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fix(codegen): generate pointer types for nullable array items#2167

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putcho01 wants to merge 1 commit intooapi-codegen:mainfrom
putcho01:issue-2016
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fix(codegen): generate pointer types for nullable array items#2167
putcho01 wants to merge 1 commit intooapi-codegen:mainfrom
putcho01:issue-2016

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@putcho01
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@putcho01 putcho01 commented Nov 22, 2025

This PR adds capability to generate pointer types for nullable array items.

When an array's items have nullable: true, the generated Go type now correctly uses pointer types (e.g., []*float32 instead of []float32) to properly represent nullable values.

Ref Issue: #2016

Changes

  • Modified oapiSchemaToGoType() in pkg/codegen/schema.go to check the nullable property of array items
  • Added comprehensive test cases in internal/test/issues/issue-2016/ covering:
    • Primitive types (number, string, boolean, integer) with nullable items
    • Object types with nullable items
    • Nested arrays with nullable items
    • Nullable arrays with nullable items

Example

Input schema: Sample

  type: object
  required: [metrics]
  properties:
    metrics:
      type: array
      items:
        nullable: true
        type: number

Before (incorrect)

type Sample struct {
    Metrics []float32 `json:"metrics"`
}

After (correct)

type Sample struct {
    Metrics []*float32 `json:"metrics"`
}

@putcho01
fix(codegen): generate pointer types for nullable array items
656fdd6 
When an array schema has items with `nullable: true`, the generated
Go type now correctly uses pointer types (e.g., `[]*float32` instead
of `[]float32`) to properly represent nullable values.

This fix follows the same pattern already used for nullable additional
properties, checking the OAPISchema.Nullable field and prefixing the
item type with `*` when nullable is true.

Fixes oapi-codegen#2016
@putcho01 putcho01 requested a review from a team as a code owner November 22, 2025 14:46
@jamietanna
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jamietanna commented Nov 22, 2025

Would using the Output Option prefer-skip-optional-pointer-on-container-types solve this?

@putcho01
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putcho01 commented Nov 22, 2025

@jamietanna
I don't think prefer-skip-optional-pointer-on-container-types would solve this issue, as they address different aspects

  • prefer-skip-optional-pointer-on-container-types: Controls pointer to the array itself (*[]string vs []string)
  • This fix: Controls pointer in array items when nullable ([]*string vs []string)

@jamietanna
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jamietanna commented Nov 22, 2025

Gotcha, thanks - should we also be correctly using ,omitempty for the JSON tags in this case, too?

@putcho01
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putcho01 commented Nov 22, 2025

@jamietanna
I think the omitempty handling is already correct with this fix — it's determined by whether the property is required, which is independent of whether the array items are nullable.

That said, I want to make sure I understand your concern correctly.
Were you thinking of a particular case where omitempty should behave differently when the array items are nullable?

@putcho01
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putcho01 commented Dec 20, 2025

Hi @jamietanna , just checking if you had a chance to look at my question above. Let me know what you think!

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@putcho01 @jamietanna