and I have authored this application in my own words.
• I have read and understood the patch requirement which is necessary for my application to be considered for acceptance.
• I have read and understood the stdlib showcase requirement which is necessary for my application to be considered for acceptance.
• The issue name begins with [RFC]: and succinctly describes your proposal.
• I understand that, in order to apply to be a GSoC contributor, I must submit my final application to https://summerofcode.withgoogle.com/ before the submission deadline.

[kgryte]

@hemantmm Thank you for opening this RFC. A few comments/questions:

1. Real-time feedback is likely not warranted. This isn't expected to be a heavily trafficked dashboard. Devs are likely to look at this dashboard every few days or so. As such, a static dashboard which is pre-built on a nightly basis would do. E.g., we do something similar with our www-status repository.
2. We do have a showcase requirement, as outlined in our application guidelines. You'll want to at least put something together demo'ing stdlib functionality.
3. You chose React. That indicates you are thinking an SPA. What views are you planning to show? It may be good to provide some initial wireframes/mockups to provide reviewers an idea of what you are thinking.
4. What PG queries are you thinking you'll need? We'll want to minimize server load, as the hosted server is resource constrained.

[hemantmm]

Hello @kgryte, thank you for your feedback.

For the showcase requirement- plan to create a demo or tutorial that highlights the core functionalities of stdlib. This could be a simple application or a set of examples that utilize stdlib features effectively.

Minimize server load - Focus on optimizing these queries to ensure they are efficient and do not overload the server.
Consider:
Queries for fetching build results,
Filtering queries based on status or date,
Aggregation queries for historical data.

1. We take the latest workflow run for each repository for the most recent build.
2. We join this with the corresponding coverage (using workflow_run_id) to get the statements percentage.
3. We calculate the monthly downloads by summing the count from npm_download_count over the past 30 days for each repository.
4. The result is a flat structure, one row per repository.