Creating Backend Functions

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Backend Functions run within the context of 8th Wall's Module System. For full Module documentation please see here. This section of the documentation will focus specifically on the Backend Function functionality provided by the module system.

Modules can be created from the Workspace page (Modules Tab) or directly within a Studio project. To create a Module with a Backend Function directly in Studio, please follow these steps:

1. In the Studio Editor, select the Modulese tab in the left panel and click "+ New Module"

2. Select the "Create New Module" tab and give your new module a Module ID. This value will be used to later reference your module in project code. It cannot be changed after creation.

3. Add a backend to the module: File explorer -> select the Modules tab -> right click on Backends -> select New Backend config.

4. In the New Backend wizard, select the desired type of backend (Function, in this case), give it a Title and Description. The file-name of the backend will be automatically generated based on Title and is how you will reference the backend within module code.

5. Set an Entry Path for your backend code. This is the file where your backend code entry point will live.

6. Create a file with the same path/name as defined in the Entry Path step above. Right-click Files -> New File -> Empty File:

Type or paste in the name that matches your Entry Path:

Result:

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The backend function must export an async method called handler. Please refer to the Writing Backend Code documentation for more details.

Example:

const handler = async (event: any) => {
  // Custom backend code goes here

  return {
    body: JSON.stringify({
      myResponse,
    }),
  }
}

export {
  handler,
}