​
Admin API Vision

This document outlines a potential future API design for internal FindU administration tools. Currently, admin functions are handled through direct database access.
This is a design reference document. These endpoints do not currently exist. Admin operations currently use direct Supabase access with appropriate permissions.

​
Current Implementation

Admin functions currently:
  • Use Supabase dashboard for database management
  • Implement custom SQL queries for reports
  • Handle user management through Supabase Auth Admin API
  • Monitor system health via Railway/Supabase dashboards

​
Future API Benefits

A dedicated Admin API could provide:

​
1. Unified Operations

Single interface for all admin tasks: 
// Future API approach
const stats = await adminApi.getPlatformMetrics({
  include: ['users', 'engagement', 'revenue', 'health']
});

​
2. Audit Trail

Automatic logging of all admin actions: 
// Every action logged with context
await adminApi.suspendUser(userId, {
  reason: 'Terms violation',
  duration: '7d',
  notifyUser: true
}); // Automatically logged with admin ID, timestamp, IP

​
3. Bulk Operations

Efficient handling of large-scale tasks: 
// Process multiple items efficiently
await adminApi.bulkUpdateSchools({
  filter: { lastUpdated: { before: '2023-01-01' } },
  updates: { needsReview: true },
  notify: 'data-team'
});

​
Proposed Endpoint Structure

​
Platform Monitoring

GET  /admin/health
GET  /admin/metrics
GET  /admin/alerts
POST /admin/alerts/:id/acknowledge
GET  /admin/logs
POST /admin/logs/search

​
User Management

GET  /admin/users
GET  /admin/users/:id
POST /admin/users/search
POST /admin/users/:id/suspend
POST /admin/users/:id/delete
POST /admin/users/:id/reset
GET  /admin/users/:id/activity

​
Partner Management

GET  /admin/partners
GET  /admin/partners/:id
POST /admin/partners/:id/approve
POST /admin/partners/:id/suspend
PATCH /admin/partners/:id/subscription
GET  /admin/partners/:id/audit

​
Content Moderation

GET  /admin/moderation/queue
POST /admin/moderation/:id/review
GET  /admin/moderation/reports
POST /admin/moderation/bulk-action
GET  /admin/moderation/patterns

​
Data Management

POST /admin/schools/import
POST /admin/schools/bulk-update
GET  /admin/schools/validation
POST /admin/data/export
POST /admin/data/anonymize

​
Financial Operations

GET  /admin/subscriptions
POST /admin/subscriptions/:id/refund
GET  /admin/revenue/report
POST /admin/invoices/generate
GET  /admin/payment-issues

​
Security Patterns

​
Multi-Factor Authentication

// Require 2FA for sensitive operations
async function requireMFA(req: Request) {
  const mfaToken = req.headers['x-mfa-token'];
  
  if (!mfaToken || !await verifyMFAToken(mfaToken, req.user)) {
    throw new Error('MFA required for this operation');
  }
}

// Usage
router.post('/admin/users/:id/delete', requireMFA, deleteUser);

​
Role-Based Permissions

enum AdminRole {
  VIEWER = 'viewer',        // Read-only access
  SUPPORT = 'support',      // User management
  MODERATOR = 'moderator',  // Content moderation
  ADMIN = 'admin',         // Full access
  SUPER = 'super'          // System-level access
}

// Middleware for role checking
function requireRole(roles: AdminRole[]) {
  return (req: Request, res: Response, next: Next) => {
    if (!roles.includes(req.user.role)) {
      throw new ForbiddenError('Insufficient permissions');
    }
    next();
  };
}

​
Audit Logging

interface AuditLog {
  id: string;
  timestamp: Date;
  admin: {
    id: string;
    email: string;
    role: AdminRole;
  };
  action: string;
  target: {
    type: 'user' | 'partner' | 'school' | 'system';
    id: string;
  };
  details: Record<string, any>;
  ip: string;
  userAgent: string;
}

// Automatic logging decorator
@Audited('user.suspend')
async function suspendUser(userId: string, options: SuspendOptions) {
  // Action automatically logged
}

​
Admin Dashboard Features

​
Real-Time Monitoring

// WebSocket for live updates
ws.on('connect', () => {
  subscribeToMetrics(['activeUsers', 'apiCalls', 'errorRate']);
});

ws.on('metric', (data) => {
  updateDashboard(data);
});

​
Automated Alerts

interface AlertRule {
  metric: string;
  condition: 'above' | 'below' | 'equals';
  threshold: number;
  duration: string;
  severity: 'info' | 'warning' | 'critical';
  notify: string[]; // Email/Slack recipients
}

// Example rules
const alertRules = [
  {
    metric: 'api.errorRate',
    condition: 'above',
    threshold: 0.05, // 5% error rate
    duration: '5m',
    severity: 'critical',
    notify: ['on-call@findu.app']
  }
];

​
Batch Processing

// Queue-based bulk operations
interface BulkJob {
  id: string;
  type: 'userUpdate' | 'schoolImport' | 'dataExport';
  status: 'pending' | 'processing' | 'completed' | 'failed';
  progress: number;
  total: number;
  results: {
    success: number;
    failed: number;
    errors: Error[];
  };
}

// Submit bulk job
const job = await adminApi.submitBulkJob({
  type: 'userUpdate',
  filter: { inactive: true },
  action: 'sendReengagementEmail'
});

// Monitor progress
const status = await adminApi.getJobStatus(job.id);

​
Implementation Considerations

​
Performance at Scale

  • Use read replicas for analytics queries
  • Implement caching for frequently accessed data
  • Queue bulk operations to prevent system overload
  • Use database indexes for common search patterns

​
Data Privacy

  • Anonymize user data in exports
  • Implement data retention policies
  • Provide user data deletion tools
  • Maintain compliance with privacy regulations

​
Disaster Recovery

  • Regular automated backups
  • Point-in-time recovery capabilities
  • Audit log archival
  • Emergency access procedures

​
Current Alternatives

For now, admin tasks can be handled through:
  • Supabase Dashboard for database operations
  • Custom SQL queries for reports
  • Railway dashboard for deployment management
  • PostgreSQL admin tools for advanced operations
  • Custom scripts for bulk operations

​
Development Guidelines

If implementing admin features:
  1. Security First
    • Always require authentication
    • Implement principle of least privilege
    • Log all actions
    • Regular security audits
  2. User Safety
    • Confirmation for destructive actions
    • Ability to undo/rollback changes
    • Clear audit trails
    • Notification of affected users
  3. Performance
    • Pagination for large datasets
    • Async processing for bulk operations
    • Caching for dashboard metrics
    • Rate limiting to prevent abuse
See Database Management for current admin capabilities.