care-api/specs/001-care-api-sistema/research.md

Phase 0 Research: Care API System

Feature: Care API - Sistema de gestão de cuidados de saúde
Date: 2025-09-12
Status: Complete

Research Summary

All technical requirements have been clearly specified in the detailed KiviCare integration specifications provided. No unknowns remain from the Technical Context analysis.

WordPress REST API Framework

Decision: WordPress REST API with custom endpoints via register_rest_route() Rationale:

• Native WordPress integration ensuring compatibility
• Built-in authentication and permission handling
• Standardized HTTP methods and response formats
• Existing KiviCare plugin integration points

Alternatives considered:

• Custom API framework: Rejected due to WordPress ecosystem requirements
• GraphQL implementation: Rejected due to REST API simplicity and WordPress standards

JWT Authentication for WordPress

Decision: WordPress JWT Authentication plugin with custom role-based permissions Rationale:

• Stateless authentication suitable for API consumption
• Integrates with existing WordPress user system (wp_users)
• Supports custom role definitions (administrator, doctor, patient, receptionist)
• Token-based security for mobile/web app integration

Alternatives considered:

• WordPress cookies: Rejected due to cross-origin limitations
• OAuth2: Over-engineered for single-plugin use case

KiviCare Database Integration

Decision: Direct WordPress $wpdb queries with prepared statements Rationale:

• Preserves existing KiviCare 35-table schema integrity
• No additional ORM layer needed - WordPress provides secure database access
• Maintains compatibility with existing KiviCare plugin operations
• Performance optimized for medical data relationships

Alternatives considered:

• WordPress ORM plugins: Unnecessary complexity for established schema
• Custom database layer: Would duplicate WordPress security features

Testing Framework

Decision: PHPUnit with WordPress testing framework (WP_UnitTestCase) Rationale:

• Standard WordPress plugin testing approach
• Provides database setup/teardown for integration tests
• Mocks WordPress environment for isolated testing
• Compatible with continuous integration workflows

Alternatives considered:

• Standalone PHPUnit: Insufficient WordPress integration
• Custom testing framework: Reinventing established tools

API Response Format

Decision: JSON responses following WordPress REST API standards Rationale:

• Consistent with WordPress ecosystem expectations
• Standardized error codes and response structures
• Built-in CORS handling for cross-origin requests
• Cacheable response formats

Alternatives considered:

• XML responses: Outdated for modern applications
• Custom formats: Would break client expectation standards

Performance and Caching

Decision: WordPress Object Cache with Transients API Rationale:

• Built-in WordPress caching mechanism
• Configurable TTL for different data types
• Compatible with Redis/Memcached backends
• Automatic cache invalidation on data updates

Alternatives considered:

• Database-level caching: Limited control over cache invalidation
• External caching services: Additional infrastructure complexity

Plugin Architecture

Decision: WordPress plugin with modular endpoint classes Rationale:

• Clear separation of concerns (endpoints, models, utilities)
• Easy testing of individual components
• Follows WordPress plugin development best practices
• Maintainable codebase structure

Alternatives considered:

• Monolithic plugin file: Poor maintainability and testing
• Multiple plugins: Unnecessary complexity for single API system

Error Handling and Logging

Decision: WordPress WP_Error with structured logging to debug.log Rationale:

• Standard WordPress error handling mechanism
• Structured logging for operational monitoring
• Integration with existing WordPress debugging tools
• Configurable log levels for production/development

Alternatives considered:

• Custom exception handling: Would bypass WordPress standards
• External logging services: Additional infrastructure dependency

Research Validation

✅ All technical decisions align with:

• WordPress development best practices
• Healthcare data security requirements
• KiviCare plugin compatibility
• Performance and scalability goals
• Testing and observability standards

✅ No remaining NEEDS CLARIFICATION items ✅ All dependencies verified as available and compatible ✅ Integration patterns established and documented

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Phase 0 Complete: Ready for Phase 1 Design & Contracts