feat: JS dispatchers blog post

Signed-off-by: andreatp <andrea.peruffo1982@gmail.com>

Author: andreaTP

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+---
+title: "Andrea Peruffo"
+image: "images/blog/bio/aperuffo.jpg"
+social:
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+    link : "https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrea-peruffo-32269178/"
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+---
+
+Principal Software Engineer at IBM

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+---
+title: JavaScript dispatchers
+date: 2026-01-21
+image: "images/blog/js-dispatchers-banner.png"
+author: "Andrea Peruffo"
+type: "regular"
+description: "Announcing JavaScript dispatcher in Microcks 1.13"
+draft: false
+---
+
+# Dynamic Mocking with JavaScript Dispatchers in Microcks
+
+One of the most exciting new features introduced in [**Microcks 1.13**](https://microcks.io/blog/microcks-1.13.0-release/) is the ability to write [**JavaScript dispatchers**](https://microcks.io/documentation/explanations/dispatching/#javascript-scripting).
+This gives you fine-grained control over how mock responses are selected and tailored—based not only on static examples but also on request headers, payloads, and parameters.
+
+This is a powerful step forward: instead of static mocks, you can now create dynamic, context-aware simulations that behave much closer to real services.
+
+> ℹ️ **Note:** Microcks already supported **Groovy-based dispatchers** in earlier releases. JavaScript is now offered as an alternative, making it easier for teams who prefer JS or want to align dispatcher logic with front-end or Node.js skills.
+
+---
+
+## Setting up Microcks locally
+
+To get started quickly, you’ll need **Docker Compose**.
+This sample command will give you a demo working environment in a one-liner:
+
+```bash
+echo 'services:
+  mongo:
+    image: mongo:4.4.29
+  app:
+    depends_on:
+      - mongo
+    image: microcks/microcks
+    ports:
+      - "8080:8080"
+    environment:
+      - SPRING_DATA_MONGODB_URI=mongodb://mongo:27017
+      - SPRING_DATA_MONGODB_DATABASE=microcks
+      - KEYCLOAK_ENABLED=false' | docker compose -f - up
+```
+
+Once Microcks is up, try this quick path:
+
+1. Open [http://localhost:8080](http://localhost:8080) in your browser  
+2. Go to **Microcks Hub** -> **MicrocksIO Samples APIs** -> **Pastry API - 2.0**
+3. Hit **Install** -> **+ Direct Import**
+4. In the left panel, open **APIs | Services**
+5. Pick **API Pastry - 2.0** -> select the second endpoint `⋮` (three dots) -> **Edit Properties**
+6. Scroll down and set **Dispatcher** to `JS` ✅
+
+## Introducing JavaScript dispatchers
+
+Now comes the fun part. In your API definition, you can attach a **JavaScript dispatcher script**.
+This script inspects incoming requests and decides which example response to serve.
+
+### Example: dispatch by path parameter and Accept header
+
+We’ll attach a script that looks at the `name` path parameter and the `Accept` header to choose the appropriate example. For `Eclair Cafe`, we’ll return a JSON or XML variant depending on the requested content type; for anything else, we’ll default to `Millefeuille`.
+
+```js
+const contentType = mockRequest.getRequestHeader("Accept").toString();
+const nameParam = mockRequest.getURIParameter("name");
+
+if (nameParam === "Eclair Cafe") {
+  if (contentType === "text/xml") {
+    return "Eclair Cafe Xml";
+  } else {
+    return "Eclair Cafe";
+  }
+}
+
+return "Millefeuille";
+```
+
+Try the following requests against `API Pastry - 2.0`:
+
+```bash
+curl -X GET 'http://localhost:8080/rest/API+Pastry+-+2.0/2.0.0/pastry/Eclair+Cafe' -H 'Accept: application/json'
+```
+
+Returns:
+
+```json
+{
+  "name": "Eclair Cafe",
+  "description": "Delicieux Eclair au Cafe pas calorique du tout",
+  "size": "M",
+  "price": 2.5,
+  "status": "available"
+}
+```
+
+Requesting XML:
+
+```bash
+curl -X GET 'http://localhost:8080/rest/API+Pastry+-+2.0/2.0.0/pastry/Eclair+Cafe' -H 'Accept: text/xml'
+```
+
+Returns:
+
+```xml
+<pastry>
+    <name>Eclair Cafe</name>
+    <description>Delicieux Eclair au Cafe pas calorique du tout</description>
+    <size>M</size>
+    <price>2.5</price>
+    <status>available</status>
+</pastry>
+```
+
+And the default variant when requesting another pastry name:
+
+```bash
+curl -X GET 'http://localhost:8080/rest/API+Pastry+-+2.0/2.0.0/pastry/Millefeuille' -H 'Accept: application/json'
+```
+
+Returns:
+
+```json
+{
+  "name": "Millefeuille",
+  "description": "Delicieux Millefeuille pas calorique du tout",
+  "size": "L",
+  "price": 4.4,
+  "status": "available"
+}
+```
+
+### Tweaking the script is easy (with server-side logging)
+
+One of the benefits of JavaScript dispatchers is how quickly you can iterate: update the snippet, save, and re-run the same requests. You can also add server-side logs with the built-in `log.info` to trace what’s happening:
+
+```js
+const accept = mockRequest.getRequestHeader("Accept").toString();
+const name = mockRequest.getURIParameter("name");
+log.info(`Dispatching for name=${name}, accept=${accept}`);
+
+if (name === "Eclair Cafe" && accept === "text/xml") {
+  log.info("Returning XML example for Eclair Cafe");
+  return "Eclair Cafe Xml";
+}
+
+return "Millefeuille";
+```
+
+Check your Microcks container/server logs to see these messages and understand which path the script took.
+
+---
+
+## Why it matters
+
+With JavaScript dispatchers, Microcks becomes much more flexible:
+
+* **Dynamic behavior** – responses vary depending on request context
+* **Richer test scenarios** – simulate more realistic API flows
+* **Fewer examples needed** – reuse existing payloads with smart logic
+* **Maximum availability** - works in standard, uber, and native-compiled distributions of Microcks
+
+This makes it easier to mock APIs for contract testing, early integration, or even demos where you want your mock to “feel alive”.
+
+---
+
+## Next steps
+
+We’ve only scratched the surface here. In the full documentation you’ll find:
+
+* How to write and attach dispatcher scripts
+* The full request/response object model available in scripts
+* Examples covering REST, gRPC, and event-based APIs
+
+👉 [Check the official documentation](https://microcks.io/documentation/) for more details and start experimenting with your own mocks.