ASTTemplateParser 2.0.5

AST Template Parser

A blazing-fast, security-hardened template engine for .NET with HTML-like syntax and 2000x faster cached rendering.

⚡ Performance at a Glance

✨ Features

Core

• 🚀 High Performance - 1,000,000+ cached renders/second
• 🔒 Enterprise Security - XSS protection, loop limits, property blocking
• 🧩 Component System - <Element>, <Block>, <Data>, <Nav> components
• 📐 Layout System - Master layouts with sections and slots

Caching (NEW in v2.0.5)

• ⚡ Render Caching - Cache rendered output for instant response
• 🔄 Auto File Invalidation - Cache updates when template file changes
• 📊 Data-Aware Caching - Auto-invalidate when variables change
• ⏰ Time-Based Expiration - Optional cache TTL

Template Features

• 🎯 Indexers - {{ items[0] }}, {{ dict["key"] }}
• 🧪 Filters - {{ Name | uppercase }}, {{ Price | currency }}
• 🌐 Global Variables - Set once, use everywhere
• 🔁 Fragments - <Define> and <Render> for recursion

📦 Installation

# NuGet Package Manager
Install-Package ASTTemplateParser

# .NET CLI
dotnet add package ASTTemplateParser

🚀 Quick Start

using ASTTemplateParser;

var engine = new TemplateEngine();
engine.SetPagesDirectory("./pages");

// Set data
engine.SetVariable("User", new { Name = "Alice", Role = "Admin" });

// ⚡ Cached render - 2000x faster on repeat calls!
string html = engine.RenderCachedFile("dashboard.html", "dashboard", includeDataHash: true);

⚡ Caching Guide (NEW!)

Static Pages (Fastest)

// Cache indefinitely until file changes
string about = engine.RenderCachedFile("about.html", "about");
string faq = engine.RenderCachedFile("faq.html", "faq");

User-Specific Pages (Smart Cache)

// Auto-invalidate when variables change
engine.SetVariable("User", currentUser);
engine.SetVariable("Cart", cartItems);

string dashboard = engine.RenderCachedFile(
    "dashboard.html", 
    "dashboard", 
    includeDataHash: true  // ⬅️ Magic! Data changes = new render
);

Time-Based Expiration

// Cache for 5 minutes
string news = engine.RenderCachedFile(
    "news.html", 
    "news", 
    expiration: TimeSpan.FromMinutes(5)
);

Cache Management

// Invalidate specific cache
TemplateEngine.InvalidateCache("dashboard");

// Invalidate by prefix (e.g., all user caches)
TemplateEngine.InvalidateCacheByPrefix("user-");

// Clear all cache
TemplateEngine.ClearRenderCache();

// Get stats
var stats = TemplateEngine.GetRenderCacheStats();
Console.WriteLine($"Cached pages: {stats["TotalEntries"]}");

📖 Template Syntax

Variables & Indexers

{{Name}}                      
{{User.Address.City}}         
{{Items[0].Title}}            
{{Config["apiKey"]}}          

Filters

{{ Name | uppercase }}                    
{{ Price | currency:"en-US" }}            
{{ Created | date:"dd MMM yyyy" }}        
{{ Description | truncate:100 }}          

Conditionals

<If condition="IsLoggedIn">
    <p>Welcome, {{User.Name}}!</p>
<ElseIf condition="Role == 'guest'">
    <p>Hello, Guest!</p>
<Else>
    <p>Please log in</p>
</If>

Loops

<ForEach var="product" in="Products">
    <div class="card">
        <h3>{{product.Name}}</h3>
        <p>{{product.Price | currency}}</p>
    </div>
</ForEach>

Components

<Element component="button">
    <Param name="text" value="Click Me" />
    <Param name="type" value="primary" />
</Element>


<Block component="hero">
    <Param name="title" value="{{PageTitle}}" />
</Block>

🔒 Security

var security = new SecurityConfig {
    MaxLoopIterations = 500,        // DoS protection
    MaxRecursionDepth = 5,          // Stack protection
    HtmlEncodeOutput = true,        // XSS protection
    BlockedPropertyNames = new HashSet<string> { "Password", "Secret" }
};

var engine = new TemplateEngine(security);

📊 Performance Benchmarks

Tested on .NET 8.0 / Intel i7 / Windows 11

🌐 Global Variables

// Set once at startup
TemplateEngine.SetGlobalVariable("SiteName", "My Website");
TemplateEngine.SetGlobalVariable("Year", DateTime.Now.Year);

// Available in ALL templates automatically!
// No need to call SetVariable() every time

🔧 API Reference

Rendering Methods

Cache Methods

📄 License

MIT License - see LICENSE for details.

🔗 Links

• 📚 Full Documentation
• 🧩 Component Guide
• 🎨 Frontend Guide
• 📦 NuGet Package

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