print-solution

A side project to try making a small SaaS print service. This is a very rudementary example but basically we have three key components: desktop client, server, and a web dashboard. The desktop client will communicate with the server via TCP socket for this example. When a regular API request is sent from the web dashboard to the server (such as print some text on this available printer), the server will translate this to a TCP message with a print OPCODE sent to the corresponding desktop client. The desktop client will receive this request, pipe the input into an lp command to print to an installed local printer, and send the server back an ACK which is then relayed back to the web dashboard.

Desktop Client

• TCP server
• Send POST request to server on startup registering its address, port, and printer information

Server

• API
• POST register a new desktop client
• GET list of printers (from desktop client info registered in POST api) and current status (ACK to registered clients)
• POST create a new job for an available printer

Web Dashboard

• Link to install a desktop client (will register itself on startup)
• List of printers in data table with action to print (data table calls GET list api once per second to update status)
• On print action modal with text box appears, user can type in text and click print

Technology Used

• desktop-client: Golang (stdlib packages)
• server: Golang (stdlib, Echo, MongoDB)
• web-dashboard: Quasar (SPA), vue.js