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
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: ['[email protected]']
}
];
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
- 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:
-
Security First
- Always require authentication
- Implement principle of least privilege
- Log all actions
- Regular security audits
-
User Safety
- Confirmation for destructive actions
- Ability to undo/rollback changes
- Clear audit trails
- Notification of affected users
-
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.
