A simple IoC container for TypeScript

Introduction

An IoC (Inversion of Control) container for TypeScript.

The idea behind it is to create a simple container that can register and resolve dependencies for classes and functions without relying on reflect metadata.

It uses plain TypeScript code, so it can be added to any project without additional dependencies.

It also works in Next.js middleware and Node and Edge runtimes.

Installation

npm i @evyweb/ioctopus

How to use

To use ioctopus, you need to create a container and bind your dependencies. To do so, you need to create an ID for each dependency you want to register.

This ID, which we call an "injection token," can be a string or a symbol. (Please note that you must be consistent: either always use strings for binding and resolving dependencies or always use symbols; you can't mix them.)

Then you can bind the dependency to a value, a function, a class, a factory, a higher-order function, or a curried function.

Type-Safe Registry (Recommended)

Note: Using a type-safe registry is the recommended approach for better type safety and developer experience.

You can define a registry type or interface to get full type safety for your dependency injection keys and their corresponding types. This eliminates the need for manual casting when resolving dependencies.

Create the Registry

Define a type or interface that maps your injection tokens to the desired types:

// Using strings as injection tokens
type MyRegistry = {
    'USER_SERVICE': UserService;
    //...
}

// Or using symbols
const USER_SERVICE = Symbol('USER_SERVICE');
type MyRegistry = {
  [USER_SERVICE]: UserService;
  //...
}

Create the container

Create your container with your registry type:

import { createContainer } from '@evyweb/ioctopus';

// Create a type-safe container (Recommended)
const container = createContainer<MyRegistry>();
// Old way, without type safety
const container = createContainer();

Register the dependencies

Primitives

You can register primitives.

// using strings
container.bind('DEP1').toValue('dependency1');
container.bind('DEP2').toValue(42);

// using symbols
container.bind(DI.DEP1).toValue('dependency1');
container.bind(DI.DEP2).toValue(42);

Functions

• You can register functions without dependencies:

const sayHelloWorld = () => console.log('Hello World');

// using strings
container.bind('SIMPLE_FUNCTION').toFunction(sayHelloWorld);

// or using symbols
container.bind(DI.SIMPLE_FUNCTION).toFunction(sayHelloWorld);

Currying

• You can register functions with dependencies using currying (1 level of currying):

const myFunction = (dep1: string, dep2: number) => (name: string) => console.log(`${dep1} ${dep2} ${name}`);

// using strings
container.bind('CURRIED_FUNCTION_WITH_DEPENDENCIES')
    .toCurry(myFunction, ['DEP1', 'DEP2']);

// or using symbols
container.bind(DI.CURRIED_FUNCTION_WITH_DEPENDENCIES)
    .toCurry(myFunction, [DI.DEP1, DI.DEP2]);

• You can also use a dependency object:

interface Dependencies {
    dep1: string,
    dep2: number
}

const myFunction = (dependencies: Dependencies) => (name: string) => console.log(`${dependencies.dep1} ${dependencies.dep2} ${name}`);

// The dependencies will be listed in an object in the second parameter
// using strings
container.bind('CURRIED_FUNCTION_WITH_DEPENDENCIES')
    .toCurry(myFunction, {dep1: 'DEP1', dep2: 'DEP2'});

// or using symbols
container.bind(DI.CURRIED_FUNCTION_WITH_DEPENDENCIES)
    .toCurry(myFunction, {dep1: DI.DEP1, dep2: DI.DEP2});

Higher-order functions

You can also register functions with dependencies by using higher-order functions:

const MyServiceWithDependencies = (dep1: string, dep2: number): MyServiceWithDependenciesInterface => {
    return {
        runTask: () => {
            // Do something with dep1 and dep2
        }
    };
};

// The dependencies will be listed in an array in the second parameter
// using strings
container.bind('HIGHER_ORDER_FUNCTION_WITH_DEPENDENCIES')
    .toHigherOrderFunction(MyServiceWithDependencies, ['DEP1', 'DEP2']);

// or using symbols
container.bind(DI.HIGHER_ORDER_FUNCTION_WITH_DEPENDENCIES)
    .toHigherOrderFunction(MyServiceWithDependencies, [DI.DEP1, DI.DEP2]);

But if you prefer, you can also use a dependency object:

interface Dependencies {
    dep1: string,
    dep2: number
}

const MyService = (dependencies: Dependencies): MyServiceInterface => {
    return {
        runTask: () => {
            // Do something with dependencies.dep1 and dependencies.dep2
        }
    };
};

// The dependencies will be listed in an object in the second parameter
// using strings
container.bind('HIGHER_ORDER_FUNCTION_WITH_DEPENDENCIES')
    .toHigherOrderFunction(MyService, {dep1: 'DEP1', dep2: 'DEP2'});

// or using symbols
container.bind(DI.HIGHER_ORDER_FUNCTION_WITH_DEPENDENCIES)
    .toHigherOrderFunction(MyService, {dep1: DI.DEP1, dep2: DI.DEP2});

Factories

For more complex cases, you can register factories.

// using strings
container.bind('MY_USE_CASE').toFactory(() => {
    // Do something before creating the instance
     
    // Then return the instance
    return MyUseCase({
        myService: container.get<MyService>('MY_SERVICE')
    });
});

// or using symbols
container.bind(DI.MY_USE_CASE).toFactory(() => {
    // Do something before creating the instance
     
    // Then return the instance
    return MyUseCase({
        myService: container.get<MyService>(DI.MY_SERVICE)
    });
});

Classes

You can register classes; the dependencies of the class will be resolved and injected into the constructor

class MyServiceClass implements MyServiceClassInterface {
    constructor(
        private readonly dep1: string,
        private readonly dep2: number,
    ) {}

    runTask(): string {
        return `Executing with dep1: ${this.dep1} and dep2: ${this.dep2}`;
    }
}

container.bind('CLASS_WITH_DEPENDENCIES').toClass(MyServiceClass, ['DEP1', 'DEP2']);

// or using symbols
container.bind(DI.CLASS_WITH_DEPENDENCIES).toClass(MyServiceClass, [DI.DEP1, DI.DEP2]);

But if you prefer, you can also use a dependency object:

interface Dependencies {
    dep1: string,
    dep2: number
}

class MyServiceClass implements MyServiceClassInterface {
    constructor(private readonly dependencies: Dependencies) {}

    runTask(): string {
        return `Executing with dep1: ${this.dependencies.dep1} and dep2: ${this.dependencies.dep2}`;
    }
}

container.bind('CLASS_WITH_DEPENDENCIES').toClass(MyServiceClass, {dep1: 'DEP1', dep2: 'DEP2'});

// or using symbols
container.bind(DI.CLASS_WITH_DEPENDENCIES).toClass(MyServiceClass, {dep1: DI.DEP1, dep2: DI.DEP2});

• You can register classes without dependencies:

class MyServiceClassWithoutDependencies implements MyServiceClassInterface {
    runTask(): string {
        return `Executing without dependencies`;
    }
}

container.bind('CLASS_WITHOUT_DEPENDENCIES').toClass(MyServiceClassWithoutDependencies);

// or using symbols
container.bind(DI.CLASS_WITHOUT_DEPENDENCIES).toClass(MyServiceClassWithoutDependencies);

Resolve the dependencies using the registry (recommended)

You can now resolve the dependencies using the get method of the container.

import { DI } from './di';

// Primitive
// using strings
const dep1 = container.get('DEP1'); // type will be the one you registered in your registry (string here)

// or using symbols
const dep1 = container.get(DI.DEP1); // type will be the one you registered in your registry (string here)

Resolve the dependencies without the registry

import { DI } from './di';

// Primitive
// using strings
const dep1 = container.get<string>('DEP1'); // By default, the type will be 'unknown', so you need to cast it manually

// or using symbols
const dep1 = container.get<string>(DI.DEP1); // By default, the type will be 'unknown', so you need to cast it manually

Modules

You can also use modules to organize your dependencies. Modules support the same type-safe registry approach as containers.

Loading modules

Modules can then be loaded in your container. By default, when you create a container, it uses a default module under the hood.

With Registry (Recommended):

interface AppRegistry {
    'DEP1': string;
    'DEP2': number;
    'MY_SERVICE': MyServiceInterface;
}

const module1 = createModule<AppRegistry>();
module1.bind('DEP1').toValue('dependency1');

const module2 = createModule<AppRegistry>();
module2.bind('DEP2').toValue(42);

const module3 = createModule<AppRegistry>();
module3.bind('MY_SERVICE').toHigherOrderFunction(MyService, {dep1: 'DEP1', dep2: 'DEP2'});

const container = createContainer<AppRegistry>();
container.load('module1', module1);
container.load('module2', module2);
container.load('module3', module3);

const myService = container.get('MY_SERVICE'); // Type: MyServiceInterface

Old approach without registry:

const module1 = createModule();
module1.bind(DI.DEP1).toValue('dependency1');

const module2 = createModule();
module2.bind(DI.DEP2).toValue(42);

const module3 = createModule();
module3.bind(DI.MY_SERVICE).toHigherOrderFunction(MyService, {dep1: DI.DEP1, dep2: DI.DEP2});

const container = createContainer();
container.load(Symbol('module1'), module1);
container.load(Symbol('module2'), module2);
container.load(Symbol('module3'), module3);

const myService = container.get<MyServiceInterface>(DI.MY_SERVICE);

The dependencies do not need to be registered in the same module as the one that is using them. Note that the module name used as a key can be a symbol or a string.

Modules override

You can also override dependencies of a module. The dependencies of the module will be overridden by the dependencies of the last loaded module.

const module1 = createModule<AppRegistry>();
module1.bind(DI.DEP1).toValue('OLD dependency1');
module1.bind(DI.MY_SERVICE).toFunction(sayHelloWorld);

const module2 = createModule<AppRegistry>();
module2.bind(DI.DEP1).toValue('NEW dependency1');

const module3 = createModule<AppRegistry>();
module3.bind(DI.MY_SERVICE).toHigherOrderFunction(MyService, {dep1: DI.DEP1, dep2: DI.DEP2});

const container = createContainer<AppRegistry>();
container.bind(DI.DEP2).toValue(42); // Default module
container.load(Symbol('module1'), module1);
container.load(Symbol('module2'), module2);
container.load(Symbol('module3'), module3);

// The dependency DI.MY_SERVICE will be resolved with the higher-order function and dep1 will be 'NEW dependency1'
const myService = container.get(DI.MY_SERVICE);

Unload modules

You can also unload a module from the container. The dependencies of the module will be removed from the container. Already cached instances will be removed to maintain consistency and avoid potential errors.

const module1 = createModule<AppRegistry>();
module1.bind(DI.DEP1).toValue('dependency1');

const container = createContainer<AppRegistry>();
container.load(Symbol('module1'), module1);

container.unload(Symbol('module1'));

// Will throw an error as the dependency is not registered anymore
const myService = container.get(DI.DEP1); 

Using scopes

Singleton scope (default)

In singleton scope, the container returns the same instance every time a dependency is resolved.

container.bind(DI.MY_SERVICE).toClass(MyServiceClass, [DI.DEP1, DI.DEP2]);
// or
container.bind(DI.MY_SERVICE).toClass(MyServiceClass, [DI.DEP1, DI.DEP2], 'singleton');

const instance1 = container.get(DI.MY_SERVICE);
const instance2 = container.get(DI.MY_SERVICE);

console.log(instance1 === instance2); // true

Transient scope

In transient scope, the container returns a new instance every time the dependency is resolved.

container.bind(DI.MY_SERVICE).toClass(MyServiceClass, [DI.DEP1, DI.DEP2], 'transient');

const instance1 = container.get(DI.MY_SERVICE);
const instance2 = container.get(DI.MY_SERVICE);

console.log(instance1 === instance2); // false

Scoped scope

In scoped scope, the container returns the same instance within a scope. Different scopes will have different instances.

To use the scoped scope, you need to create a scope using runInScope.

container.bind(DI.MY_SERVICE).toClass(MyServiceClass, [DI.DEP1, DI.DEP2], 'scoped');
const instance1 = undefined;
const instance2 = undefined;

container.runInScope(() => {
    instance1 = container.get(DI.MY_SERVICE);
    instance2 = container.get(DI.MY_SERVICE);

    console.log(instance1 === instance2); // true
});

container.runInScope(() => {
    const instance3 = container.get(DI.MY_SERVICE);

    console.log(instance3 === instance1); // false
});

Note: If you try to resolve a scoped dependency outside a scope, an error will be thrown.

Circular dependencies

The ioctopus container can detect circular dependencies. An error will be thrown if a circular dependency is detected.

const container = createContainer<AppRegistry>();

const A_TOKEN = Symbol('A');
const B_TOKEN = Symbol('B');

class A {
    constructor(public b: B) {}
}

class B {
    constructor(public a: A) {}
}

container.bind(A_TOKEN).toClass(A, [B_TOKEN]);
container.bind(B_TOKEN).toClass(B, [A_TOKEN]);

container.get(A_TOKEN); // Will throw: "Circular dependency detected: Symbol(A) -> Symbol(B) -> Symbol(A)"

This way you can avoid infinite loops and stack overflow errors.