graphql-lab

A hands-on GraphQL playground where I experiment with core and advanced GraphQL concepts, focusing on schema design, pagination patterns, and performance optimizations

Tech Stack

• GraphQL
• TypeScript
• MongoDB
• pnpm — package manager
• Bun — JavaScript runtime
• Docker / Docker Compose — local database setup

Project Structure

.
├── data-loader/        # DataLoader patterns and batching strategies
├── schema/             # GraphQL schemas and type definitions
├── server.ts           # Entry point that spins up the GraphQL server
├── docker-compose.yml  # MongoDB service for local development

Concepts Explored

• Object Types
• Queries & Mutations
• Cursor-based Pagination
• Node Interface (implemented for the Post schema)
• Schema-to-Schema Navigation
• MongoDB integration
• DataLoader usage to prevent N+1 query problems

Getting Started

Install dependencies

pnpm install

Start MongoDB

docker-compose up -d

Run the GraphQL server

pnpm dev

GraphQL Playground

After starting the server, GraphQL introspection and the GraphiQL interface are available at:

http://localhost:3000/graphql

Purpose

This repository serves as a learning lab to explore GraphQL best practices, experiment with different architectural approaches, and validate performance strategies such as cursor-based pagination and DataLoader batching.