[jira] [Created] (ATLAS-2933) Empty array attributes are returned as null instead of an empty list

[Cade Parker (JIRA)]

Cade Parker created ATLAS-2933:
----------------------------------

             Summary: Empty array attributes are returned as null instead of an 
empty list
                 Key: ATLAS-2933
                 URL: https://issues.apache.org/jira/browse/ATLAS-2933
             Project: Atlas
          Issue Type: Bug
    Affects Versions: 1.1.0
            Reporter: Cade Parker


 

Given the following entity def:
{code:java}
{
 "entityDefs": [
   {
     "name": "ExampleType",
     "superTypes": [],
     "typeVersion": "0.1",
     "attributeDefs": [
       {
         "name": "things",
         "typeName": "array<string>",
         "cardinality": "SINGLE",
         "isIndexable": false,
         "isOptional": false,
         "isUnique": false
       }
     ]
   }
 ]
}
{code}

I can POST a new entity with an empty array for the things attribute 
successfully:
{code:java}
POST /api/atlas/v2/entity

{
 "entity":{
 "typeName":"ExampleType",
 "attributes":{
   "things": []
 },
 "guid":"-thing",
 "version":1
 }
}
{code}

But when i GET the entity by guid, the attribute is null instead of the empty 
list:
{code:java}
GET /api/atlas/v2/entity/guid/d5e33187-3293-4206-bcb8-807dc87c1440

{
 "referredEntities": {},
 "entity": {
 "typeName": "ExampleType",
 "attributes": {
   "things": null
 },
 "guid": "d5e33187-3293-4206-bcb8-807dc87c1440",
 "status": "ACTIVE",
 "createdBy": "admin",
 "updatedBy": "admin",
 "createTime": 1540335741854,
 "updateTime": 1540335741854,
 "version": 1
 }
}
{code}

Atlas should preserve the original value of the create request as an empty 
list. Returning null here causes further confusion, because the attribute is 
defined with `isOptional: false` so any consumer of the entity would reasonably 
expect a non-null value.

I tested this behavior against Atlas versions 1.0.0 and 1.1.0



--
This message was sent by Atlassian JIRA
(v7.6.3#76005)