Diem: Native GraphQL API

[lastmjs]

🚀 Feature Request

I would like to propose integrating a GraphQL API natively into Libra nodes. This API would provide all of the functionality of a REST or JSON RPC API, similar to how interaction with Ethereum nodes works currently.

Motivation

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.

Interacting with major blockchains like Ethereum usually seems to require using a JSON RPC API or something similar. Libraries are built on top of these APIs to abstract away their complexity or offer additional functionality. Each of these libraries create their own APIs, this creating fragmentation and friction when moving between libraries.

Pitch

Describe the solution you'd like

A natively implemented GraphQL API would provide a consistent declarative interface to the Libra blockchain. It would be easily extensible with custom queries and mutations, and if functionality weren't able to be implemented at the node level, third-party libraries could easily compose their own solutions by augmenting the existing GraphQL API.

Describe alternatives you've considered

Not providing a GraphQL API?

Are you willing to open a pull request? (See CONTRIBUTING)

Maybe...with some direction

Additional context

GraphQL is amazing, Facebook created it, I hope it will be considered.

[kphfb]

Thank you for the suggestion! This is something that we have been considering!