Bug Report: Can't Edit All Merchants

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Bug Report: Can't Edit All Merchants

Hey guys,

We've got a bug report here about an issue where users are unable to edit all merchants within the discussion category. This can be quite frustrating, especially when you need to make changes to your merchant settings. Let's dive into the details of this bug, how to reproduce it, and what the expected behavior should be.

Before We Get Started

Before we jump into the specifics, let's go through a quick checklist to make sure everything is in order. This helps us streamline the bug reporting process and ensures we have all the necessary information.

General Checklist

  • [x] I have removed personal / sensitive data from screenshots and logs.
  • [x] I have searched existing issues and discussions to ensure this is not a duplicate issue. It's always a good idea to check if someone else has already reported the same problem. This saves time and effort for everyone involved.

How Are You Using Sure?

To better understand the context of the bug, it's important to know how you're using Sure. This helps us tailor our troubleshooting steps and provide more relevant solutions.

  • [ ] I was a paying Maybe customer (hosted version)
  • [ ] I use it on PikaPod, Umbrel, or similar (VPS included)
  • [x] I am a self-hosted user (local only)

Self-Hoster Checklist

For those of you who are self-hosting, we need a bit more information to ensure we can accurately diagnose the issue. If you're a paying hosted user, you can skip this section.

Paying, hosted users should delete this entire section.

If you are a self-hosted user, please complete all of the information below. Issues with incomplete information will be marked as Needs Info to help our small team prioritize bug fixes.

  • Self-hosted app commit SHA (find in the user menu): 706c3a9f1c99cf25bda9a50055f261e1b20bdce5
    • [x] I have confirmed that my app's commit is the latest version of Sure. Ensuring you're on the latest version helps us rule out any issues that might have already been addressed.
  • Where are you hosting?
    • [ ] Render
    • [ ] Docker Compose
    • [ ] Umbrel
    • [ ] PikaPod
    • [x] Other (Dev environment)
    • [x] K8s

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Bug Description: The Merchant Editing Issue

The core of the problem is that users are unable to edit all merchants. Currently, only family_merchants are editable, which is not the intended behavior. This limitation can be a major pain point for users who need to manage a variety of merchants from different sources. The inability to edit all merchants can lead to data management issues and a less-than-ideal user experience. This bug impacts the flexibility and usability of the application, making it crucial to address. Understanding the root cause and implementing a fix will greatly improve the overall functionality and user satisfaction.

Steps to Reproduce the Bug

To better understand the issue, it's helpful to walk through the steps that trigger the bug. Here's how you can reproduce the "Can't Edit All Merchants" bug:

  1. Go to the Simplefin setup page. This is where you'll begin the process of integrating Simplefin with your Sure instance.
  2. Set up Simplefin. Follow the necessary steps to configure Simplefin within your application.
  3. Finish the first sync and add an account with transactions. This step ensures that you have some merchant data to work with.
  4. Navigate to Settings -> Merchants. This is where you'll find the list of merchants within your application.
  5. Click the 3 dots next to a merchant. These dots typically indicate a menu of options for the merchant.
  6. Click Edit. This is the action that should allow you to edit the merchant's details.

When you follow these steps, you'll encounter a 404 error on /family_merchants/[id]/edit in the console. This error occurs because the family_merchants route is specifically designed to find family_merchant entries, and it doesn't account for other types of merchants. The error message provides a clear indication of the problem's location, making it easier to diagnose and address.

Expected Behavior

Ideally, the system should allow users to edit any merchant, regardless of its source. This means that when you click "Edit" next to a merchant, you should be able to modify its details without encountering a 404 error or any other restrictions. The expected behavior is that users have full control over their merchant data, ensuring they can manage it effectively and efficiently. This level of access is crucial for maintaining accurate records and making informed decisions based on the data. The current limitation creates unnecessary friction and hinders the user's ability to manage their data comprehensively. A fix for this bug would ensure a more consistent and user-friendly experience, allowing users to focus on their tasks without worrying about technical constraints.

To achieve this, the system should probably be generic, with a URL structure like /merchants/[id]/edit. This would allow the controller to search all types of merchants, rather than filtering specifically for FamilyMerchant in the database. A generic endpoint would simplify the routing and controller logic, making it easier to maintain and extend in the future. This approach also aligns with best practices for RESTful API design, where resources are accessed and manipulated through consistent and predictable URLs. By removing the specific filter for FamilyMerchant, the system can provide a unified interface for managing all merchants, regardless of their origin. This enhancement would greatly improve the application's usability and flexibility, making it a more powerful tool for users.

Proposed Solution and Technical Details

To tackle this bug, a comprehensive approach is needed that addresses both the routing and the controller logic. The current system's reliance on a specific route (/family_merchants/[id]/edit) limits its ability to handle various merchant types. To create a more flexible and robust solution, a generic route (/merchants/[id]/edit) should be implemented. This change requires modifications in the application's routing configuration to ensure that all edit requests are directed to the unified endpoint. The controller logic then needs to be updated to handle these requests appropriately, fetching the correct merchant data regardless of its type. By implementing these changes, the application can seamlessly manage all merchants, providing a consistent editing experience for users.

Implementing a Generic Route

The first step in resolving this bug is to implement a generic route for editing merchants. This involves modifying the application's routing configuration to use a more inclusive URL pattern. Instead of the specific /family_merchants/[id]/edit, a more general route such as /merchants/[id]/edit should be used. This change ensures that the same endpoint handles edit requests for all merchant types, regardless of their origin. By using a generic route, the system becomes more adaptable and can easily accommodate new merchant types in the future. This approach simplifies the routing logic and makes the application more maintainable. The modifications to the routing configuration should be carefully tested to ensure they do not introduce any regressions or conflicts with existing routes. By adopting a generic route, the application can provide a unified and consistent interface for managing merchants, enhancing the user experience and reducing the likelihood of future issues.

Updating the Controller Logic

With the generic route in place, the next step is to update the controller logic to handle the edit requests effectively. The current controller likely includes a filter that specifically searches for FamilyMerchant entries in the database. This filter needs to be removed to allow the controller to search for all types of merchants. Instead of filtering by merchant type, the controller should query the database for a merchant with the given ID, regardless of its origin. This can be achieved by modifying the database query to omit the type-specific filter. The controller should also include error handling to gracefully manage cases where a merchant with the given ID does not exist. By updating the controller logic, the application can retrieve and process merchant data from any source, providing a seamless editing experience for users. This change ensures that all merchants can be edited through the generic route, resolving the core issue of the bug. The updated controller logic should be thoroughly tested to ensure it correctly handles various scenarios and data types.

Database Considerations

When implementing the generic merchant editing functionality, it's crucial to consider the database interactions. Currently, the system might be optimized for querying FamilyMerchant records specifically. To handle all merchant types efficiently, the database query should be adjusted to search across all relevant merchant tables or use a unified table structure if possible. This may involve modifying the SQL queries or the ORM (Object-Relational Mapping) logic used by the application. Additionally, it's important to ensure that the database indexes are properly configured to support efficient lookups of merchants by ID. Optimizing the database queries will prevent performance bottlenecks and ensure that the editing process remains responsive, even with a large number of merchants. The changes to the database interactions should be carefully planned and executed to avoid any data inconsistencies or performance issues. By considering these database aspects, the application can effectively handle the generic merchant editing functionality and provide a smooth user experience.

Error Handling and User Feedback

Robust error handling is essential for any application, especially when dealing with data editing operations. In the case of the merchant editing bug, it's crucial to provide clear and informative feedback to the user if an error occurs. For instance, if a merchant with the given ID does not exist, the application should display an appropriate error message, such as "Merchant not found." This helps the user understand the issue and take corrective action. Additionally, the error handling should include logging mechanisms to record errors for debugging purposes. Logging can help developers identify and resolve issues more quickly. The user interface should also be designed to handle errors gracefully, preventing the application from crashing or displaying technical jargon. By implementing comprehensive error handling and providing user-friendly feedback, the application can enhance the user experience and improve its overall reliability. This is particularly important for data editing operations, where users need to be confident that their changes are being handled correctly.

Conclusion: Moving Towards a More Flexible System

In conclusion, the "Can't Edit All Merchants" bug highlights the importance of a flexible and generic system design. By implementing a generic route and updating the controller logic, we can resolve this issue and provide a more consistent user experience. This approach not only fixes the immediate problem but also lays the groundwork for future enhancements and scalability. It's essential to thoroughly test these changes to ensure they work as expected and do not introduce any new issues. By addressing this bug, we're taking a significant step towards a more robust and user-friendly application. The ability to edit all merchants, regardless of their origin, is crucial for effective data management and overall user satisfaction. This fix will empower users to manage their merchant data more efficiently and make informed decisions based on accurate information. The long-term benefits of a generic system design include easier maintenance, better adaptability to new requirements, and a more cohesive user experience.