DataList & Enum

Enum and DataList are small helpers you will see often in Akan. Enum is for a fixed set of values. DataList is for a list of items that each have an id.

Enum: status, role, type, category.
DataList: users, files, posts, selected rows.

Enum

Use Enum when the value must be one of a few known choices. This keeps forms, APIs, and labels consistent.

Fixed values

Use values in UI

DataList

Use DataList when you already loaded a list and want to update it by id. It is useful for UI state because you can add, replace, pick, and filter items easily.

`set(item)`: add or replace an item.
`pick(id)`: get one item by id.
`filter(fn)`: make a smaller DataList.

List by id

When To Use

Use Enum when the value is a kind of label: status, role, type, size, visibility.
Use DataList when the data is a collection of records with ids.
Do not use DataList as a database query. It is for data already loaded into the app.

Tips

Give enum names stable `refName`s because dictionaries and schemas can refer to them.
Keep DataList items small. It works best with light models used in lists.
Remember the shortcut: value choices are Enum, id collections are DataList.

DataList & Enum

Enum and DataList are small helpers you will see often in Akan. Enum is for a fixed set of values. DataList is for a list of items that each have an id.

Enum: status, role, type, category.
DataList: users, files, posts, selected rows.

Enum

Use Enum when the value must be one of a few known choices. This keeps forms, APIs, and labels consistent.

Fixed values

Use values in UI

DataList

Use DataList when you already loaded a list and want to update it by id. It is useful for UI state because you can add, replace, pick, and filter items easily.

`set(item)`: add or replace an item.
`pick(id)`: get one item by id.
`filter(fn)`: make a smaller DataList.

List by id

When To Use

Use Enum when the value is a kind of label: status, role, type, size, visibility.
Use DataList when the data is a collection of records with ids.
Do not use DataList as a database query. It is for data already loaded into the app.

Tips

Give enum names stable `refName`s because dictionaries and schemas can refer to them.
Keep DataList items small. It works best with light models used in lists.
Remember the shortcut: value choices are Enum, id collections are DataList.