# Ack

> A schema validation library for Dart and Flutter with a fluent runtime API, bidirectional codecs, and two-way model/schema code generation.

Ack validates untrusted boundary data with schemas built through the `Ack`
factory. Annotate a schema with `@AckInfer()` to generate a model, or annotate a
hand-written class with `@AckModel()` to generate its schema and JSON helpers.
There is no `@AckSchema()` annotation; `AckSchema` is the runtime schema type.

## Packages

1. `ack`: core runtime validation, codecs, and generated-model support
2. `ack_annotations`: exposes `@AckInfer()` and `@AckModel()`
3. `ack_generator`: generates models from schemas and schemas from models
4. `ack_firebase_ai`: converts Ack schemas to Firebase AI structured-output schemas
5. `ack_json_schema_builder`: converts Ack schemas to `json_schema_builder` schemas

## Core runtime usage

```dart
import 'package:ack/ack.dart';

final userSchema = Ack.object({
  'name': Ack.string().minLength(2),
  'email': Ack.string().email(),
  'age': Ack.integer().min(0).optional(),
});

final result = userSchema.safeParse({
  'name': 'Alice',
  'email': 'alice@example.com',
});
```

## Codecs

Codecs decode a boundary value into a runtime value and encode it back.
`parse` / `safeParse` decode; `encode` / `safeEncode` encode.

- Built in: `Ack.date()`, `Ack.datetime()`, `Ack.uri()`, `Ack.duration()`, and
  `Ack.enumCodec(values)`.
- Custom: `Ack.codec(input: ..., decode: ..., encode: ...)`, or
  `schema.codec<R>(decode: ..., encode: ...)` on an existing schema.
- `schema.transform<R>(fn)` is one-way. It works for runtime parsing, but it is
  rejected by generated models because they must encode back to the boundary.
- A codec exports the JSON Schema of its boundary schema.

## Model code generation

Both directions use the same generated parts and build command. `@AckInfer()`
is schema-first; `@AckModel()` is class-first.

Every annotated library declares both generated parts:

```dart
import 'package:ack/ack.dart';
import 'package:ack_annotations/ack_annotations.dart';

part 'user_schema.ack.dart';
part 'user_schema.ack.g.dart';

@AckInfer()
final addressSchema = Ack.object({
  'street': Ack.string(),
  'city': Ack.string(),
});

@AckInfer()
final userSchema = Ack.object({
  'name': Ack.string(),
  'address': addressSchema,
});
```

Run `dart run build_runner build`. `addressSchema` and `userSchema` generate
`Address` and `User`. A custom `@AckInfer(name: 'Member')` value is used exactly.

Generated object models provide:

- an unchecked constructor with stored typed fields;
- `User.parse(data)` and `User.safeParse(data)` for schema validation;
- `User.fromJson(json)`, `toJson()`, and `safeToJson()` for the JSON boundary;
- generated `copyWith` (null means keep the current value), deep
  collection-aware `==`/`hashCode`, and `toString`;
- a public static `User.$ack` adapter for nested generated models;
- an unmodifiable `additionalProperties` map for passthrough objects.

For class-first generation:

```dart
@AckModel(caseStyle: AckCaseStyle.snake)
final class Account with _$AccountAck {
  const Account({required this.displayName, this.role = 'member'});

  @MinLength(2)
  final String displayName;
  final String role;

  static final fromJson = AccountSchema.fromJson;
}
```

This generates an `AccountSchema` facade backed by a private `_accountObject`
wire schema and `_accountSchema` codec. Instantiable models apply the
`_$AccountAck` mixin for `toJson`, `safeToJson`, `copyWith`, and deep
equality. The facade exposes `schema`, `wireSchema`, `parse`, `safeParse`,
`fromJson`, `encode`, `safeEncode`, `toJsonSchema`, and `toSchemaModel`.
`schemaName:` overrides the exact public UpperCamelCase facade name; no public
lower-camel alias is emitted. Constructor parameters determine presence and
defaults. Field types and constraint annotations determine the schema. Sealed
classes use `@AckModel(discriminatorKey: ...)`; same-library concrete branches
are included automatically. Use `@AckField` to override `schema` and/or
`AckFieldPresence`. Unknown properties use `AckAdditionalPropertiesMode`
(`reject` by default; `discard` or `capture`).

Nested class-first models compose through `AddressSchema.schema`, preserving
import prefixes. Import combinators and barrels must expose both `Address` and
`AddressSchema`. Schema-first declarations may explicitly use the facade, and
class-first fields may use schema-first generated model types; both directions
work from a clean build. Nullable/list/set wrappers are preserved. Automatic
recursive class-first graphs are rejected; use schema-first named `Ack.lazy`
for recursive contracts.

Generated models do not implement `Map`, `List`, or scalar interfaces. Scalar
and collection roots are value models with a `.value` field. Use model fields
and `toJson()` instead of treating a model as its old boundary representation.

## Supported schema-first generated-model shapes

- objects and empty objects;
- string, integer, double, number, boolean, list, literal, and enum roots;
- built-in and custom bidirectional codecs;
- lists, sets, and string-keyed `Map<String, T>` runtime values;
- named nested models, aliases, defaults, and additional properties;
- direct, prefixed, and re-exported model and runtime type references;
- named `Ack.lazy` self-recursion and mutual recursion;
- same-library discriminated unions.

Generation rejects nullable roots, one-way transforms, `Ack.any()`,
`Ack.anyOf()`, bare `Ack.instance<T>()`, anonymous inline object fields,
non-string map keys, unresolved dynamic factories, name collisions, and
cross-library discriminated branches.

Class-first generation supports object models, inferred scalar and enum
fields, nested lists, sets through list codecs, custom `@AckField` schemas,
constructor defaults, case styles, `AckAdditionalPropertiesMode`, and
same-library sealed discriminated unions. It rejects `dynamic`, `Object?`,
non-String map keys, recursive class-first graphs, class-first value roots,
undiscriminated `anyOf` models, missing `_$ClassAck` mixins, and no-op
`@AckField()`.

## Discriminated generated models

`Ack.discriminated(...)` works with `@AckInfer()` when:

- `schemas` is a non-empty map literal;
- each branch is a top-level `@AckInfer()` object schema in the same library;
- each branch is non-nullable;
- branch schemas normally omit the discriminator field;
- an included discriminator is an exact matching `Ack.literal(...)` or an
  `Ack.enumString(...)` containing the branch key.

```dart
@AckInfer()
final catSchema = Ack.object({'lives': Ack.integer()});

@AckInfer()
final dogSchema = Ack.object({'breed': Ack.string()});

@AckInfer()
final petSchema = Ack.discriminated(
  discriminatorKey: 'type',
  schemas: {'cat': catSchema, 'dog': dogSchema},
);
```

This generates a sealed `Pet` base and final `Cat` and `Dog` branches.
Boundary payloads include the discriminator. Generated subtype parsing
validates through the union's effective branch.

## Migration from the previous generator

- Rename `@AckType()` to `@AckInfer()` for each connected graph you opt in.
- Add both `.ack.dart` and `.ack.g.dart` part directives.
- Rename generated `UserType` usages to `User` unless a custom name is set.
- Replace map/list/scalar interface access with stored fields or `.value`.
- Replace passthrough `.args` access with `.additionalProperties`.
- Replace legacy Map access and `.args` with typed fields and
  `.additionalProperties`; use `fromJson` / `toJson` at the JSON boundary.
- Replace one-way transforms used by generated models with bidirectional codecs.
- Replace public class-first `accountSchema` calls with `AccountSchema`; use
  `AccountSchema.schema` when composing another schema and
  `AccountSchema.wireSchema` for the raw Map schema.
- Apply the generated `_$ClassAck` mixin; do not keep extension-based helpers.
- Replace `additionalProperties: bool` with `AckAdditionalPropertiesMode`.
- Regenerate all checked-in outputs with `dart run build_runner build`.

## Runtime API reminders

- `schema.parse(data)` throws on invalid input.
- `schema.safeParse(data)` returns `SchemaResult<T>`.
- `SchemaResult<T>.getOrThrow()` returns the value or throws `AckException`.
- `.optional()` allows an object field to be omitted.
- `.nullable()` allows a present value to be null.
- `schema.toSchemaModel()` returns the canonical adapter/export model.
- `schema.toJsonSchema()` renders that model as JSON Schema.
- `Ack.list(...)` does not support nullable item schemas.
- `Ack.lazy(...)` defaults `maxDepth` to 100.
- Ack snapshots schema factory collections, and collection bounds must be valid.
- Generated data classes use `deepEquals` and `deepHashCode` from `package:ack/ack.dart`.